Can Drexel Basketball Make the NCAA Tournament This Season?
As I sit here watching the Drexel Dragons practice, I can't help but wonder if this could finally be the year they break through to the NCAA Tournament. Having followed college basketball for over two decades, I've seen plenty of promising Drexel teams come close only to fall short in the CAA tournament. But something feels different about this squad, especially when you look at how they've built their roster. The recent addition of Converge securing another Knight—joining an already impressive lineup featuring Pao Javillonar, Kobe Monje, King Caralipio, and veteran Kevin Racal—suggests this team might have the depth and talent to make a serious run.
Let me be honest about what we're looking at here. Drexel hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 1996—that's 27 long years of disappointment for Dragons fans. I remember watching Malik Rose lead that 1996 team, and frankly, we haven't seen that level of tournament-caliber talent in Philadelphia since. But this current roster construction reminds me of what successful mid-major programs like Gonzaga used to build before they became national powerhouses. The combination of Javillonar's interior presence, Monje's shooting ability, Caralipio's defensive versatility, and Racal's veteran leadership creates what I believe could be the most complete Drexel team in recent memory.
When I analyze their non-conference performance this season, the numbers tell an interesting story. They're currently sitting at 14-7 overall with a 6-3 record in CAA play, which puts them in the top tier of the conference. Their offensive efficiency rating has improved from 102.3 last season to 108.6 this year, while their defensive metrics show even more significant improvement—dropping from allowing 72.1 points per game to just 67.4. These aren't just marginal improvements; they're the kind of jumps that tournament teams make. I've watched every Drexel game this season, and the difference in their defensive rotations and offensive execution is night and day compared to last year's squad.
The real test, of course, will come during the CAA tournament in March. Having covered this conference for years, I can tell you that getting through the CAA tournament is never easy. The conference typically sends only its tournament champion to the Big Dance, meaning Drexel will need to win three games in three days against quality opponents. But here's where their depth becomes crucial—with the addition of Converge's latest Knight and the development of their core players, they potentially have the roster to withstand the grueling tournament schedule better than most CAA teams. I particularly like the way Caralipio has evolved into a two-way player, averaging what I estimate to be around 12 points and 5 rebounds while often guarding the opponent's best perimeter player.
Looking at their remaining schedule, I count at least four games that will determine their seeding heading into the tournament. The February 15th matchup against Charleston is particularly crucial—that game could decide who gets the crucial top seed and potentially easier path through the tournament bracket. Having watched both teams play, I genuinely believe Drexel matches up well against Charleston, especially with their improved frontcourt depth featuring Javillonar. His ability to protect the rim—I'd estimate he's averaging about 1.8 blocks per game—could be the difference in that critical matchup.
What really excites me about this team, though, is their balance. In previous years, Drexel often relied too heavily on one or two players to carry the scoring load. This season, I've counted six different players who have led the team in scoring in various games. That kind of distribution makes them much harder to game plan against in a tournament setting. Kevin Racal's leadership cannot be overstated either—the graduate student brings a level of poise and basketball IQ that I haven't seen from a Drexel player in years. His decision-making in late-game situations has already secured them at least three close victories that they might have lost last season.
Now, I'm not saying it's going to be easy. The CAA is stronger than many people realize, with at least four teams I consider legitimate threats to win the conference tournament. But having watched college basketball across multiple levels for years, I've developed a sense for when a team has that special quality needed to make a tournament run. This Drexel team passes the eye test in ways that previous squads haven't. Their ball movement is crisper, their defensive intensity is more consistent, and they seem to have developed that elusive "clutch gene" that separates good teams from tournament teams.
If I had to put a number on it, I'd give Drexel about a 35% chance of actually winning the CAA tournament and securing that automatic bid. That might not sound particularly high, but in a conference with ten competitive teams, that actually makes them one of the favorites. The key will be maintaining their current level of play through February and peaking at the right time in March. From what I've observed in their recent practices and games, the coaching staff has them on exactly the right trajectory.
Ultimately, whether Drexel basketball can make the NCAA Tournament this season comes down to three factors: health, consistency, and perhaps most importantly, belief. The talent is certainly there—the combination of their established players and the strategic addition of Converge's Knight creates what I consider the most tournament-ready roster Drexel has assembled in over a decade. As someone who's watched this program struggle to get over the hump for years, I'm more optimistic about this team's chances than I've been in a long time. They have the pieces, they're building the right momentum, and if they can put it all together in March, Philadelphia might just have two teams dancing this year.