Drake Basketball: 3 reasons why Bulldogs can advance in 2023 NCAA Tournament

Drake will win at least one game during the upcoming NCAA Tournament. While many nationally have blasted the Missouri Valley Conference as being down this year, there is no denying that this Drake basketball team is a threat to do March Madness damage.

As one of the very first qualifiers for this year’s NCAA Tournament the Drake Bulldogs have had a week to rest, work out, catch up on classes, and receive congratulations from their friends. Now the Bulldogs must dig in a prepare for the Big Dance.

Drake (27-7) finished second in the Valley race and then earned the league’s automatic bid with a convincing win over regular-season champion Bradley in last week’s Arch Madness title game. The Bulldogs defeated projected NCAA Tournament teams Mississippi State and Louisiana during the regular season and took two of three games with Valley champion Bradley.

Before the power conference fans thumb their noses at the Missouri Valley Conference, remember that since 2012, Valley teams are 21-15 in the Big Dance and have sent two teams to the Final Four during that time period.

Drake has played post-season basketball three of the past four seasons and owns a post-season record of 2-3. Coach Darian DeVries’ teams have eclipsed the twenty-win plateau during all five of his seasons in Des Moines and have accumulated at least 25, in the past three years.

Drake’s credentials are solid and those filling out their March Madness brackets would be wise to consider the Bulldogs as a prime candidate for what will likely be a five-versus-twelve upset special matchup.

The Bulldogs have won three straight games and thirteen of their last fourteen. Nine of those victories have come by double digits. Drake is playing its best basketball at the very right time. Here are three reasons the Drake Bulldogs will advance.