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Fox Sports
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Drake's Division II transfers are proving they can win in March Madness
Associated Press WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bennett Stirtz understood time was winding down on him Thursday night. Ben McCollum was frantically waving his arms at him on the sideline, and the Drake fans sitting behind the Bulldogs' coach were doing the same thing. They were imploring Stirtz to shoot, so he did — a 25-foot teardrop 3 as the shot clock expired that hit nothing but net. 'I don't really know what I was doing there,' Stirtz said with a sheepish grin afterward. Oh, but the boys from Drake know exactly what they're doing. They proved that in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when a team full of Division II transfers including Stirtz, and led by their old D-II coach from Northwest Missouri State, beat back a stiff second-half challenge from Missouri for a 67-57 victory. The win pushed the No. 11 seed Bulldogs (31-3) into a second-round showdown Saturday against third-seeded Texas Tech or No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington, and within one win of reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1971. 'The reason you do this is the stage, it allows you to pass a message, which is tough kids, connected kids, kids that love each other, can still win,' said McCollum, who bypassed several Division I offers while leading the Bearcats to four national titles, only to finally accept the monumental task of replacing Darian DeVries at Drake last April. 'I get a lot of joy out of just me seeing it, to be honest,' McCollum said. 'I'm pretty selfish about it. I love seeing these guys every day. I love going to practice. There's a level of memories and things you go through that nothing can replace.' The Bulldogs are all about making some March memories. Given where they came from, who could blame them? Stirtz was the kid from Liberty, Missouri, that none of the big schools — including the Tigers — wanted out of high school. So, he headed up the road to Maryville and Northwest Missouri State, where McCollum was busy building a juggernaut, and became a Jimmy Chitwood-like star who seemed to do just about everything on the hardwood. Stirtz was joined by Isaiah Jackson, who grew up not far from Liberty in Independence and was similarly overlooked. And by Daniel Abreu, who grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and Mitch Mascari, who found his way there from Geneva, Illinois. 'When I signed my little contract,' Abreu recalled, 'I thought that was it. I'm a D-II athlete. And I was OK with that.' Yet things were unfolding at Drake last year that changed all their lives. DeVries left for West Virginia, and McCollum bit on the opportunity to replace him. And when 15 players left the program, the new coach began to fill the holes by calling up some of his old players, giving those outcasts and misfits the opportunity to join him in D-I. 'I brought winners with me. That's what I brought,' McCollum said. 'I guess my superpower is finding winners, finding tough kids and believing in them. I know I've tried to be humble, but man, I believed in these kids.' They're paying back that belief in a big way. The Bulldogs already have set a school record for wins. They swept the regular- and postseason Missouri Valley Conference titles. And with a raucous crowd behind them Thursday night, they ended Drake's four-game skid in first-round NCAA Tournament games. 'It's hard to put into words, because personally, I was in Division II and now I'm here, in a tournament I've dream of playing in. To get even just one win is insane,' Jackson said. 'It even tops it off when you play a team from your home state.' Nobody from Drake seems content with just one win, though. There is a genuine belief that a program that relies so heavily on D-II transfers can beat anyone in D-I, and it has earned another chance to prove it on Saturday night. 'We can go as far as we want to,' Jackson said. 'As long as we stay together, believe in each other, and we do the little things, we can make a run and surprise a lot of people in the nation.' ___ AP freelancer Avery Osen contributed to this report. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. recommended
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drake's Division II transfers are proving they can win in March Madness
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bennett Stirtz understood time was winding down on him Thursday night. Ben McCollum was frantically waving his arms at him on the sideline, and the Drake fans sitting behind the Bulldogs' coach were doing the same thing. They were imploring Stirtz to shoot, so he did — a 25-foot teardrop 3 as the shot clock expired that hit nothing but net. 'I don't really know what I was doing there,' Stirtz said with a sheepish grin afterward. Oh, but the boys from Drake know exactly what they're doing. They proved that in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when a team full of Division II transfers including Stirtz, and led by their old D-II coach from Northwest Missouri State, beat back a stiff second-half challenge from Missouri for a 67-57 victory. The win pushed the No. 11 seed Bulldogs (31-3) into a second-round showdown Saturday against third-seeded Texas Tech or No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington, and within one win of reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1971. 'The reason you do this is the stage, it allows you to pass a message, which is tough kids, connected kids, kids that love each other, can still win,' said McCollum, who bypassed several Division I offers while leading the Bearcats to four national titles, only to finally accept the monumental task of replacing Darian DeVries at Drake last April. 'I get a lot of joy out of just me seeing it, to be honest,' McCollum said. 'I'm pretty selfish about it. I love seeing these guys every day. I love going to practice. There's a level of memories and things you go through that nothing can replace.' The Bulldogs are all about making some March memories. Given where they came from, who could blame them? Stirtz was the kid from Liberty, Missouri, that none of the big schools — including the Tigers — wanted out of high school. So, he headed up the road to Maryville and Northwest Missouri State, where McCollum was busy building a juggernaut, and became a Jimmy Chitwood-like star who seemed to do just about everything on the hardwood. Stirtz was joined by Isaiah Jackson, who grew up not far from Liberty in Independence and was similarly overlooked. And by Daniel Abreu, who grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and Mitch Mascari, who found his way there from Geneva, Illinois. 'When I signed my little contract,' Abreu recalled, 'I thought that was it. I'm a D-II athlete. And I was OK with that.' Yet things were unfolding at Drake last year that changed all their lives. DeVries left for West Virginia, and McCollum bit on the opportunity to replace him. And when 15 players left the program, the new coach began to fill the holes by calling up some of his old players, giving those outcasts and misfits the opportunity to join him in D-I. 'I brought winners with me. That's what I brought,' McCollum said. 'I guess my superpower is finding winners, finding tough kids and believing in them. I know I've tried to be humble, but man, I believed in these kids.' They're paying back that belief in a big way. The Bulldogs already have set a school record for wins. They swept the regular- and postseason Missouri Valley Conference titles. And with a raucous crowd behind them Thursday night, they ended Drake's four-game skid in first-round NCAA Tournament games. 'It's hard to put into words, because personally, I was in Division II and now I'm here, in a tournament I've dream of playing in. To get even just one win is insane,' Jackson said. 'It even tops it off when you play a team from your home state.' Nobody from Drake seems content with just one win, though. There is a genuine belief that a program that relies so heavily on D-II transfers can beat anyone in D-I, and it has earned another chance to prove it on Saturday night. 'We can go as far as we want to,' Jackson said. 'As long as we stay together, believe in each other, and we do the little things, we can make a run and surprise a lot of people in the nation.' ___ AP freelancer Avery Osen contributed to this report. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Drake's Division II transfers are proving they can win in March Madness
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bennett Stirtz understood time was winding down on him Thursday night. Ben McCollum was frantically waving his arms at him on the sideline, and the Drake fans sitting behind the Bulldogs' coach were doing the same thing. They were imploring Stirtz to shoot, so he did — a 25-foot teardrop 3 as the shot clock expired that hit nothing but net. 'I don't really know what I was doing there,' Stirtz said with a sheepish grin afterward. Oh, but the boys from Drake know exactly what they're doing. They proved that in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when a team full of Division II transfers including Stirtz, and led by their old D-II coach from Northwest Missouri State, beat back a stiff second-half challenge from Missouri for a 67-57 victory. The win pushed the No. 11 seed Bulldogs (31-3) into a second-round showdown Saturday against third-seeded Texas Tech or No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington, and within one win of reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1971. 'The reason you do this is the stage, it allows you to pass a message, which is tough kids, connected kids, kids that love each other, can still win,' said McCollum, who bypassed several Division I offers while leading the Bearcats to four national titles, only to finally accept the monumental task of replacing Darian DeVries at Drake last April. 'I get a lot of joy out of just me seeing it, to be honest,' McCollum said. 'I'm pretty selfish about it. I love seeing these guys every day. I love going to practice. There's a level of memories and things you go through that nothing can replace.' The Bulldogs are all about making some March memories. Given where they came from, who could blame them? Stirtz was the kid from Liberty, Missouri, that none of the big schools — including the Tigers — wanted out of high school. So, he headed up the road to Maryville and Northwest Missouri State, where McCollum was busy building a juggernaut, and became a Jimmy Chitwood-like star who seemed to do just about everything on the hardwood. Stirtz was joined by Isaiah Jackson, who grew up not far from Liberty in Independence and was similarly overlooked. And by Daniel Abreu, who grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and Mitch Mascari, who found his way there from Geneva, Illinois. 'When I signed my little contract,' Abreu recalled, 'I thought that was it. I'm a D-II athlete. And I was OK with that.' Yet things were unfolding at Drake last year that changed all their lives. DeVries left for West Virginia, and McCollum bit on the opportunity to replace him. And when 15 players left the program, the new coach began to fill the holes by calling up some of his old players, giving those outcasts and misfits the opportunity to join him in D-I. 'I brought winners with me. That's what I brought,' McCollum said. 'I guess my superpower is finding winners, finding tough kids and believing in them. I know I've tried to be humble, but man, I believed in these kids.' They're paying back that belief in a big way. The Bulldogs already have set a school record for wins. They swept the regular- and postseason Missouri Valley Conference titles. And with a raucous crowd behind them Thursday night, they ended Drake's four-game skid in first-round NCAA Tournament games. 'It's hard to put into words, because personally, I was in Division II and now I'm here, in a tournament I've dream of playing in. To get even just one win is insane,' Jackson said. 'It even tops it off when you play a team from your home state.' Nobody from Drake seems content with just one win, though. There is a genuine belief that a program that relies so heavily on D-II transfers can beat anyone in D-I, and it has earned another chance to prove it on Saturday night. 'We can go as far as we want to,' Jackson said. 'As long as we stay together, believe in each other, and we do the little things, we can make a run and surprise a lot of people in the nation.'
Chicago Tribune
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: After accepting job in finance, Geneva's Mitch Mascari gets Drake to NCAA tourney instead. ‘A tough call.'
Geneva alum Mitch Mascari had it all last spring or so it seemed. A 6-foot-5 guard and 3-point shooter extraordinaire, Mascari completed five years at Northwest Missouri State. It was the premier NCAA Division II program over the past decade, winning four national titles under coach Ben McCollum. Mascari played on four NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including back-to-back champs in 2021 and 2022 while earning a degree in financial management and his MBA. The real world beckoned, so he accepted a job in asset management for a Wheaton firm, starting in June. What more could he ask for? Turns out, there was one thing. Due to the pandemic, Mascari had another season of eligibility, 'Like many high school players, I always thought I was good enough to play Division I,' Mascari said. 'I received some D-I looks but no offers.' Northwest Missouri State didn't disappoint, either. 'We had pretty wild talent,' Mascari said. 'One guy, Trevor Hudgins, went on and played two years with the Houston Rockets and is still playing professionally. Another transferred to Creighton and was all-Big West the first year. 'And my redshirt year, we played Duke and only lost by six points.' After 15 years of leading the Bearcats, McCollum — 'Coach Mac' as Mascari and his teammates refer to him — was also wondering how his act would play in Division I. When the Drake job opened, McCollum applied for it. He then received the offer to coach at the Des Moines school in his native Iowa. Needing to rework the roster, McCollum offered the Division I carrot to four of his Northwest Missouri State players, including Mascari. 'It was a tough call,' Mascari said. 'It was weird having to tell my boss I'm not coming because it was a good job. But there was always the possibility of us succeeding at D-I.' The competitor in him won out. So, too, did Drake. All four Bearcat players made the move and started the whole season. Drake won its first 12 games and took the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, then gained the conference's NCAA Tournament berth by winning the postseason tournament final 63-48 over Bradley. Geneva coach Scott Hennig, who was an assistant under Phil Ralston when Mascari was promoted to the varsity as a sophomore, said the youngster could always shoot. 'Even as a freshman, we knew he could shoot,' Hennig said. 'We had a lot of gym rats led by the likes of Nate Navigato, who went on to a great career at Toledo. Mitch followed suit.' Practice was the key, according to Mascari, who shot 44% (77 of 177) on 3-pointers as a senior at Geneva and 47% (56 of 120) and 48% (82 of 171) his last two years at Northwest Missouri State. He's averaging 9.8 points and shooting 41% (86 of 210) for Drake (30-3). 'When it comes down to it, it's just repetition,' Mascari said. 'When Ralston brought me up to varsity, I was a skinny kid, probably 6-3, but I was a twig.' He said his parents would drop him off at the Geneva Park District's Pershing Rec Center on Kaneville Road and he would shoot for hours on one of its two courts. He has filled out to 200 pounds. 'He has an elite skill in that he can shoot it very well and from very deep,' Hennig said. 'He fits the game today, being a bigger kid who can shoot and stretch the floor. 'He's hard to guard, especially if you have guys around him who can drive. They benefit each other.' Drake learns its destination for the first round of the NCAA Tournament during Sunday's selection show. Pairings are announced at 5 p.m. on CBS. Hennig has ordered a Drake jersey with Mascari's name and No. 22 on it, hoping the first round is within driving distance so he can wear it to the game. 'At first, I wanted to go to the coolest city possible, but that doesn't matter,' Mascari said. 'It's not like we're going to see much of it anyway. Hopefully, a lot of our fans can get there. 'As a player, you don't want to win any more than you do in D-II, but the national recognition in D-I is a bit of a change. It's easier for people to keep tabs on you.' Could there be another next level? 'I'm taking the season as it goes,' Mascari said. 'If there's a good opportunity, I'll handle it. 'I don't want to distract myself with it right now.' Wisely done. Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM CDT
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
EA Sports College Football 25 ratings for all of Colorado's incoming transfers
When it was released in July 2024, the return of EA Sports College Football 25 captured the hearts of college football fans. Still, unlike previous iterations of the video game, this version featured real-life players. When you play with the Colorado Buffaloes, you see Shedeur Sanders lining up under center instead of a generic quarterback wearing No. 2. CFB 25 uses a player rating system that grades players based on their production on the field and uses metrics like those seen in Pro Football Focus. Players are graded 0-99 in attributes such as speed, strength and position-specific ratings such as pass-blocking for offensive linemen. This becomes a valuable tool in the age of the transfer portal. Fans can now get a sense of the type of player their team is adding by looking at their rating. Below is the EA Sports College Football rating for each of Colorado's incoming transfers: T'Z UP 🇹🇴 — Mana Taimani (@mana_taimani) January 12, 2025 Rating: NR Mana Taimani does not appear on Ole Miss' roster. I would guess that Taimani will be graded in the high 60s or low 70s in next year's game. Former Northwest Missouri State TE Zach Atkins has committed to Colorado #SkoBuffs — NoSkoZone (@noskozone) December 17, 2024 Rating: NR For as great as CFB 25 is, the game does not feature any teams lower than the Football Bowl Subdivision. While future releases could at least add the Football Championship Subdivision, Northwest Missouri State transfer tight end Zach Atkins doesn't appear in CFB 25. I predict Atkins will be the Buffs' highest-rated TE in CFB 26, with a rating of around 75. Turning the backyard into our own stadium #AGTG 🦬 @07ksalt — Kylan Salter (@kylansalter) January 3, 2025 Rating: 70 Colorado continued its trend of adding a set of brothers to its roster. We will see the representative on the offensive side of the ball soon, but Kylan Salter is an important piece with the losses the Buffs suffered at linebacker this offseason. Rating: 71 The Buffs raided their conference rival for a new starting punter this offseason by adding former Kansas Jayhawk Damon Greaves. Rating: 73 Sharing a name with an NFL Hall-of-Famer, Buck Buchanan was brought in to compete for kicking duties, likely as a kickoff specialist. Fortifying the trenches. 😤@Zarian255026215 x #GoBuffs — Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) January 8, 2025 Rating: 75 Zarian McGill is listed as a center, so he will likely compete with Cash Cleveland for the starting job. Rating: 75 Joseph Williams, the reigning AAC Freshman of the Year, will likely sneak into the high 70s or low 80s and will earn snaps with the starting wide receiver unit. Rating: 75 Listed as an outside linebacker in Jacksonville State's three-man front, Reginald Hughes showcased the ability to generate a pass rush last year, compiling 4.5 sacks. Watch for Hughes to line up as an end on pass-rush situations in CU's four-man defensive front. BREAKING: Former Illinois offensive lineman Zylon 'Zy' Crisler has committed to the Colorado Buffaloes! 🦬He has 30 career starts and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2023 — STAMPEDE (@stampedecu) January 9, 2025 Rating: 76 If I had to pick one offensive lineman to get a rating bump next season, Zy Crisler would be my pick. The hulking 6-foot-6, 335-pound guard started in 30 games at Illinois and was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention. Rating: 76 The first of a trio of transfer defensive tackles the Buffs have added, Gaviel Lightfoot was on the field for 35 games in three seasons for the Bulldogs and started 27. Lightfoot will almost certainly be a part of the rotation on the interior D-line. Rating: 78 The pass-rush specialist of the DTs, Tavian Coleman will be on the field when teams are throwing the ball to collapse the pocket in front of the quarterback's face. USF S Tawfiq Byard is one of the best safeties in the portal🦬😈 @byard_tawfiq 6'1 200 SO. | 54 TOT TKLS| 2 SACKS|1 INT| 0 TD AllowedGreat tackler in open space, and is solid in coverage. He's the brother of NFL S Kevin Byard. Would love for him to be a Buff👀 #GUCCESZN — GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) December 6, 2024 Rating: 78 A big pickup for a team losing both of its starting safeties, Tawfiq Byard brings a strong pedigree and a hard-hitting style to the Buffs' defensive backfield. Rating: 79 According to CFB 25, Aki Ogunbiyi is the highest-rated OL transfer the Buffs have added. I expect Ogunbiyi to compete for a starting guard spot next season. Rating: 79 Listed as a cornerback in CFB 25, Makari Vickers has the experience and size to line up at either CB or safety in Robert Livingston's defense. Rating: 79 Jehiem Oatis only appeared in early updates of CFB 25, as he was removed from Alabama's roster after opting to redshirt. Oatis was listed as a defensive end but will likely play inside for the Buffs next season. Rating: 82 Martavius French is the type of athlete the Buffs needed to add at LB this offseason. CU is down both of its starting LBs from last season, and French is an early favorite to earn a starting spot. Rating: 89 One of the highest-rated quarterbacks in both the transfer portal and CFB 25, Kaidon Salter will probably see a slight rating decrease next year. Regardless, he will be involved in CU's offense next season as either a starter or in relief of freshman Julian Lewis. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: EA Sports College Football 25 ratings for Colorado's new transfers
