What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/27/2021

Under the Radar Game of the Day – Friday, February 26 (and other News, Notes, and Games)--Hoops HD

NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES
-DRAKE AT BRADLEY (Missouri Valley). Drake will get a bit of a challenge on the road today, especially with them being a little short handed, but it’s still a winnable game and I think they are very close to landing in a situation to where they are safely inside the bubble.
-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT LOYOLA CHICAGO (Missouri Valley). Loyola is definitely inside the bubble right now and will remain there so long as they continue to hold serve.

Prim scores 33 to lead Missouri St. over Evansville 90-81--Associated Press
Berhow scores 15 to carry N. Iowa over Illinois St. 70-56--Associated Press
Brodie scores 21 to lead Drake over Bradley 80-71--Associated Press
LaRavia lifts Indiana St. past Valparaiso 58-43--Associated Press
Valpo seeks revenge on Indiana St.--Associated Press
Pandemic challenges also give some teams chances to bond--Associated Press
Covid Bright Spots? Playing the Games--Valley Hoops Insider

'A battle of heart': Bradley basketball makes a push, but can't get past Drake--Peoria Journal Star
2021 Arch Madness: Seeding scenarios heading into final day of regular season--Peoria Journal Star
Strong start doesn’t last, Braves fall to Drake--Bradley Scout
Drake Tops Braves, 80-71--bradleybraves.com

Men’s Basketball Wins 24th Game; Moves One Win Away From Clinching League Title--godrakebulldogs.com

Red-hot Missouri State delivers Evansville its seventh straight loss with one game to go--Evansville Courier & Press
Prim and Mosley Too Much For The Aces On Friday--Eville-Ways
Jawaun Newton has career game against Missouri State--gopurpleaces.com

Watch now: Northern Iowa downs Illinois State as Redbirds headed for MVC tourney play-in round again--The Pantagraph
Men's basketball still looking up at UNI in Valley standings after 70-56 loss--Vidette Online
Redbirds Go Cold in Loss to Panthers--goredbirds.com

No Key, no problem as ISU rolls past VU--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores' Defense Stifles Valpo for Road Victory--gosycamores.com

No. 21 Loyola holds on to beat Southern Illinois 60-52--Associated Press
College basketball rankings: Loyola Chicago closing in on MVC title, has the look of an NCAA Tournament team--CBS Sports
Loyola Men’s Basketball Outlasts Southern Illinois, Kennedy Provides Boost Off Bench--Loyola Phoenix
10 Teams Built to Bust Brackets in the 2021 Men's NCAA Tournament--Bleacher Report

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
6 of 10
Loyola-Chicago's Cameron KrutwigCharlie Neibergall/Associated Press
Projected Seed: 9
Loyola-Chicago isn't going to sneak up on anyone like it did three years ago. Not only is that run to the 2018 Final Four still fresh in the minds of all college basketball fans, but this year's Ramblers are ranked in the AP Top 25 and have climbed all the way up to No. 10 on KenPom.
That latter factoid is because they have the most efficient defense in the country.
Between their elite defense, their slow pace of play and a general lack of offense in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Ramblers are on a Virginia-like run of holding 13 consecutive opponents to 58 points or fewer. They don't allow second chances, they don't commit fouls and they rarely commit live-ball turnovers that lead to fast-break opportunities.
Even in the 77-63 loss at Wisconsin back in mid-December, the Ramblers held the Badgers to 38.5 percent shooting inside the arc and allowed just six offensive rebounds. However, it was an unfortunate night in the three-point luck department with Wisconsin canning 10 of 18 attempts.
In addition to that great defense, the Cameron Krutwig-led Ramblers also have one of the most efficient two-point attacks in the country. Gonzaga is leaving everyone in the dust in that category, but at 58.6 percent against D-I opponents, Loyola-Chicago is comfortably ranked in the top 10.
Maybe the Ramblers won't make another deep run, but it's hard to imagine a scenario in which they get blown out. Even if they wind up as the No. 8 or No. 9 seed that draws Gonzaga or Baylor in the second round, they're going to put up a valiant fight.