Washington State will take on Drake on Thursday night in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament. Both teams performed brilliantly in their conferences, securing an opening-round matchup at the CenturyLink Center Omaha. However, only one can go through to the next round after their encounter on Thursday in a game they must give their all. Which of the teams will be victorious? The Cougars or the Bulldogs?
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars (24-9;14-6 Pac-12 ) are the No. 7 seed in the East region and have been selected to battle the Drake Bulldogs. Head Coach Kyle Smith led the team to second place in the Pac-12 Conference, beating top teams like the UCLA Bruins, Arizona Wildcats, Oregon Ducks, and Colorado Buffaloes to achieve this. Afterward, they participated in the postseason tournament, beating the Stanford Cardinal in the quarterfinals before losing to the Colorado Buffaloes in the semi-finals.
Despite losing to the Buffaloes, they made their way to the 2024 March Madness, receiving an at-large bid from the selection committee based on their performances in the season. It’s an exciting moment for this team, making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2008. The Cougars have yet to win the NCAA Championship. The furthest they’ve gone was finishing as runner-ups in 1941. Their best result in recent years is reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2008, and they will be looking to surpass that this time. While the quality of the team isn’t in doubt, being absent in this competition for a long time may be a defining factor. Nevertheless, they are a strong side and have what it takes to advance to the next round.
Drake Bulldogs
The Drake Bulldogs (28-6; 16-4 MVC) have been excellent all season, winning all their home games. This performance ensured that they finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Head Coach Darian DeVries wasn’t finished with the team after their 100% home record as they went on to win the postseason title, beating the Evansville Purple Aces, the Bradley Braves, and regular season champions, the Indiana State Sycamores, to earn an automatic spot in the 2024 March Madness.
The win over the Sycamores was the second in their third meetings this season, and the Bulldogs struck when it mattered most, dashing Indiana State’s March Madness chances. This time, Darian DeVries will look to improve the team’s performance from last year, when they got eliminated by the Miami Hurricanes in the opening round. Their best result in this competition was in 1969, when they reached the Final Four. Despite being seeded No.10 in this edition, the Bulldogs have a good chance of making it to the next round. However, they must put in their best if they’re to beat Washington State.
Head-to-Head Washington State vs Drake
The Washington State Cougars and the Drake Bulldogs have yet to meet in recent times. Both teams crossed paths as far back as 1935, playing two games in a week, with both teams winning one each. This time, it’s a different ballgame, and each team is bringing in their A-game and playing on neutral ground. We expect it to be an interesting tie, of course, and bettors will be able to back their favorite team. Basketball Odds are also available for other NCAA basketball picks of the night here at BetVictor.
Cougars vs Bulldogs Predictions
We expect this encounter to be close. It’s the Cougars’ first NCAA tournament game since 2008, and their opponent, the Bulldogs, is looking to perform better than their last outing in the competition. Both teams finished second in their respective conferences, indicating that they could take on any team. However, the Drake Bulldogs have racked up better numbers between these two teams. They average 80.5 points, 34.4 rebounds, and 15.9 assists per game compared to the Cougars’ 74.3 points, 37.7 rebounds, and 12.5 assists per game. These stats could assist with your predictions on the game. Since nothing is guaranteed in betting, ensure you only bet what you can afford to lose when betting on this game or other NCAAB fixtures.
Players To Look Out For
Isaac Jones, Myles Rice, Jaylen Wells, and Andrej Jakimovski are standout performers for the Cougars. They average 15.4, 15.1, 12.2, and 10 points per game, respectively. Jones leads with the most points and rebounds, while Rice leads with the most assists and steals. Reuben Chinyelu will also be vital with his blocks when the team plays on Thursday.
On the other hand, the Bulldogs will rely on Tucker DeVries, Atin Wright, and Kevin Overton, who average 21.8, 13.9, and 11.4 points per game, respectively. DeVries also has the most assists and steals per game, so his presence is much needed. Darnell Brodie’s services will be required, too, as he has averaged 7.9 rebounds per game.
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