Drexel draws No. 1 seed Illinois in NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional first-round matchup

Drexel didn’t get any favors from the NCAA selection committee.

Most projections had Drexel as a 15 seed, but the committee didn’t agree. The Dragons (12-7) earned a 16 seed in the Midwest region and will draw top-seeded Illinois on Friday. A time and place has not been set.

“Every prognostication and prediction had us in the 15 area, so it was a surprise,” coach Zach Spiker said. “If you’re in that category [14-16 seed], you never know what the reasoning is of the committee and how it can happen. If you’re a 14, 15, 16, you’re going to have to play a near-perfect game anyway.”

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If your TV was on CBS waiting for the selection show to begin, you saw a glimpse of Illinois’ dominance as it won the Big Ten Tournament title game. The Fighting Illini won the regular-season and conference championships of what was arguably the nation’s toughest conference. The Big Ten led the field with nine selections.

The Illini (23-6) are a popular pick to cut down the nets due to one of the best guard-big duos in the country. Guard Ayo Dosunmu and center Kofi Cockburn both earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Dosunmu is an all-around guard who averaged 20.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Cockburn is a massive 7-footer listed at 285 pounds who had 16 double-doubles.

“We’re happy to be here,” Drexel guard Camren Wynter said. “Wherever they placed us, is where they placed us. I don’t think we’re too worried about the seeding. At this point, any game is going to be a difficult game.”

Drexel entered the season picked third in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association poll. The Dragons showed their potential with a 5-2 record in non-conference play but couldn’t string together back-to-back wins in CAA action. A road win against top-seeded James Madison to end the regular season sparked a four-game winning streak, and the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996.

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Drexel’s two most productive players, Wynter and James Butler, play similar roles as the Illini’s star duo. Butler has been one of the CAA’s best rebounders over his career, but Cockburn will be his biggest challenge yet.

“I’m just going to have to be on my game,” Butler said. “Be very physical with him, box out, do the best I can and try to shut him down.”

Wynter is likely to draw Trent Frazier on defense. At 6-foot-2, Frazier is smaller than Dosunmu, but he averaged 1.4 steals and was named to the Big Ten’s all-defensive team.

Drexel was seeded No. 63 overall, meaning it was the highest 16 seed. Iona was one spot higher as the lowest on the 15 line. No. 16 seeds are 1-139 against 1 seeds in NCAA history.

“Every challenge is also an opportunity,” Spiker said. “And every opportunity is a chance to make a statement. We know we have that opportunity ahead of us, and I know when our guys wake up tomorrow morning, we’ll be locked in and ready to go.”