Missouri vs. Drake: An Exciting First-Round Matchup
The sixth-seeded Missouri Tigers will face off against the 11-seeded Drake Bulldogs in the first round of the West side of the bracket in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Missouri finished the season 20-12 with a loss to SEC Tournament Champions Florida. On the other hand, Drake has been scorching hot as of late and will come into this game with a record of 30-3. Drake will be a team that many people choose to upset Missouri in the first round, which is no coincidence.
The SEC is filled with high-scoring teams that often play at faster tempos. Missouri is one of those teams, boasting the ninth-highest-scoring offense in the country while also playing at one of the fastest tempos. Plenty of guys can fill up a stat sheet and shoot the ball, including Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill, who’s shooting 40% from three this season. For it to be successful, Missouri will have to push the pace against the slowest-paced offense in the country. Ben McCollum’s team is one of the country's best defensive teams, aiming to limit the other team's possessions. Their slow pace isn’t the best spectacle, but it is extremely effective. Vanderbilt was the common opponent between these two teams; Drake beat them early in the season 81-70, while Missouri went 1-1 against them. Drake’s offense often relies on point guard Bennett Stirtz to generate points, which has been effective this season. Stirtz led the Missouri Valley Conference in points per game, assists per game, and steals per game while winning Player of the Year.
This matchup will ultimately come down to which team can impose its style of play. If Missouri can speed up the tempo and turn this into a high-scoring affair, they’ll have the upper hand with their explosive offense. However, if Drake controls the pace and forces Missouri into long, methodical possessions, the Bulldogs have a real shot at pulling off the upset. Stirtz’s ability to dictate the game and navigate Missouri’s pressure will be crucial, as will Missouri’s ability to knock down outside shots. Expect a battle of contrasting philosophies in what could be one of the most intriguing first-round matchups of the tournament.
