Drake plays Missouri Thursday night in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Wichita. After a successful run at Northwest Missouri State Ben McCollum has led Drake to a 30-3 record and the 11-seed in the West Region.

It is a game of contrasting styles. Drake is the nation’s top defensive team by giving up less than 59 points per game while Missouri is ninth in scoring at 84 and-a-half points per game. McCollum says the Bulldogs will look to be patient on offense.

McCollum says it is difficult to prepare for the variety of defenses the Tigers will throw at them.

Drake has played one other SEC team and beat Vanderbilt at a tournament in Charleston, South Carolina.

McCollum says he is focused on this team despite rumors about his future. His named has been linked to several openings, including the recent one at Iowa.

Junior guard Bennett Stirtz followed McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and led the Bulldog’s to the Missouri Valley regular season and tournament titles in being named the Valley Player of the Year.

Stirtz says the Bulldogs want the game played at their pace.

Senior forward Mitch Mascari  says the Bulldogs have overcome a size disadvantage all season and they will need to do so again.

Mascari also began his career at Northwest Missouri State.