What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/7/2021

Transfer portal effects, 5 teams to watch, the next (?) Gonzaga, Charleston magic and more: Mid-major mailbag--The Athletic

What five mid-major programs are you most excited about this coming season? Specifically which five could you see making a Sweet 16 (or better) run? — Dan B.

I’ll hold off on any Sweet 16 predictions because A) it’s early May, for goodness sakes; B) so many rosters are still unsettled; and C) I certainly didn’t see Oral Roberts crashing the Sweet 16 at any point during the just-completed regular season, so what good are my predictions, anyway?

At some point soon, probably around the NBA Draft declaration deadline in late May, I’ll drop my way-too-early Mid-Major Top 10. But since you asked for five, I’ll give you a quintet I’m really interested in. Note this isn’t in any way a ranking, and I’m leaning toward intrigue here as much as anything:

Drake. I admit I thought the Bulldogs were toast after Roman Penn and ShanQuan “Tank” Hemphill got hurt late in the regular season. I underestimated the team’s resilience. Drake beat Wichita State in the First Four before running into a USC steamroller. I also didn’t see Joseph Yesufu blossoming into a big-time scorer in the final few weeks. He parlayed that into a transfer to Kansas. But Penn and Hemphill will be back, along with D.J. Wilkins, Tremell Murphy and Darnell Brodie — the starting five that powered the team to an 18-0 start. Coach Darian DeVries’ son, Tucker, a four-star recruit, comes on board along with intriguing Omaha transfer Ayo Akinwole.

Do you think Loyola Chicago returning four out of their five seniors, as well as bringing in two Ivy League transfers, will make them a lock to return to the tournament? — James K.

The return of seniors Keith Clemons, Tate Hall, Lucas Williamson and Aher Uguak for their super senior years, along with Braden Norris and Ivy League transfers Chris Knight (Dartmouth) and Ryan Schweiger (Princeton), should make the Ramblers a borderline preseason Top 25 team. A lock for the NCAA Tournament, though? I’d have to say no, for a few reasons. The one guy who isn’t coming back, Cameron Krutwig, was so important to everything Loyola Chicago did, and replacing him won’t be simple. Drew Valentine sure looks like the right guy to take over for Porter Moser, but the fact remains that Valentine is a 29-year-old without any head coaching experience. And then there is the Missouri Valley Conference, which did get an at-large bid this season but also offers plenty of opportunities for résumé-damaging losses and an often chaotic league tournament.

I’d bet on seeing Loyola Chicago in March Madness again, but almost no team in traditional one-bid leagues can be considered a lock for the bracket.

Same Values With A New Voice--Valley Hoops Insider