What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/21/2021

Puppet Ramblings: Round of 64, Day 2--Hoops HD

-Loyola Chicago is back in the Round of 32 after knocking off Georgia Tech.
-Drake had a big win in the opening round against Wichita State, but they’ll really have their hands full today against a USC team that once again looks like they are capable of winning games in this tournament.

WBB: Game Day Approaches--bradleybraves.com

Evan Mobley scores 17 points to lift Southern Cal past Drake--Associated Press
March Madness live coverage: Abilene Christian and Ohio pull off NCAA Tournament upsets, VCU out because of COVID-19--The Athletic

Drake secured its first NCAA Tournament win in 50 years by beating Wichita State on Thursday, rallying for a 53-52 victory in a First Four matchup of No. 11 seeds. Then the Bulldogs were somewhat close to another win, staying competitive (at least early) against USC. But Drake missed on 21 of its first 24 shot attempts in the second half and that was that in the 72-56 loss.

Sophomore point guard Joseph Yesufu posted another brilliant performance, going for 26 points But none of his teammates scored more than six. The Trojans blocked five shots and held the Bulldogs to 13-for-44 shooting (29.5 percent) inside the 3-point arc. Yesufu connected on six 3-pointers. The sophomore showed his explosiveness running the show, but the rest of the Bulldogs were 1-for-12 from distance.

Credit USC, which will face Kansas in the second round on Monday. The sixth-seeded Trojans improved to 23-7 largely thanks to the Mobley brothers. Evan, the 7-foot star big man who is an all-American and a likely NBA Draft lottery pick, went for 17 points and 11 rebounds. His older brother, Isaiah — a mere 6-10 — added 15 points in just 23 minutes. USC has an opportunity to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. — Matthew Gutierrez

Joseph Yesefu scores 26, but Drake fades down the stretch against USC--Mid-Major Madness
Drake Loses – Not Defeated--Valley Hoops Insider
NCAA Tournament: Drake basketball falters in second half, USC gradually pulls away for victory--Des Moines Register
'Tank' Hemphill misses second half as Drake's resilient run comes to an end against USC--Des Moines Register
Drake runs out of gas in second half against USC--NWI Times
Men's Basketball Season Ends In NCAA Tournament With A 72-56 Loss To USC--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Bounces Back with 100-91 Win over DePaul--godrakebulldogs.com

Watch now: Illinois State women capture WNIT victory over Samford--The Pantagraph
Women's basketball advances to consolation championship in WNIT--Vidette Online
Illinois State Advances to WNIT Consolation Final with Win over Samford--goredbirds.com

2021 NCAA Men’s Tournament Viewing Guide: Second Round Sunday--Blogging The Bracket

Midwest 8. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (25-4, 16-2 MVC Automatic) vs. 1. Illinois Fighting Illini (24-6, 16-4 Big Ten Automatic)

12:10 p.m. on CBS (March Madness Live game link) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Jim Nantz and Bill Raftery with Tracy Wolfson reporting)

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One of the marquee ties of the second round features a pair of in-state rivals who last met in November 2011, a 67-49 Fighting Illini victory. The Midwest No. 1 seed has won three in a row in the series with the Ramblers last victorious in 1986—at home! While Loyola reached the Sweet Sixteen in its last NCAA appearance, when Porter Moser’s club won two more games, Illinois last reached the second weekend in 2005, which also ended in a Final Four trip.

The last time Loyola played Illinois in the NCAA Tournament, the Ramblers were doing more than winning a national title. They were fighting for racial and social justice.--Chicago Tribune
Column: Illinois-Loyola is the 1st in-state NCAA Tournament matchup since 1984. It could symbolize the start of a college basketball resurgence.--Chicago Tribune
Which big man will dominate? 4 things to watch for when Illinois and Loyola play in the NCAA Tournament.--Chicago Tribune
No. 8 Loyola stuns No. 1 Illinois 71-58 to punch its ticket to the Sweet 16. The Illini become the 1st top seed to exit this year’s NCAA Tournament.--Chicago Tribune
Loyola Chicago vs. Illinois score: No. 8 seed Ramblers stun No. 1 seed Illini to make Sweet 16--CBS Sports
Loyola-Chicago knocks off top-seeded Illinois, and it wasn’t even that close--The Comeback
Nun-and-done: Loyola Chicago stuns top-seeded Illinois 71-58--Associated Press
Loyola Chicago showed the world exactly what it has done all year--Mid-Major Madness
Illinois, Loyola ready for rare in-state tournament matchup--Daily Herald
COLUMN: Enjoy The Moment, Rambler Fans. Trust Me.--Off The Inbound
March Madness: Impactful player matchups for every NCAA Tournament second round game--Heat Check CBB

Kofi Cockburn (Illinois) vs. Cameron Krutwig (Loyola-Chicago)

In a battle between Goliath and a smaller Goliath, we will see pure power against fundamental soundness. Can Krutwig do anything to slow Cockburn down? If not, he could be riding the pine with fouls, given the physicality that Illinois’ center often requires. Either way, this one should be interesting.

March Madness 2021: Tournament committee did Loyola Chicago no favors and it cost Illinois a dream season--Heat Check CBB
Loyola Men’s Basketball Looks to Upset No. 1-seeded Illinois March 21--Loyola Phoenix
Brackets Busted: No. 8-seeded Loyola Upsets No. 1-seeded Illinois--Loyola Phoenix