New Valley Commissioner – Jeff Jackson--Valley Hoops Insider
Future of the MVC is in Jackson's hands--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Bradley basketball: Another transfer but 3 local players get offers--Peoria Journal Star
Drake rewards basketball coach DeVries with 8-year extension--Associated Press
NCAA Tournament 2021: Mid-major stars set to incite madness--Heat Check CBB
Tank Hemphill, Drake
ShanQuan “Tank” Hemphill missed Drake’s last nine games of the regular season due to injury but is expected to rejoin the team for the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs went 19-1 with Hemphill on the floor as opposed to 6-3 without him during the regular season. While this team will still be without star guard Roman Penn for the postseason, it is extremely positive news that Hemphill will be back in action. The 6-6 senior forward has been excellent this year as a dynamic finisher, superb rebounder, and underrated defender.
Hemphill is the team’s leading scorer when healthy. Over the course of this season, “Tank” is averaging 14.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on 83-for-118 (70.3 percent) shooting in at-the-rim situations. Considering fewer than 50 percent of those baskets were assisted, this is a superb player who gets downhill and finishes extremely well.
The Green Bay transfer is a major difference-maker who could push Drake not only to a First Four victory but perhaps further. It seems as though a First Four team is dangerous to reach the second weekend every year; could Drake be this year’s version? With Hemphill back in the mix, the Bulldogs are potentially a better team than the No. 11 seed next to their name.
March Madness Day 1 primer: First Four schedule, times, channels, scores, predictions--Heat Check CBB
No. 11 Drake vs. No. 11 Wichita State
- Time: 6:26 p.m. ET
- Channel: TBS
- Venue: Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Ind.)
A battle of former MVC foes takes the Mackey Arena stage in the second matchup of Thursday’s quadruple header. Newly minted Darian DeVries and Drake narrowly snuck into the field after starting the season 18-0 as injuries to lead guards Roman Penn and Tank Hemphill significantly altered the rotation.
While Penn is done for the year, Hemphill is expected to play Thursday night for the first time since Feb. 10. If he’s up to speed, the Bulldogs should have a solid chance against Wichita State.
Interim-turned-permanent head coach Isaac Brown did a masterful job propelling the Shockers to an NCAA Tournament berth after a tumultuous offseason. Sophomore guard Tyson Etienne is tallying 17 points a night for a WSU team that has won eight of nine. The winner will take on USC on Saturday.
Drake (-2) vs. Wichita State expert picks
- Andy Dieckhoff — SU: Wichita State; ATS: Wichita State
- Brian Rauf — SU: Drake; ATS: Drake
- Connor Hope — SU: Wichita State; ATS: Wichita State
- Eli Boettger — SU: Drake; ATS: Drake
- Lukas Harkins — SU: Drake; ATS: Drake
Drake signs basketball coach Darian DeVries to 8-year contract extension--Des Moines Register
Drake Announces Contract Extension For Head Men’s Basketball Coach Darian DeVries--godrakebulldogs.com
Evansville basketball lands commitment from 6-foot-7 Antoine Smith Jr.--Evansville Courier & Press
Redbirds Battle Tulane in the First Round of the WNIT--goredbirds.com
Josh Schertz Introduced as 26th Head Men's Basketball Coach--gosycamores.com
16 Questions for First Round Friday of the NCAA Tournament--Rush The Court
With the first round of the NCAA Tournament now just days away, here is a question I have for each of Friday’s 16 match-ups.
- #8 Loyola (Chicago) vs. #9 Georgia Tech: Which senior big can find success against the opponents tenacious defense? This matchup features the ACC’s Player of the Year in Moses Wright and the MVC’s Player of the Year in Cameron Krutwig. Loyola possesses the best defensive efficiency, while Georgia Tech comes in fresh off of forcing Florida State to commit 24 turnovers in the ACC title game.
2021 NCAA Tournament: Why Loyola-Chicago, Michigan St. are sleepers to watch--College Basketball Talk
Loyola-Chicago – No. 8 seed, Midwest Region
This is a familiar name, isn’t it? Many will remember the Ramblers’ magical run to the 2018 Final Four as an 11-seed — especially because it introduced the world to Sister Jean — on the back of stingy defense and incredibly timely shooting.
Well, as you can probably tell from the seeding, this year’s team is better. That is mostly driven by its dominant defense: Loyola is the top team in the entire nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. They also give up the fewest points and free throw attempts.
This shows two desirable traits in a sleeper:
First, they are elite on one side of the ball, defense in this case.
Second, they control the pace of the game. It doesn’t matter how talented or athletic its opponents are, Loyola won’t let teams run it out of the gym.
Combine those positives with their pedigree, the momentum they have as a regular season and conference champion and Porter Moser’s experience coaching a lower-seeded team deep into the tournament, and the Ramblers feel like the best bet of any sleeper to go on a surprise tear.
Ask the Expert: Shannon Ryan, reporter at the Chicago Tribune
“Overall, it’s Loyola’s defense. They’re top in the nation, they hold teams to just 55 points a game, they’ve held tons of teams to under 50 points and really slow teams down and get to them. Lucas Williamson is the Defensive Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference. They have a lot of the same qualities they had in 2018, but some people say they’re better. They’ve got maybe a little more size, and they’ve got some experience and some good shooters as well. So they could maybe surprise people yet again.”
Loyola-Chicago, Ga. Tech meet in First Round--Associated Press
March Madness 2021: 5 mid-majors that can make Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament--Fansided
5 mid-majors who can get to the Sweet 16 in March Madness
5. Loyola-Chicago
Having experience getting deep into March helps and Loyola-Chicago has that in spades. Porter Moser guided his team to the Final Four in 2018 when Sister Jean became a cultural icon and this Ramblers’ team might be even better, ranking inside the Top 10 of the NCAA’s NET rankings and the KenPom efficiency ratings.
Loyola-Chicago has a tricky road to get to the Sweet 16, facing a first-round matchup against No. 9 Seed Georgia Tech before facing top-seeded Illinois in the Sweet 16. Center Cameron Krutwig is a matchup problem and was a key role player on the Ramblers’ Final Four team so he knows what it takes to get deep, making Loyola-Chicago a dangerous out in March.
2021 NCAA Tournament picks: Seth Davis makes his predictions for Friday’s first-round games--The Athletic
No. 9 Georgia Tech vs. No. 8 Loyola Chicago (-5), 4 p.m., TBS. The Yellow Jackets have won eight games in a row, including a 16-point win at Virginia Tech and an 80-75 win in the ACC tournament final over a Florida State squad that a lot of people are picking to make the Final Four. But Georgia Tech will be without ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright, a 6-9 senior forward who ranks third in the ACC in scoring (17.4 points), fourth in rebounds (8.0) and sixth in blocks (1.6). He would have been matched up with Ramblers senior center Cameron Krutwig, who ranks in the top 10 of the Missouri Valley Conference in points (15.0), rebounds (6.7) and assists (3.0). The Jackets do have a superior two-way point guard in 6-foot senior Jose Alvarado, and they’re one of the oldest teams in the country. But we now know that a fully vaccinated Sister Jean will be at this game, and I’m not taking my chances with that kind of higher power. The pick: Loyola Chicago
There’s power in that mustache: Loyola Chicago’s Cameron Krutwig leads the hot Ramblers, upper lip first--The Athletic
5 things to know about Georgia Tech, Loyola’s 1st-round opponent that will reportedly be without ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright--Chicago Tribune
Cameron Krutwig Named to AP Third Team All-America--Loyola Phoenix
Preview: Loyola Men’s Basketball Set For Defensive Battle Against Georgia Tech in First Round--Loyola Phoenix
Krutwig Named To USBWA All-District Team--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Begins WBI On Friday Afternoon Against Stetson--loyolaramblers.com
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