Around this time each year, I like to absorb some deeper college basketball knowledge. I like to engross myself in the lower conferences to find who could do some damage to an unsuspecting high seed. If you came to this list for me to talk about a big league, think again. This list will not talk about any conference that is getting multiple bids. I don’t want at large teams, I want to dig deep! Will they even make the tournament? Who knows!

Drake Bulldogs – MVC (Missouri Valley Conference)

22 wins 2 losses

Bennett Stirtz – 18.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 49.2 FG%

This is a team that has done something important for a potential Cinderella, they have already cut some nets this season. In November, Drake played in, and won the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic, beating Miami (FL), FAU, and Vanderbilt to hoist an early trophy. Sure, it is an early season tournament and two of those 3 teams are not looking amazing right now (FAU is 14-10 and Miami is 6-18). You could further argue, that they play in a weak conference and that their record is bloated. The team is also only returning 7.4% of its minutes and 5.1% of scoring on its roster.

            Fair points, but that is the thing about magic, it comes from unexpected places. Drake does not score remarkably either. Watching this team reminds me of a Virginia or Tennessee team though, and for good reason. They rank 2^nd in points allowed this season in the entire NCAA (58.5 Points Allowed Average). This team is patient, they move the ball around effectively and wait for a late opening. They really slow down the game naturally which is important in tournaments when it comes to controlling runs and stopping momentum. This team is also physical and pesky on defense. They have 5 players averaging at least one steal a game (Stirtz, Mascari, Manyawu, Jackson, & Howard). A less statistical analysis of mine is an observation of how calm they all are as a team. They make mistakes, get scored on, and do not seem phased. Very much a “next play” mentality. They communicate and operate with veteran poise because they start 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore. Rostering a total of 6 Juniors and Seniors.

            Bennett Stirtz is the Junior starting Point Guard for Drake. A player that demonstrates all of the qualities that this team would need in a leader. He is consistent and calm at the point. Stirtz has only one single digit scoring game this season. He has also been heating up recently, scoring 20 or more in his last 5 games. Stirtz is the type of player any Cinderella needs to be hopeful. A guy who will clearly make a difference.

There are several other notable players on this team. Tavion Banks and Cam Manyawu definitely stand out as impact players. Manyawu is Drake’s best statistical rebounder and Banks is not far behind him. They are both shooting over 50% from the field at the moment doing most of their damage inside the arch. Manyawu is 0/1 from 3 this season and Banks is 1/19. If these two are able to stay as physical and active as they have been all season, then I think Drake could be a bad matchup for a lot of teams.

This team tops my list because they reek of trouble. Their worst enemy is their Strength of Schedule (141^st). I do not see them getting an at large bid if they did not win their conference tournament. However, I do not see them losing their conference tournament. I see them dancing in the second weekend of March Madness.

Akron Zips – MAC

19 wins 5 losses

Tavari Johnson & Nate Johnson

            A clear and obvious second choice for me because I love the MAC. Head Coach John Groce has had the Zips as a 20-win team since the 2021-2022 season. They have won the MAC Conference tournament in 2 of the last 3 seasons but both times they were eliminated in the first round of March Madness. I feel like this is the year they take that next step. They are scoring 84.6 PPG. They are also dishing with 18.7 APG. Leaving them at 10^th and 6^th in those respective categories nationally. They are not nearly as defensive as Drake, but they rebound much better. As a team they are getting 40.2 RPG (21^st nationally). Similar to Drake, this team looks cohesive. Calm, collected, and decisive in their offense while being efficient scorers. I don’t see many volume shooters on their roster, but I see a team eFG% of .556. The Zips are deep on the bench too. Their team leader in MPG is Nate Johnson with 29.8.

            This team rotates about 9 solid shooters. They are all looking for a look but they are unselfish. Decisively unselfish. They are an extremely active off ball offense (which is fun for my stupid brain). Make no mistake this is a hustle team. They need to rotate to keep giving high intensity effort. Again, almost a polar opposite to Drake (and a little bit why they are lower) they are going to try and run on every team. This makes them a much more of a boom or bust team. If they get out of rhythm they may have problems.

            However, the team is led by two guards who have been with this team for 3 seasons. Tavari Johnson and Nate Johnson are the floor generals that manage the distribution of buckets. They command space from defenders, create mismatches, pass, and then have the ball off to a third guy before the defense really reacts.             An important final note is that there are two good teams in the MAC. Miami (OH) is 1 GB Akron in the standings. Akron and Miami (OH) played already and will only play one time before the tournament. Akron won at home 102-75. It will be interesting to see their rematch but I see it going Akron’s way again. This team is definitely going to make someone sweat on the first weekend if they win the MAC tourney. Depending on who they match up against, they could be a nightmare opponent opening weekend.