Bracketology 2024: Akron, Drake, and Gonzaga highlight first-place battles this weekend

Drake Bulldogs (18-4, 9-2 in MVC) at Indiana State Sycamores (19-3, 10-1 in MVC), Saturday, February 3, 6:00 PM ET, ESPN2

The Sycamores are one of the best offensive teams in the country when you look at the metrics. They are 11th in the country in offensive efficiency and they got there because they are tops in effective field goal percentage as well as a top-five team in two-point, three-point, and free throw percentage.

Drake is also a solid offensive club and they do most of their work inside the arc, shooting 57% on two-point shots and turning teams more than 13 times per game. In their win over Indiana State, they forced 15 Sycamores turnovers and shot 51% inside the arc. Win or lose, this game can only help their resumes, but the winner likely becomes the hunted during Arch Madness.

When it comes to conference tournaments, year in and year out the Missouri Valley is one of the most competitive in college basketball. Saturday is the return engagement between the two teams at the top of the standings. Conference leader Indiana State hosts Drake. Despite winning the previous meeting between the two, Drake trails the Sycamores in the standings thanks to a loss to Missouri State in the interim.

This rematch is important for both teams because a split gives Indiana State a two-game cushion, but a Drake sweep pulls them even again and it's a 100m dash to Arch Madness. It's also important because both teams have resumes that at least have them in an at-large conversation should they meet for a third time in the MVC final.