Bracketology 2023: 5 key mid-major games as the season winds down

Mar 5, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker Devries (12) celebrates with fans after scoring the game winning point in overtime against the Missouri State Bears in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Bradley /

Drake Bulldogs 24-6 (15-4) at Bradley Braves 22-8 (15-4)

Sunday, February 26, Peoria, IL, 4:00 PM ET, ESPN2

Now that they have both won earlier in the week, they’re tied for first place in the Missouri Valley with one game to play. In an early start to Arch Madness, the game will take place Sunday afternoon in Peoria, Illinois with the Bradley Braves hosting the Drake Bulldogs.

In their first meeting, Drake handled the Braves easily, winning by 25 and not trailing for the final 30 minutes of the game. The big thing that costs Bradley in that game is their lack of production from behind the arc. For a team that shoots 36% from beyond the arc which is 63rd in the country, they shot just 8-31 in the loss. The Bulldogs lit it up from all over the floor that night, shooting over 60% from two, 48% from three, and 91% from the free throw line.

Drake enters the game as one of the hottest teams in the country winning 130 of 14 with their four league losses coming by a total of 13 points. The Braves enter this potential winner-takes-all contest equally as hot as winners of nine straight, winning those games by an average of 21.5 points. These two teams are no strangers to the MVC tournament finals, over the past four seasons Bradley won back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020, then Drake was the runner-up to Loyola-Chicago the following two seasons.

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