Drexel is ‘loose’ going into Friday’s game against No. 1 Illinois | Basketball Preview
The Dragons and Illinois will tip off at 1:15 p.m. on TBS in Drexel’s first tournament game since 1996.
There is no need to worry about the NCAA Tournament stage being too big for Drexel.
Before the Colonial Athletic Association title game, assistant coach Mike Jordan went to Best Buy and bought a large Bluetooth speaker. Now the players look like a 1980s rap group as they carry it to practice in Indianapolis.
While the coaches were deep into film study of No. 1 seed Illinois on Wednesday night, the players were singing and dancing in the hotel to the tunes on the speaker.
“The guys are loose and having fun, and I love it,” coach Zach Spiker said. “I think some coaches get nervous about not taking things seriously enough. We’re here to enjoy this experience and compete. I think we can do both.”
» READ MORE: Who is Zach Spiker? Let’s tell you about Drexel’s NCAA hoops coach. | Mike Jensen
Drexel will play Illinois Friday at 1:15 p.m. at the Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. The game will be televised on TBS.
Spiker has spent much of his time watching film. Illinois (23-6) has been one of the most consistent teams this season. The Fighting Illini were ranked eighth in the Associated Press preseason rankings and second in the latest poll.
“They’re terrific,” Spiker said. “They are elite in transition. They have great presence in the post, and they can shoot it.”
That post presence is Kofi Cockburn. The 7-footer is listed at 285 pounds. Spiker said that the Dragons will have to play more zone defense to offset his size.
James Butler has been a menace on the boards, but he has sometimes struggled against bigger and more athletic players. Drexel’s all-time rebounding leader, Malik Rose, has been in Butler’s position. Rose was 6-7 and had to go against future top-10 pick Lorenzen Wright of Memphis in the first round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Rose had 21 points and 15 rebounds in the upset win.
“I would tell him to do your work early,” Rose said. “The guards can help him by keeping the ball in front of them. What’s going to hurt is if the guards get beat off the dribble, and James has to leave Cockburn to come and help.”
“It’s got to be a gang rebounding game,” Spiker said.
» READ MORE: Calvin Hicks, always Drexel’s champ, is along for the NCAA ride | Mike Jensen
Stopping Cockburn is one piece of the puzzle. Fellow first-team All-Big Ten member Ayo Dosunmu is one of the most dynamic guards in the country. He recorded two triple doubles while averaging 20.7 points.
Want to make him shoot? He’s burying 38.8% of his threes. How about running him off the three-point line? Well, he’s making 51.2% of his two-point shots and doesn’t mind kicking it to open teammates for threes.
The play of role players will be important.
Illinois features one of the best three-and-D weapons in the Big Ten in Trent Frazier. The 6-2 senior guard was named to the all-defensive team and nailed 37.2% of his threes. More than 67% of Adam Miller’s shot are from three, and Da’Monte Williams isn’t far behind at 65%. Andre Curbelo was named the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Drexel’s late-season run was highlighted by the shooting of Mate Okros and Zach Walton, the emergence of Xavier Bell, and the energy of T.J. Bickerstaff, Tim Perry and Matey Juric. The most stabilizing change was bringing Okros off the bench, which has fixed Drexel’s weakness in bench scoring. Adding Bell to the starting lineup has made him a more confident player.
“I don’t think [Okros] is getting enough credit,” Spiker said. “He just accepted the role we asked him to play. Bell was better starting, playing alongside of Cam instead of having just to be the point guard with Cam.”
» READ MORE: Mate Okros, a great shooter, highlights Drexel’s global roster | Mike Jensen
In their three CAA tournament games, the Dragons shot 50% or better from three. They did that once in the regular season.
Teams that beat Illinois don’t exactly light it up from three (36.5%), but that’s been Drexel’s formula to winning. A message that’s been constant is sticking to what got you here, and, if the dancing and massive speaker are indications, the Dragons are comfortable with who they are.