KDSN Radio

Drake to play Missouri in the NCAA Tournament

Drake will play Missouri in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday in Wichita. The Bulldogs are the 11th seed in the West Region and will play a sixth seeded Tiger squad that is one of 14 S-E-C teams in the field. Drake is 30-3 under first year coach Ben McCollum and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Bulldogs and the fans in attendance at the watch party had to wait deep into the NCAA selection show to see where they are headed. Drake is already considered a trendy upset pick but McCollum has told his team all season not to "drink the poison." McCollum on the matchup against Mizzou. McCollum says he remains focused on this team even though his name has been connected to openings at Iowa, Indiana, and Virginia. Junior guard Bennett Stirtz is the Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year and was one of four players to follow McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake. Stirtz says he will have a lot of family and friends in Wichita. Stirtz on seeing Drake's name on the selection show and hearing his name being talked about. Forward Daniel Abreau also started his career at Northwest Missouri State but unlike Stirtz did not grow up watching the selection show. Abreau says he is not a junkie when it comes to basketball on television. Abreau says at this point any opponent will be a challenge. Tip time is 6:35 on Thursday.