MVC Basketball

The 28-4 Northern Iowa Panthers are coming off their second straight Missouri Valley Conference title and a Missouri Valley tournament championship after dropping the 25-9 Wichita State Shockers 67-52 on Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers have the nation's second-ranked defense and put it on display Sunday.

Both teams changed leads multiple times before the stingy Panther defense stepped it up to a whole new level. They held the Shockers without a field goal for more than 12 minutes in the second half during a 23-3 run that put the game away.

For the sixth time in school history, Northern Iowa is headed to the big dance. The Panthers made the tournament last season as a 12 seed. Northern Iowa came close to pulling the famous 12 over 5 upset in the first round but ended up losing to a very talented Purdue team 61-56.

Last season, just making the tournament was a success, but expectations for this season's team were set much higher. With every player returning for the Panthers from last year's tournament team and the addition of a few talented freshmen, just making the tournament was no longer the goal.

The Panthers have lived up to every expectation so far this season. Besides winning the conference title for a second straight year and the conference tournament title, they also set a school record for wins at 28 and a record for conference wins at 15.

Northern Iowa is coached by Ben Jacobson, who was named Missouri Valley Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. It is just the fifth time in the history of the conference that a coach has won the award in back-to-back years. Jacobson lead the Panthers to their highest ever national ranking, 18th, and kept them in the top 25 for six straight weeks.

The Panthers are the ultimate example of a team, and it doesn't just show on the defensive end. Senior forward Adam Koch was named the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Player of the Year this season. Koch did not score a single point in Northern Iowa's 15-point tournament championship win. The Panthers like to roll 10 deep during games, and Coach Jacobson has complete confidence in every one of them.

Koch isn't the only Panther to receive awards this season. For the second straight year, UNI's Lucas O'Rear received the "Sixth Man Award." Seven-foot senior center Jordan Eglseder was named to the Missouri Valley Conference all-second team. Honorable mentions included starting guards Ali Farokhmanesh and Kwadzo Ahelegbe.

Ahelegbe, a junior, led the Panthers in their victory over the Shockers Sunday, when he scored a game-high 24 points. He was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

The Panthers are a veteran team that has been challenged all season long. For the most part they have overcome every challenge they have faced. Eight of the 10 players that play have NCAA tournament experience. The team has shown poise and discipline all season long.

Behind loads of experience, tremendous depth, talent, and an extremely unselfish style of play, this is one team you do not want to see come tournament time. Watch for the Panthers to prowl their way to the Sweet 16.

For Josh Young, Adam Templeton, Craig Stanley, and Bill Eaddy, the season is over. 

Obviously, none of them wanted to go out with a loss in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to Northern Iowa. 

But what's supposed to happen when the team goes 20 minutes and 59 seconds without scoring a field goal?

Against Northern Iowa—and any other team for that matter—it's a certain loss.

Drake's 55-40 defeat at the hand of the eventual MVC Champs was as ugly as it gets. 

Would you believe they led going into the half, 24-23? Granted, Northern Iowa had just ran off 10 straight points.

Drake shot 16.7 percent and scored only 16 points in the second half.

What did you expect with those statistics?

I suppose it's a good thing this season is over; it was getting frustrating to watch. I feel for the seniors, though—they deserved much better.

Drake would have loved to send out Young, quite possibly the best player in Drake history, and Templeton with a dazzling Cinderella run, but warm and fuzzy happy endings like that don't happen as often as we would like. 

Otherwise, I'd have a better post to write.

For Templeton, well, at least he can take his MVC Most Improved team selection home as a highlight of his senior year. But I doubt it's quite what he would have preferred. 

Too Early for a Preview

Yet it's all over. That was it.

The team's focus turns to next year.

It's time to work out the kinks that caused this year's growing pains. 

The recruiting class will help, but the big question for next year is how the loss of the seniors will hurt the Bulldogs. 

Drake will miss Young and Templeton's offensive outputs. Young led the team with 14.4 PPG and Templeton was third with 9.8. Templeton's defensive presence as the Bulldogs' leading rebounder (7.4 per game) will also be missed.

However, consistency was something that no Bulldog didn't struggle with, including Young and Templeton. If Drake's young guns can step up and the 2010-11 newcomers play to their reputation , the growing pains may lessen.

Just don't expect them to disappear entirely.

At this point, a .500 record for next year is a prediction on the optimistic end. 

Just note: that's not my prediction.

Drake will have an even younger team next season, with guard Ryan Wedel being the only senior. 

One thing is for sure: the Bulldogs will debut a lot of new faces again next season. 

While that may not translate to a winning record next year, it could be encouraging for the near future.

Patriot League

Quarterfinals—Mar. 3, hosted by higher seed

No. 1 Lehigh vs. No. 8 Army, SE2

This game should have separation throughout. The Mountain Hawks have handled Army pretty easily twice this season. The Mountain Hawks have four players scoring in double digits, and this will be too tough for the Army defense. 

Lehigh 79, Army 64

No. 2 Bucknell vs. No. 7 Holy Cross, CBSC

Holy Cross is 2-13 on the road. However, this record is a little deceiving since most of the Crusaders' road losses have been close games. Holy Cross and Bucknell split the season series, with each team winning on its home floor. Both teams play a similar style of basketball, and this should set up for a good matchup. In the end, Bucknell has the better team and it will be able to squeak out a victory against a pesky Holy Cross squad.

Bucknell 69, Holy Cross 65

No. 3 Lafayette vs. No. 6 Colgate, LSN

Colgate and Lafayette split the regular season series. Although Lafayette had a much better year overall, this game will probably end with an upset. Lafayette's poor defense will allow Colgate, who shoots 37.1 percent from three-point range, to light it up. Six Colgate players shoot 34.5 percent or better from beyond the arc. 

Colgate 75, Lafayette 68

No. 4 American vs. No. 5 Navy

American's team is not nearly as strong as last year's. The Eagles are not too consistent and, most likely, they will not be able to take advantage of Navy's poor defense. American has two good three-point shooters, and its only hope will be for these two to light fire.

Navy 71, American 60

Semifinals—Mar. 7, Hosted by higher seed, CBS CS

No. 1 Lehigh vs. No. 5 Navy

Lehigh has an offense that is explosive at times. The Mountain Hawks scored 91 points twice this year. On the other hand, Navy has poor defense. The reason for Navy having a solid year is that they too have an explosive offense. This will be a high-scoring game and the difference will be Lehigh's better three-point shooting. The Mountain Hawks shoot 39.8 percent to the Midshipmen's 35 percent. Unless the Lehigh shooters are off in this game, the result will be a slim victory for Lehigh.

Lehigh 88, Navy 84

No. 2 Bucknell vs. No. 6 Colgate

Colgate has a slim advantage in all major stats except for free throw shooting, where Bucknell is about five percent better. One of Colgate's big weaknesses is turnovers. The Raiders will have an easier time in this game because Bucknell does not play tough, pressure defense.

Colgate 72, Bucknell 67  

Championship—Mar. 12, hosted by higher seed, ESPN2

No. 1 Lehigh vs. No. 6 Colgate

Lehigh is too good to lose to Colgate at home. The Mountain Hawks have already handled the Raiders twice, both times beating them by double digits. 

Lehigh 77, Colgate 66

MVC

First Round—Mar. 4, Scottrade Center (St. Louis University)

No. 8 Drake vs. No. 9 Southern Illinois

Southern Illinois' defense will be able to stop Drake's offense just enough. Drake is a good three-point shooting team, but Southern Illinois' perimeter defense has been improving in the second half of the season.

Southern Illinois 72, Drake 66

No. 7 Missouri State vs. No. 10 Evansville

Missouri State has already beaten Evansville twice by double digits. Evansville has really struggled away from home and will not be able to stay close with a Missouri State team that was one of the hottest teams in the country early in the year.

Missouri State 81, Evansville 60

Quarterfinals—Mar. 5, Scottrade Center (St. Louis University), MVC TV

No. 1 Northern Iowa vs. No. 9 Southern Illinois

Northern Iowa's outstanding defense will be enough to ward off the tough Southern Illinois offense. Northern Iowa will not let Southern Illinois get hot. 

Northern Iowa 59, Southern Illinois 49

No. 4 Creighton vs. No. 5 Bradley

It is hard to tell who has the advantage in this game. Since Creighton swept the season series, I am giving them the edge.

Creighton 78, Bradley 70

No. 2 Wichita State vs. No. 7 Missouri State

Missouri State and Wichita State played in two very close games in the regular season. This will be more of the same. The Shockers and the Bears match up well, and this should be an exciting game.

Wichita State 70, Missouri State 65

No. 3 Illinois State vs. No. 6 Indiana State

Illinois State was on a big winning streak before a close loss at Northern Iowa to end the regular season. When Illinois State lost to Indiana State, it was in the middle of a big slump. When the Redbirds were hot, they beat Indiana State.

Illinois State 72, Indiana State 63

Semifinals—Mar. 6, Scottrade Center (St. Louis University), MVC TV

No. 1 Northern Iowa vs. No. 4 Creighton

Creighton has Kenny Lawson Jr., who can put up with Northern Iowa's post players on offense and defense. But otherwise, Northern Iowa has the advantage. Northern Iowa is a great shooting team and is also outstanding on defense.

Northern Iowa 66, Creighton 56

No. 2 Wichita State vs. No. 3 Illinois State

Wichita State's struggles late in the season make me think that a hot Illinois State team will be able to top them in the semifinals. Wichita State and Illinois State split the season series and match up well on paper. This should be a great game, and anybody who has access to MVC TV should watch this.

Illinois State 79, Wichita State 75

Championship—Mar. 7 Scottrade Center (St. Louis University), CBS

No. 1 Northern Iowa vs. No. 3 Illinois State

The fact that Illinois State was so hot and almost beat Northern Iowa on the road on senior night makes me think that the Redbirds will be able to win. They are now playing their best basketball and have a strong enough offense and defense that they can hold off Northern Iowa, sending two teams from the MVC to the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois State 69, Northern Iowa 65

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While many teams still have regular season games remaining, this next week a few conferences are starting postseason play this weekend. Many of these conferences will make up the 14 through 16 seeds in the tournament.  

Although those conferences will be getting one bid, there are a few conference championships those teams on the last four in list will keep a close eye on: the Horizon, Missouri Valley, and West Coast Conferences.  

These three conferences will be key to the shaping of the field of 65. Butler, Northern Iowa, and Gonzaga all have locked down their bids by their performance during the regular season. This provides many opportunities for upsets and teams that really have no business making the tournament, sneaking in.

Horizon

Butler is the Horizon League.  No other team beat them in conference play, leading to the thought that an upset is very unlikely.  Although this is a very unlikely upset situation, stranger things have happened.  With a look at the conference tournament history in two of the past three years, Butler won the league in the regular season, but ended up falling short in the conference tournament.

Missouri Valley

Northern Iowa ran through the first two months of the season with only a loss to DePaul.  They have their share of impressive victories, while showing that they are very beatable, by losing to the worst team in the Valley in Evansville.  This is one conference where I could see an upset happening.  

They are stumbling into the tournament losing two of their last five games which does not sound bad, until you consider they have four total losses.  Do not be surprised to see the Valley sending two teams because of an upset this weekend.

West Coast

Gonzaga is an obvious lock and St. Mary's is close, but are literally right on the dividing line for NCAA and NIT.  

The tournament format does not allow the Gaels to make much more of a name for themselves, being the second seed, they only have to win one game to reach the tournament championship game.  They actually need either themselves or Gonzaga to get the automatic bid.  If the likes of Portland or USF happen to win this tournament, St. Mary's could be the first team out by the unlikely hood of the selection committee putting three WCC teams in the dance.

Much of the bubble world will be watching this weekend, hoping these three teams with a combined 13 losses do not lose any more games as that could spell disaster for those bubble teams hoping to play themselves in by a good showing in their own conference tournament.

Basketball prep D.J. Haley of Palmdale High School (Palmdale, California) will make his official visit to Drake University Saturday for the Bulldogs' game against Evansville University—the unforeseen danger of the Missouri Valley Conference down the stretch.

The 4:05 p.m. game is also Senior Day at the Knapp Center. Josh Young, Adam Templeton, Bill Eaddy, and Craig Stanley will hopefully prepare a show for both fans and Haley to enjoy. 

Haley need look no further than Drake for his college choice. The Bulldogs would take him with open arms. 

Standing 6'10" and weighing 225 pounds, Haley almost mirrors current Bulldog and Missouri Valley Conference freshman standout Seth Van Deest (6'10", 223 pounds). Drake Nation is already drooling at the prospect of featuring Haley and Van Deest as next year's most talented, young, one-two big man punch in the MVC.

Scout.com has the center listed as a two-star recruit. Other sources claim he is fast, something that would mesh well with head coach Mark Phelps' offense. The site also claims Drake's in-state rival Iowa State to be interested in Haley, but that news seems a bit outdated.  

Have I mentioned Drake has ample room for sizable players? Well, after Templeton leaves there will be big shoes to fill.

I haven't been able to uncover Haley's shoe size, otherwise I would make a witty joke. Oh, well. You get the idea.

He's also supposedly very intelligent and interested in music. Drake University is known for its academics, and Des Moines is one of the best places in the Midwest for those looking to explore many types of art—especially music.

But hold on a moment: the Bulldogs have some competition that needs to be dealt with if they want to draw Haley's lasting interest.

Haley recently visited Virginia Commonwealth, where the fans greeted him during a game with chants of, "D.J. Haley! Clap Clap Clap-Clap-Clap."

Word has it, the Bulldog faithful have a few party favors in store for Haley, too, but the Rams certainly set the bar high, and they should be applauded for it. I have to say, it was well organized .  

But the Bulldogs have a few things going for them.

First, Drake's early signing recruiting class was named No. 1 in the MVC by ESPN for the second consecutive year. Representing VCU's conference, the Colonial Athletics Association, is William and Mary .

Drake has VCU edged in young talent, and, while the Bulldogs (13-17, 7-10 in MVC) have experienced some growing pains this season, the team does have some upside. Only time will tell how badly the loss of the seniors will hurt the Bulldogs. 

The outlook is mostly optimistic, however, and the addition of D.J. Haley would certainly add to next season's much higher hopes. 

Let's be honest: With three games remaining in the regular season, the Drake Bulldogs (12-16, 7-9) probably aren't going to get much postseason play other than the conference tournament—which could end in a round or two for the Bulldogs.

Regardless of how disappointing the season may have been for head coach Mark Phelps' squad, the Drake Bulldogs will still compete in ESPNU's 2010 BracketBusters against the Cal State Northridge Matadors (10-16, 5-7). 

Not exactly a showcase matchup. I shouldn't have to say it, but in case you're wondering, the game will not be televised. 

But—and there is a but—Drake has a lot to gain from this contest, besides traveling to sunny California and escaping the ever-harshening Iowa winter.

Consistency, momentum, and confidence are three ingredients to a good team the Bulldogs are currently living without. 

The Bulldogs finally shook a four-game losing streak by beating Southern Illinois 79-72 in Des Moines.

Not a moment too soon either. Fans were just starting to lose faith in a team that had previously won five of its last six—the only loss coming to Missouri Valley Conference king Northern Iowa. As the Bulldogs have discovered, hot and cold streaks don't get a team very far in the MVC.

Drake needs to find a way to put together a winning streak and build some much-needed momentum before heading into St. Louis for Arch Madness. The Bulldogs can play with any team in the MVC—except Northern Iowa. Drake split this season with second-place Wichita State (22-6, 11-5) and third-place Illinois State (19-8, 10-6).

It seems to be the middle tier of the MVC that gives Drake the most problems. That doesn't bode well for the Bulldogs, seeing as how their opening opponent for the MVC tournament will be from the middle of the pack. 

Finally, Drake just needs some confidence for its younger players to build on for next year. Losing leading scorer Josh Young, leading rebounder Adam Templeton, Bill Eaddy, and Craig Stanley to graduation will hurt, but the Bulldogs have more first-year players on their roster than any other team in the MVC. 

Hopefully the growing pains will get better, not worse, next season.

Either way, the Bulldogs' future will be greatly affected by how this season ends. 

Any mid-major basketball fan has been waiting for this weekend since New Year's, if not the start of the season. 

For those who do not know about the BracketBusters, many of the mid-major schools in the nation enter at the beginning of the season to participate. The teams are split into two groups: visiting teams and home teams. Most of the teams participated last year, so if the team was home last year, it is away this year, and vice versa.

In the first week of February, the teams are matched up, mainly based on RPI. The following season, the two teams play a rematch on the other team's home floor.

Here are my previews and predictions for some of the matchups this weekend (all times are EST):

Old Dominion at Northern Iowa: Friday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m., ESPN2

This game opens up the weekend on ESPN2. Northern Iowa and Old Dominion are undoubtedly two of the top mid-majors in college basketball. Northern Iowa has already clinched first place in the MVC and Old Dominion is fighting for a conference championship.

A win for either of these teams would just about punch a ticket, if it has not already been punched, for the Big Dance in March in the event that either squad does not win its respective conference tournament.

Northern Iowa seems to have a clear edge. The Panthers are 13-0 at home this season, while Old Dominion is 7-7 away from home. However, this does not mean that the Monarchs can be counted out.

Both teams carry a balanced scoring attack with solid scorers inside and on the perimeter. 

Forward Gerald Lee is the key to the Old Dominion offense. Lee leads the Monarchs in scoring at 14 points per game. Lee goes to the line about seven times a game and shoots 74.4 percent. Unfortunately for Lee, the Northern Iowa big men do not foul too often, so it could be hard for Lee to get to the charity stripe. 

Old Dominion has six other players averaging more than five points per game. Ben Finney scored 9.3 points per game and shoots 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. Old Dominion will need Finney to have a big game along with Gerald Lee.

Northern Iowa has three players scoring in double digits, and Ali Farokhmanesh is not far behind at 9.5 points per game. 

The Panthers have multiple three-point shooters with three players shooting higher than 40 percent and two others shooting higher than 35 percent. Shooting is a large part of Northern Iowa's game, and Old Dominion only plays mediocre perimeter defense. It is hard to think that with all of Northern Iowa's shooters, all of them will not be able to hit.

Old Dominion Player to Watch For: Ben Finney

At 6'5", Ben Finney is able to play like both a forward and a guard. Finney also has talent from beyond the arc at 33 percent.

Northern Iowa Player to Watch For: Adam Koch

Adam Koch has carried the Panthers in close games this season. Koch leads the Panthers at 12.5 points per game.

My Prediction: Northern Iowa 68, Old Dominion 63

William & Mary at Iona: Friday, Feb. 19, 9 p.m., ESPNU

These are both teams looking for a bid to the NIT, and a win for William & Mary could possibly even put them back on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. 

Iona has played well at home (10-3), but not well enough that it can be guaranteed a victory almost every time at home. Also, William & Mary is 9-5 on the road.

William & Mary (19-7, 11-5 CAA), who was once a top mid-major and one of the hottest teams in college basketball, cooled off in conference play and got hit hard with a three-game losing streak in mid-January. Now, the Tribe have won four straight and five of their last six, with the loss coming at Old Dominion. This winning streak includes wins over Northeastern and George Mason.

Iona (19-8, 11-5 MAAC) had an eight-game winning streak snapped at Siena. The Gaels then had what appeared to be an easy three-game stretch before this game, but the Manhattan Jaspers surprised Iona with a 66-60 win. 

Iona is mainly a defensive team and rarely lets players explode for huge games. The weakness is Iona's defense is on the perimeter. Often, the Gaels' opponents shoot very well from beyond the arc. And unfortunately for them, William & Mary has many threats from beyond the arc.

The Gaels have a balanced offensive attack with eight different players scoring more than four points per game. Scott Machado leads the team with 12.4 points per game. Alejo Rodriguez is a strong presence in the post with 8.9 points per game. 

William & Mary plays good perimeter defense, which could eliminate players like Kyle Smyth who rely on the three-pointer, shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. However, Smyth can sometimes get into a groove where the defense does not matter.

The Tribe will probably struggle with the quick drive of Scott Machado and the post play of Alejo Rodriguez. Alejo Rodriguez does foul a lot with 3.6 fouls per game. He will end up being the biggest factor; if he gets into foul trouble, William & Mary will run away. If Rodriguez stays out of foul trouble, this could be a game that goes down to the wire.

William & Mary Player to Watch For: David Schneider

David Schneider leads William & Mary in scoring with 15.6 points per game. Schneider has the ability to explode for big games, scoring 20 or more points on five different occasions. When Schneider has big games, he lights up from beyond the arc.

Iona Player to Watch For: Scott Machado

Scott Machado is only in his sophomore year at Iona, and he is the leader of a team that could very well be NIT bound. Machado leads Iona in scoring and assists with 12.4 points and 3.9 assists.

My Prediction: William & Mary 69, Iona 61

Siena at Butler: Saturday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m., ESPN2

This could be the best game of the weekend. 

After Siena lost the nation's longest win streak at Niagara, Butler took over. The Bulldogs have now won 15 games in a row. These two are undoubtedly two of the better mid-majors this season, and I suggest not sleeping as late as you might want on a Saturday morning in order to see these two battle on the hardwood.

Butler (24-4, 17-0 Horizon) is already a lock for the NCAA Tournament at No. 18 in the AP Poll. The Bulldogs will likely finish conference play without a loss. Butler has OOC wins over Northwestern, Ohio State, and Xavier. 

On the other hand, Siena (22-5, 15-1 MAAC) does not have any signature wins. The Saints' best OOC win was over Northeastern. A win for the Saints would possibly put them into the NCAA Tournament in case they lost the MAAC Tournament, and if they win the the conference tournament and this game, I think they could be as high as a six seed. 

This game is harder to predict based on stats. The Saints are notoriously slow starters and then start to gel later in the season. Last year, the Saints could not beat their good competition in non-conference play and then blew out Northern Iowa in the BracketBusters. 

Siena has the bodies to put up with Hayward and Howard and the Saints' perimeter defense is good enough Shelvin Mack and Willie Veasley will not have huge games. 

The key factor in this game will be Siena's rebounding—mainly its offensive rebounding. Siena averages 13 offensive rebounds a game. Butler is not a great rebounding team at 32.5 rebounds per game. This will give Siena many second chance points and lead them to an upset.

Siena Player to Watch For: Ronald Moore

Ronald Moore leads the nation with 7.7 assists per game. Moore has outstanding court vision and never misses the open man. He is also fast and quick. After a made basket, the opponent can never walk back to defense because by the time they turn around, Ronald Moore will have put the ball through the hoop, or found someone else to do the job for him.

Butler Player to Watch For: Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward has scored in double digits 24 times this year. He has recorded nine double-doubles, grabbing as many as 17 rebounds in a single game. Hayward is by far the best player in the Horizon League, and he is only a sophomore.

My Prediction: Siena 77, Butler 74

Morgan State at Murray State: Saturday, Feb. 20, noon, ESPNU

Murray State (25-3, 16-0 OVC) is tied for the longest win streak in the nation with Butler at 16. Morgan State (20-8, 11-1 MEAC) was competing for one of the top win streaks in the nation, but a loss to South Carolina State snapped it and handed the Bears their first MEAC loss.

Murray State is yet to lose at home (14-0). Morgan State has been solid, but not great, on the road at 11-6. 

I am giving Murray State the edge in this game because it is good at containing players. Morgan State's Reggie Holmes is one of the leading scorers in the nation, but he has been relatively slumping recently. With Murray State's containing defense, Holmes will probably be limited to no more than 18 points. 

Kevin Thompson provides a big body, and he has been able to come through for Morgan State when Holmes has very bad games. However, Thompson plays in the MEAC where a dominant big man is rare. Thompson will have to put up with Tony Easley, who is 6'9" and averages 2.7 blocks per game. 

Murray State has thrived from a balanced scoring attack. The Racers have four players averaging in double digits, with two more right behind at 9.8 points per game. 

Also, Murray State is a good free throw shooting team at 70.4 percent. Morgan State fouls close to 22 times per game.

Thompson and Holmes will have trouble having big games. Morgan State does not have the same depth as Murray State, so it will have trouble finding other scoring sources.

Morgan State Player to Watch For: Reggie Holmes

Despite going through a relatively cold stretch, Reggie Holmes is still one of the best scorers in college basketball.

Murray State Player to Watch For: Isaiah Canaan

Isaiah Canaan hit a halfcourt shot while sitting on his backside as the shot clock wound down against Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday. Clearly, this kid has some range.

My Prediction: Murray State 83, Morgan State 71

Louisiana Tech at Northeastern: Saturday, Feb. 20, 1 p.m., ESPN2

Louisiana Tech (20-6, 8-4 WAC) was once looking like the hottest mid-major with a 17-2 record. Over the seven games since, the Bulldogs are 3-4. Louisiana Tech has dropped into third place in the WAC, and it could really use an OOC wins to get itself back on track.

Northeastern (18-9, 13-3 CAA) struggled in non-conference play and could really use an OOC win to boost its resume for the NIT or for seeding in the NCAA Tournament if the Huskies win the CAA. 

Louisiana Tech has a huge advantage in rebounding. The Bulldogs average 38.3 rebounds to Northeastern's 30.6. The Bulldogs have five different players averaging four or more rebounds per game. 

Louisiana Tech also has a balanced scoring attack. Five players score in double digits, with Kyle Gibson leading the way with 21 points per game. The Bulldogs have a few different players that can score in the post and also have a couple of shooters. 

Jamel Guyton shoots 39.7 percent to lead the team. Gibson shoots 35.7 percent. Olu Ashaolu shoots 30 percent in addition to being able to score inside. 

Northeastern has four players scoring more than nine points per game. Matt Janning leads the team with 15 points per game. Chaisson Allen scores 14.5 points per game, Manny Adako tallies 11.1, and Nkem Ojougboh chimes in with 9.1. 

The Huskies shoot 36.2 percent as a team from beyond the arc. Louisiana Tech's opponents almost always shoot well from three-point range. 

Louisiana Tech's balanced scoring attack will give Northeastern a good fight, but the Huskies' ability to control the tempo to a slow game will limit rebounds and help them partially eliminate that disadvantage. 

The Bulldogs' poor perimeter defense will help Northeastern immensely, and this will lead Northeastern to a close BracketBusters win.

Louisiana Tech Player to Watch For: Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson can score from anywhere on the floor. He can drive, he can shoot three-pointers, and he makes 86.1 percent of his free throws.

Northeastern Player to Watch For: Chaisson Allen

Chaisson Allen is the Huskies' best three-point shooter at 45.8 percent. With the Bulldogs' poor perimeter defense, he will likely have a good game.

My Prediction: Northeastern 68, Louisiana Tech 65

Fairfield at Vermont: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m., Not Televised

Vermont (20-8, 11-3 Am. East) and Fairfield (18-8, 11-5 MAAC) both have a chance at being a lower seed in the NIT, or at least in the CBI.

Vermont is led by Marqus Blakely, one of the best mid-major big men. Blakely scores 17.7 points per game, averages 9.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 steals, and two blocks. A 6'5", Blakely is still able to put up with men bigger than him.

Blakely will need to do well on the defensive glass. His main task on defense and on the boards will be not letting Anthony Johnson explode for a big game.

Johnson averages more than 4.5 offensive rebounds per game. His body is big enough that once he gets the ball down low it can be hard to keep him from putting the ball in the basket.

Blakely will keep Johnson from having a huge game, but he will need help with double teams coming from Vermont's guards. If Johnson is double teamed, he will be able to find the open man beyond the arc. If he is not double teamed, he should be able to take Blakely one-on-one.

Fairfield has multiple three-point shooters if they get open looks due to double teams. Derek Needham leads Fairfield in scoring and shoots well from beyond the arc. Mike Evanovich shoots 46.5 percent from three-point range. Sean Crawford shoots 41.3 percent, Ryan Olander shoots 34.5 percent, and Lyndon Jordan shoots 31.8 percent.

No matter what Vermont does with Johnson, it will eliminate one big factor, but leave the other wide open.

Fairfield Player to Watch For: Derek Needham

Despite only being a freshman, Derek Needham is sixth in the MAAC in scoring. Needham is also second in assists. Needham still makes some freshman mistakes, but he is the reason that Fairfield is competing for second place in the MAAC.

Vermont Player to Watch For: Marqus Blakely

Marqus Blakely has been outstanding for Vermont this year. Blakely has recorded 14 double-doubles this year. He has scored as many as 32 points against Quinnipiac. Blakely's balanced approach to basketball makes him a threat wherever he is on the floor.

My Prediction: Fairfield 74, Vermont 65

Akron at VCU: Saturday, Feb. 20, 4 p.m., ESPNU

Akron (20-7, 10-3 MAC) has won five straight games entering its BracketBusters matchup with Virginia Commonwealth (18-7, 10-6 CAA). Virginia Commonwealth could use a win over Akron to help boost its resume for the NIT, CBI, or CIT. 

VCU should be able to beat Akron on Saturday.

Why? Because Akron does not have a big man that can put up with Larry Sanders. Akron's Zeke Marshall is 7'0" and is a solid defender with 1.7 blocks per game, but he does not add to the Zips' offense. Larry Sanders can prepare for a career day on national television. 

Akron's only hope to cancel out the damage that Sanders will do is to make shots from three-point range. VCU is not great defending the three-pointer, but it is not horrible. 

The trouble for VCU will come because Akron has so many threats from beyond the arc. The Zips have six players shooting 32 percent or better from three-point range. 

The three-pointers by the Zips will be enough to keep the game close and exciting, but not enough the give Akron the win.

Akron Player to Watch For: Chris McKnight

Chris McKnight only scores 8.9 points per game, but two games ago, McKnight scored 25 points.

VCU Player to Watch For: Larry Sanders

I am sure that most already know of Larry Sanders. He might be the best big man at the mid-major level. Sanders scores 15.5 points per game, grabs 9.1 rebounds, 

My Prediction: VCU 77, Akron 65

Morehead State at Illinois State: Saturday, Feb. 20, 5:05 p.m., Not Televised

Morehead State (19-8, 13-3 OVC) is being robbed of the attention it deserves due to Murray State being undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Eagles' three conference losses have all come on the road. The Eagles got blown out at Murray State, but the other two losses have come by one point to the two teams right behind them in the standings, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. 

Illinois State (19-8, 10-6 MVC) has rebounded from a rough stretch with four straight wins to put it back in contention for second place in the MVC. 

Both teams carry a balanced scoring attack, each with three players averaging in double digits. 

Kenneth Faried leads Morehead State with 17.2 points and 13.5 rebounds. Faried has put up 20 double-doubles this season. Another double-double will be needed from Faried on Saturday.

Maze Stallworth and Demonte Harper score 12.7 points and 12.4 points, respectively. These two support Faried well. Faried, Stallworth, and Harper are the main cast for the Eagles, and they all need to put up at least their averages for Morehead State.

Osiris Eldridge leads Illinois State with 15.7 points. Eldridge is a 36.1 percent three-point shooter.

Dinma Odiakosa is next in line with 12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. Odiakosa's 6'8", 255-pound frame should be enough to give Faried a good battle. However, Odiakosa does not play great defense and opposing big men usually have fairly good games against him. The Illinois State guards play much better defense.

Faried will most likely end up with a big game, but he will not get enough support. Morehead State's struggles on the road (7-5) and Illinois State's recent hot streak will keep them short of a win.

Morehead State Player to Watch For: Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried leads the nation is rebounding (13.5). Faried is also a beast in the post, scoring most of his points in the paint. 

Illinois State Player to Watch For: Osiris Eldridge

Osiris Eldridge leads the MVC in scoring. He has the ability to be explosive, scoring as many as 28 points and hitting as many as six three-pointers in one game.

My Prediction: Illinois State 73, Morehead State 66

Charleston at George Mason: Saturday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m., ESPN2

George Mason (16-11, 11-5 CAA) has slumped, losing four of its last five games with the one win coming in overtime. The Patriots desperately need a win to get back into their groove for the end of the season and the conference tournament.

Charleston (18-9, 13-3 SoCon) holds a half-game lead on Wofford in the SoCon. With a win over George Mason, Charleston would pretty much lock a bid to at least the NIT if they were to lose the conference tournament. 

Many of you might remember Andrew Goudelock for his 24 point performance against UNC. It will be hard for George Mason to stop Goudelock, who averages 19.4 points per game and shoots 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. 

Charleston as a team shoots very well from beyond the arc at 37.2 percent. Andrew Goudelock, Donovan Monroe, and Tony White Jr. all shoot better than 38 percent from three-point range. Andrew Lawrence shoots 34.8 percent and Willis Hall shoots 31.8 percent.

George Mason is not too good at defending the perimeter, and Charleston should be able to have at least its typical day from three-point range.

George Mason does not have the players needed to compete with and beat Charleston. The Patriots do not play an up-tempo game, and Charleston can usually control the tempo.

Charleston Player to Watch For: Andrew Goudelock

Andrew Goudelock scored 24 points in Charleston's upset over UNC. Goudelock has the ability to be very explosive.

George Mason Player to Watch For: Cam Long

Cam Long has scored has many as 27 points this season. Long has reached 20 points six different times this year. However, Long is not a consistent scorer. When Long has not scored 20 points, he has scored in double digits only seven other times.

My Prediction: Charleston 76, George Mason 70

Wichita State at Utah State: Sunday, Feb. 21, midnight, ESPN2

Wichita State (22-6, 11-5 MVC) is in danger of dropping into third place in the MVC after looking like a potential NCAA Tournament team. Wichita State has won its last two games by an average of 1.5 points. 

Utah State (21-6, 11-2 WAC) picked up its 11th straight win in a 67-61 victory of Louisiana Tech. 

Utah State is an outstanding three-point shooting team. The Aggies shoot 42.6 percent from beyond the arc. Brian Green leads the team at 51.4 percent. Jared Quayle shoots 43 percent. Pooh Williams and Tyler Newbold each shoot 41 percent. Preston Medlin shoots 39.5 percent. 

Wichita State is not great at defending the three-pointer, although it is not horrible. Most likely, Utah State will still be able to make a bunch of three-pointers. 

Both teams are good free throw shooting teams. Utah State shoots 77.4 percent and Wichita State shoots 74.2 percent. 

Utah State's outstanding shooting will be too much for Wichita State's defense.

Wichita State Player to Watch For: Clevin Hannah

Clevin Hannah is second on Wichita State in scoring at 12.3 points per game. Hannah shoots 43.5 percent from three-point range and makes 89.6 percent of his free throws.

Utah State Player to Watch For: Jared Quayle

Jared Quayle can hit jump shots from anywhere on the floor. Quayle is also a balanced player with 5.8 rebounds and and 4.2 assists in addition to his 12.1 points per game. Quayle is eighth in the nation in free throw shooting at 90.3 percent. 

My Prediction: Utah State 83, Wichita State 73

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For more college basketball, follow Jesse Kramer on Twitter by clicking here.

Just when I thought the Drake Bulldogs were going to do some rearranging in the Missouri Valley Conference's living room, the Northern Iowa Panthers feel it their duty to disrupt the horseplay. 

It took until late in the second half for the Drake Bulldogs to be grounded, but the Panthers eventually did so in convincing fashion.

Drake can kiss its five-game win streak goodbye, and Josh Young can no longer claim a perfect record at Northern Iowa's McLeod Center.

Yet a lot can be taken from the run that saw the Bulldogs knock off conference contenders Missouri State, Illinois State, and Wichita State.

First, Drake proved they can take down—just about—anybody in the conference. Missouri State and Illinois State now join Drake in a tie for fourth place, only four games out of first place but effectively no longer in the running—barring an utter destruction of Northern Iowa.

Second, the Bulldogs' loss against Northern Iowa should encourage: Drake can play with anyone. Now, the challenge becomes how to play with a top 25 team, such as the Panthers, consistently for 40 minutes.

Wichita State dominated Northern Iowa in the teams' previous meeting, and Drake defeated the Shockers without much trouble. The Bulldogs are about to turn the corner; they just have a few more kinks to iron out.

Drake's next contest is Saturday, when rival Creighton comes knocking on the Knapp Center's doors. The game will offer the Bulldogs a chance to create a tie for third place in the MVC standings.

But all this talk of standings is irrelevant if we're discussing a regular season championship—unless your team is Wichita State or Northern Iowa.

The Bulldogs can only play the role of spoiler, as can every other team in the conference—for now.

Hope lies in the conference tournament.

If the Bulldogs keep winning, they may be able to substantially improve their seed in the tournament, delaying when they would play Northern Iowa or Wichita State.

That is when wins will really count.

A postseason tournament may be a long shot, but it's not out of the question for Drake—if they keep winning in bundles of five.

The Bulldogs simply need to start up another streak.

It's not over yet.

Thank God.

It's not easy playing on the road in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Northern Iowa Panthers learned that the hard way, dropping their first game in over two months to the Wichita State Shockers, 51-60.

A rowdy, sell-out crowd of 10,506 people filled Charles Koch Arena and made sure 20th-ranked UNI (16-2, 7-1) knew just how hard it would be to drop the Shockers (17-3, 6-2) on their own court—who have now won 13 home games in a row.

With the Panthers' loss, visitors are now 13-24 in MVC play.

A win would have meant 16 straight victories for UNI—which would have been the nation's third-longest active win streak. It would have meant another school record ranking in the polls and a more comfortable grip on first place in the MVC standings.

It would have meant national respect.

The Panthers came into Wichita with the weight of the college basketball world on its shoulders. For just a moment, all eyes were on the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. The entire country wanted to know one thing:

Is this team—from a small school in Iowa, no less—for real?

Well, scoring a season first half-low of 17 points, shooting 2-of-13 from three-point range and getting out-defended when the Panthers are supposed to be one of the top defensive teams in the conference does not bode well for maintaining a national spotlight on little ol' Cedar Falls, IA.

Are these Panthers super human? Did the team that came to play tonight look like a squad that can hold up against the country's elite programs in postseason play? No—it would be foolish to argue they did.

But let me tell you something, this team still has its heart.

Being originally from the general area of Cedar Falls, myself, I can attest to the fact that there's something special about small town colleges and their surrounding communities. This team will return home to a fan base that still believes in them and is ready to support them. That can be powerful motivation, knowing your fans—your family—is still there for you.

The Panthers will be back. They're still a game up on the Shockers with a home rematch scheduled for Feb. 3 at the McLeod Center.

Oh, yeah...they'll be back.

As for the Shockers, this is a team that has been left out of the NCAA discussion—a team that defeated Texas Tech and played a hard-fought game against now ninth-ranked Pitt.

Don't be too surprised if Wichita State stays hot down the stretch and finds a way into March Madness action.

The MVC may be down this year but its top two teams are no slouches—as proven by tonight's game. Are they at the level of college basketball's elite programs? Not a chance.

However, we all know too well that strange, sometimes miraculous, things happen in this sport.

That is, after all, what makes it so interesting to watch.

Watch out, Missouri Valley Conference!

The Drake Bulldogs (8-11, 3-4) are hot with no signs of cooling down after a convincing 69-59 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds (13-5, 4-3) in front of a national audience on ESPNU.

The services of seniors Josh Young and Adam Templeton helped key the Bulldogs to their third straight victory. Young led Drake with 18 points while Templeton netted his fourth career double-double, tallying 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Drake came out of the gates on fire, establishing a 20-point lead entering the second half.

On the other end of the floor, Illinois State struggled to drain anything, making one of its first 12 shots. Nearly 15 minutes into the game, the Redbirds scored eight points and ended the half down 35-15, thanks to a revamped Drake defense.

"We're improving incrementally on the defensive end," said Drake head coach Mark Phelps in the press release. "And really, that's where our focus is. And guys are starting to hit shots."

As a team, the Bulldogs shot 45.1 percent on the night, while the Redbirds put up a mark of 36.8 percent.

Templeton and junior guard Ryan Wedel took turns going on hot streaks. Templeton drained four three-point baskets in the first half, which puts his season total at 34, just one shy of last year's total.

Wedel enjoyed a successful night with 15 points and five rebounds. One of his three-pointers gave the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the night, 40-15, early in the second half.

Illinois State simply couldn't keep up.

"We got excellent shots in the first half, but then we got distracted on the other end," said Redbirds coach Tim Jankovich. "We made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes and we had a number of breakdowns."

One oddity was the first half performance of Illinois State's Osiris Eldridge, the MVC's scoring leader and arguably the league's top player. Eldridge was held scoreless in the first half but returned to form, unleashing a volley of six three-pointers in the second half.

That helped narrow the final margin and Eldridge finished with a game-high 26 points.

The Bulldogs' senior point guard Craig Stanley was in street clothes throughout the game, sidelined indefinitely with a right wrist injury. Josh Young filled in for Stanley, getting some minutes at point guard. 

And he looked good.

Young moved into fifth in Drake career-scoring with 1,554 points.

More time at the point for Young may be in demand, especially if it helps the Bulldogs keep winning.

Hey, three's a streak!