The six biggest questions on college basketball's coaching carousel--ESPN
1. What is Indiana going to do?
After days of speculation, Brad Stevens on Friday finally put an end to the rumors he was considering leaving the Boston Celtics to take over at Indiana. Regardless of whether he ever entertained the idea, that ship has sailed, so where does Indiana turn next?
The Hoosiers had been linked with former Michigan coach John Beilein, Texas Tech's Chris Beard, Baylor's Scott Drew and Arkansas' Eric Musselman in the early days of the search. But the strongest buzz coming out of the weekend centered around New York Knicks assistant coach and Indiana alum Mike Woodson and former Ohio State coach Thad Matta. Some are skeptical Matta would take the job, but it could also be the opportunity that lures him back into coaching. Woodson interviewed over the weekend, sources told ESPN. What about Porter Moser? The Loyola Chicago head coach just battered a Big Ten rival in Indiana's backyard and has a Final Four on his résumé. Beilein also remains involved, but there's a line of thinking that it would be done by now if he was the pick.There's some chatter that Indiana has seen what Juwan Howard has done at Michigan and been impressed, which could increase the chances for Woodson or fellow Hoosier alums Keith Smart and Calbert Cheaney.
2. Where's Porter Moser coaching next season?
As we mentioned above, Moser beating Illinois in the second round on Sunday has increased his stock even more. He entered the postseason as arguably the hottest name on the coaching carousel, given his Final Four run in 2018 and Missouri Valley titles in three of the past four seasons. I think he holds the key to the carousel moving forward. If Indiana shows interest, Moser could theoretically take any job he wants. He's among the early favorites at Marquette -- it's likely there's mutual interest -- and he has also been connected to the DePaul job for a year. Moser could also wait and see if any other jobs open.
Moser is a bit of a different candidate. He already makes more than $1 million per year at Loyola Chicago, he grew up just outside Chicago and he already turned down a hefty pay bump when St. John's was interested a couple years ago. Preferences that might be obvious for other candidates don't necessarily apply to him.
I don't know if the carousel is going to stop spinning and wait for Moser to be finished with the NCAA tournament and then make a decision, but I'm not sure any of the big jobs move on until they know for sure Moser isn't interested. Indiana turning to Moser would be awfully interesting.
5. What's the latest on the other big vacancies?
We addressed Indiana above, so we'll start with Marquette. The two names linked right away to the vacancy were Moser and Beilein, and I'd imagine those two will be heavily involved. Former Marquette coach and current Georgia boss Tom Crean is interested but unlikely to have a real shot at the job. As mentioned, Smart could have some interest if he's looking to leave Texas. Other names linked in the past have included Bradley's Brian Wardle, while Cleveland State's Gates could be involved.
Collier paces Texas women in win over NCAA 1st-timer Bradley--Associated Press
A bandwagon fan’s guide to Bradley women’s basketball--Bradley Scout
Preview: Bradley vs Texas--Bradley Scout
Bradley falls to Texas in NCAA tournament--Bradley Scout
Texas Ends Bradley Run In NCAA First Round--bradleybraves.com
Drake women's basketball finishes season with a win--Des Moines Register
Women's Basketball Closes 2020-21 Season with 78-68 Win Over Bowling Green--godrakebulldogs.com
UE’s 5 Best Wins From The 2020-21 Season--Eville-Ways
Watch now: Illinois State women lose season finale to Tennessee Martin--The Pantagraph
Redbirds fall to Skyhawks in final game of the season--Vidette Online
Illinois State’s Comeback Falls Short, Wraps Up 2020-21 Season at WNIT--goredbirds.com
TODD AARON GOLDEN: Crazy cycle left no chance to give a proper farewell--Terre Haute Tribune Star
March Madness: Historic upsets, Big Ten chokes and 10 takeaways from the first 2 rounds of the NCAA Tournament--Fansided
6. Loyola-Chicago’s Porter Moser became the most interesting coaching candidate in this hiring cycle
One of the big issues with the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee was their complete disregard of Loyola-Chicago’s metrics, handing a 23-4 team ranked inside the Top 10 of both the NET and KenPom efficiency ratings an 8-seed based on the fact they played in the Missouri Valley Conference. That decision not only was a slap in the face to the Ramblers, one of the nation’s best teams, but hurt the Illinois team that drew them in the second round since the Fighting Illini shouldn’t have had to face an opponent that difficult in the Round of 32.
Loyola-Chicago pulled off the upset to send the Illini home but this team may be better than the one that Porter Moser took to the Final Four as an 11-seed back in 2018. Moser has now become the biggest rising star in the mid-major coaching ranks, taking a program that hadn’t done much of anything since 1985 and turning it into a legitimate powerhouse out of the MVC.
High-major programs should come calling for Moser, who turned down the St. John’s job two years ago and has improved his stock significantly over the past two years in Chicago. Expect Indiana to make a big run at Moser, who has enough leverage now that he can pick where he wants to go if he decides to make a jump to a power-conference program.
Florida basketball: 5 potential replacements for embattled Mike White--Fansided
4. Porter Moser, Loyola-Chicago Head Coach
Moser has led Loyola-Chicago to at least the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last three NCAA Tournaments, with a 99-35 record over the last four seasons. He notably turned down an offer from St. John’s after the Ramblers’ 2018 Final Four run, but’s he’s an easy candidate for the opening at Indiana until further notice.
Moser has some coaching roots in the South. He was an assistant at Texas A&M, then an assistant and eventually head coach at Arkansas-Little Rock. He then served as head coach at Illinois State, before becoming a disciple of the late Rick Majerus at Saint Louis.
There’s a case for Moser to be higher on this list. But his profession of loyalty to Illinois-Chicago seems genuine, and it’s hard to see Florida as a spot he’d consider a destination job. But if White is fired, the powers that be in Gainesville should try to get Moser.
Puppet Ramblings: Round of 32, Day 2--Hoops HD
-Loyola Chicago basically led Illinois tip to buzzer and knocked them off for one of the more surprising results of the NCAA Tournament 71-58. A lot of people (like myself) were very impressed with how good the Illini looked and thought they’d basically walk into the Final Four. Now, a lot of people are suddenly up in arms about how Loyola Chicago was only seeded #8th. While I don’t entirely disagree, I also can’t help but notice that on Selection Sunday you saw no such outcries. And, the committee can only evaluate what is there. Had Loyola Chicago played a full OOC schedule and had it been a normal year they would have perhaps shown that they were better than an 8 seed caliber team. As would have UC Santa Barbara. As would have some other teams.
From A (Alabama) to V (Villanova): One question for every team in the men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16--The Athletic
Loyola Chicago: How heavy is that crown?
The Fighting Sister Jeans have enjoyed life as the cute Cinderella, but now they find themselves in the unexpected position of being favored by 6½ points in a Sweet 16 game. Will that affect their mindset?
Basketball is basketball, so this shouldn’t be a big deal. But it is undoubtedly different. Three years ago the Ramblers snuck up on everyone, got real lucky in winning their first three games by a total of four points, and then pounded Kansas State to reach the Final Four. Loyola brought a pressure-free edge to its second-round matchup with Illinois, the classic little brother scrapping its way to victory over powerhouse State U. It’s probably a good thing the Ramblers are staying in the Indianapolis bubble as opposed to returning to campus and getting showered by all kinds of praise. We saw multiple examples in the first two rounds of how hard it is to carry the pressure of being the favorite. Now we’ll find out how well Loyola’s shoulders can bear that newfound mantle.
March Madness: Top takeaways from NCAA Tournament’s wild opening weekend--Heat Check CBB
Duos leading Cinderellas
The amount of upsets we saw this weekend was awesome, and there was one thing that almost all of them had in common: each “Cinderella” had two of the three best players in that game.
Cameron Krutwig was the best player on the court in Loyola Chicago’s win over top-seeded Illinois. He was helped by fellow senior Lucas Williamson, who was the game’s third-leading scorer (14 points).
Coaching matters
With all the craziness, having a proven, battle-tested coach has proven to be a huge difference.
Porter Moser has Loyola Chicago back after 2018’s Final Four run despite getting a No. 8 seed.
March Madness 2021: Ranking the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16--Heat Check CBB
Ranking the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 field from Gonzaga to Oral Roberts.
After the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, expectations were sky-high for the return edition to make good on the missed madness. Boy, the opening weekend did not disappoint whatsoever. Upsets ran rampant throughout the first few days of the dance with the likes of two No. 2 seeds and a No. 1 seed all falling prior to the Sweet 16. Even a No. 15 seed followed in the footsteps of “Dunk City” to become the second-ever to reach the second weekend. The first few days of the 2021 NCAA Tournament put the madness in March and was a blast to witness.
Indiana has done a commendable job hosting the event and the Big Dance’s return to the sporting world’s center stage is exciting. And while the hectic, four-games-at-once upset central of opening weekend has passed, the Sweet 16 presents us with some of the best teams in the nation still vying for the chance at cutting down the final nets in early April. Three No. 1 seeds still remain, including the two teams that everyone has been waiting to see face off all season long.
Has this entire year really just been exposition for Gonzaga vs. Baylor? Perhaps, but those two teams still need to win three more games apiece to reach that matchup.
6. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (26-4)
Loyola Chicago entered the NCAA Tournament with the nation’s best adjusted defensive efficiency rating and proved its dominance during the opening weekend. The Ramblers first took down Georgia Tech and then stifled Illinois in a second-round victory to advance to the Sweet 16.
Porter Moser’s team is well-connected defensively while featuring one of the nation’s top stoppers. Lucas Williamson did more than just show his defensive prowess over this past weekend, though; Williamson also scored 35 total points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. His production is sometimes overshadowed by All-American teammate in Cameron Krutwig.
Loyola is not a Cinderella this season. While the slipper fit in 2018, the Ramblers are a better team now than the Final Four group and are playing to their potential. This squad is elite defensively and features a bevy of 3-point shooters around Krutwig.
Reseeding the men's March Madness 2021 field for the Sweet 16--ESPN
5. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (Original seed: No. 8. Reseed: No. 2)
The selection committee's seeding of Loyola Chicago isn't difficult to understand. The Ramblers lost to Wisconsin by double digits in their only nonconference matchup against a Power 5 NCAA tournament team. (The Ramblers also beat North Texas in January.) They also had losses to Drake, Indiana State and Richmond, all without a signature win to offset those defeats. More than anything, Porter Moser's squad represents the unfairness of a season that provided limited nonconference options for mid-majors due to COVID-19.
But the committee considered the metrics that told us this was a very good team months ago. This squad justified its No. 1 adjusted defensive efficiency rating on KenPom by holding Illinois to 0.88 points per possession. A second Final Four run in three years does not seem impossible for this group after leading Illinois -- the best team not named Gonzaga for the past month -- from start to finish. No team beneath Loyola Chicago on this list can match the weight of that victory. The Ramblers have played top-seed basketball since Jan. 10 (one loss).
Loyola To Compete In 2021 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis--loyolaramblers.com
Former Kickapoo star Jared Ridder is leaving Missouri State basketball program--Springfield News-Leader
Ridder Moving on to Next Chapter in Basketball Career--missouristatebears.com
Calip leads No. 5 Missouri St. over No. 12 UC Davis 70-51--Associated Press
On to the next one! MSU Lady Bears advance in NCAA Tournament after beating UC Davis--Springfield News-Leader
NCAA Tournament: What to know about Wright State, the Lady Bears' second round opponent--Springfield News-Leader
NCAA Tournament: MSU Lady Bears' mental toughness has them dancing into the second round--Springfield News-Leader
MSU Lady Bears to play Wright State with NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance on the line--Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears roll Aggies, advance to round of 32--The Standard
Lady Bears Pull Away from UC Davis for NCAA First Round Win--missouristatebears.com
Panthers are WNIT Regional Champions and Head to Memphis--unipanthers.com
Finley Region MVP, Maahs All-Region Team--unipanthers.com
Seventh Valparaiso player enters transfer portal--NWI Times
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