CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The MVC Tournament.
The MVC Tournament preview had Indiana State taking it home after beating Southern Illinois in the final. While the Sycamores made the final, the Salukis didn’t. Indiana State also didn’t end up winning it either. Instead, it was Drake, the school, not the rapper, that punched their ticket to the dance, riding a hot offense to an 84-80 victory in the championship game of Arch Madness, to send the DeVries duo back to the dance for the second year in a row. Time will tell if Robbie Avila and the Sycamores get a bid as well. They are certainly deserving of one.Â
CBB Review MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Tucker DeVries, Drake
The coach’s son showed out in Arch Madness, to the tune of a 27-7-5 stat-line in the championship game, and he helped settle the Bulldogs down after they gave up an 18-point lead late in the second half. His late jumper and subsequent assist to Conor Enright next time down gave the lead back to Drake, and they didn’t trail the rest of the way. DeVries has been tearing up the MVC for three years now, and he’ll get a do-over in March after Drake’s disappointing exit in the first round last year. Â
CBB Review All-MVC Tournament First Team
- G: Atin Wright, Drake – 3 games played (16.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Ryan Conwell, Indiana State – 3 games played (17.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Tucker DeVries, Drake – 3 games played (21.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Jayson Kent, Indiana State – 3 games played (14.3 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 0.0 APG)
- C: Robbie Avila, Indiana State – 3 games played (16.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG)
Drake’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
The Bulldogs don’t quite have the ceiling that Indiana State does. However, their predictive metrics are still strong (51st in KenPom entering Sunday) and they’ve beaten Nevada and Akron in their non-conference portion of the schedule. Tucker DeVries is capable of taking over a game, as well as starting on most high-major programs. Their offense is no doubt a tournament-level offense, and at their best, the Bulldogs are capable of knocking off many good teams. With a 28-6 record coming out of the MVC and a couple of solid non-con wins, Drake seems destined to be an 11 or 12 seed, a prime upset candidate. Pulling off that upset is another story. They’re certainly capable of it, but I don’t consider it likely.Â