CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2023. Up next: The MVC Tournament.
In Ethan Carbone’s MVC Tournament preview, he predicted a Bradley vs. Drake final. Unsurprisingly, the one and two seeds made it after hard-fought battles, with Drake punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Drake Basketball.
Started From The Bottom Now They're Here.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 5, 2023
Drake was dominant in every game of the MVC Tournament, winning all of them handily. The biggest surprise was the execution to dismantle the Braves in the final game. Bradley only had one player end up with double-digits, as Ja’Shon Henry managed to score ten points.
CBB Review MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Tucker DeVries, Drake
The experience that DeVries is gaining by playing under his dad is incredible. He plays with poise and is a consistent part of the offense for the Bulldogs. DeVries averaged just over 20 points a game in the MVC Tournament. The only tournament matchup he did not lead his team in scoring was against Southern Illinois, where Roman Penn scored 16 points.
The Drake Bulldogs must really want to go dancing. pic.twitter.com/dk7MnghXz8
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 5, 2023
Tucker’s ability to score from beyond the arc makes him a significant threat, as he can pull up or drive on any player that guards him. He is just as likely to shoot a 3-pointer as lay it up. This becomes even more of an issue if he was fouled, as he sank 75% of his free throws, going 9-for-12 in the tournament. This Drake Bulldogs team is scary because of the balanced scoring that they produce and their ability to guard all positions. The weakness would likely come from a team with a dominant big man like Purdue, as it would be a difficult matchup for any player, even Darnell Brodie.
CBB Review All-MVC Tournament First Team
- G: Bowen Born, Northern Iowa – 2 games played (28.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG)
- G: Tucker DeVries, Drake – 3 games played (20.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Cooper Neese, Indiana State – 3 games played (21.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 76.2 3P%)
- G: Roman Penn, Drake – 3 games played (13.7 PPG, 7.0 APG, 3.3 RPG, 0.7 SPG)
- F: Ja’Shon Henry, Bradley – 3 games played (13.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
Drake’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 32
Drake is an experienced team, which shows how they handle the ball. The worry for the Bulldogs will be the draw and what region they end up in. This team could make a run with the experience they have, but if they get attacked early with length, an early exit is likely incoming. With only one big win on its resume against then #15 Mississippi State on the road, Drake should be a double-digit seed entering the tournament. A list of teams could easily find themselves with a single game if they are matched up against the Bulldogs.