What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/13/2018

The Morning Dish – Thursday, March 1, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

The regular season continues to wind down, and early conference tournament action continues.
...
First round action is on tap in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, with No. 9 Northern Iowa taking on No. 8 Evansville (7 p.m.), then No. 10 Valparaiso takes on No. 7 Missouri State (9:30 p.m.)

Bubble Tracker: 10 bid thieves that could shatter fringe teams' NCAA tourney hopes--USA Today

► Illinois State (16-14, 10-8): Last season the Redbirds were the most notable snub of Selection Sunday. This season they’re the No. 3 seed in Arch Madness. Despite losing twice to MVC regular-season champ Loyola (Ill.), the Ramblers are no Wichita State. (But they are good enouogh to make this a two-bid league with a current No. 11 seed résumé). Whoever’s best for three days goes to the Big Dance. And ISU might have the best shot at upsetting Loyola in the title game.
...
Loyola-Chicago (Out for now)

► Profile: 24-5 (15-3) 32 RPI, 129 SoS, 259 NonCon SoS

The Good: Wins vs. Florida, Illinois State (twice), Southern Illinois
The Bad: Losses to Milwaukee, Indiana State

The Morning Dish – Saturday, March 3, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

A marathon day of games is ahead of us, including a couple of rivalry games, and the first NCAA Tournament bid will be handed out as well.
...
Also with semifinal action is the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, where No. 5 Bradley plays No. 1 Loyola-Chicago (3:30 p.m.), then No. 3 Illinois State takes on No. 2 Southern Illinois (6 p.m.)

The Morning Dish – Sunday, March 4, 2018--Hoopville

Side Dishes:
...
The Missouri Valley furnished two dandy semifinal games, with No. 1 Loyola (Ill.) holding off Bradley and third-seeded Illinois State outlasting No. 2 Southern Illinois in overtime.
...
Today’s Menu:
...
The MVC final has third-seeded Illinois State in the title game for the third time in four years, this time against No. 1 Loyola Chicago (2 p.m., CBS). Both are looking to halt lengthy NCAA Tournament droughts; the Ramblers haven’t been there since 1985, the Redbirds since 1998.

The Morning Dish – Monday, March 5, 2018--Hoopville

As conference tournaments take over the entirety of the landscape until Selection Sunday, we’ve just gone through quite a weekend. Four NCAA Tournament bids went out on Sunday, and we had a little bit of everything among them. And other tournaments continue on, a few with championship matchups all set.

In the championship games on Sunday, we had a dramatic finish, a near-historic comeback, an aberration and an anticlimactic game.
...
The Missouri Valley Conference championship game came after the ten prior contests in St. Louis were all decided by ten points or less. As such, it was a mild surprise that Loyola-Chicago pulled away from Illinois State for a 65-49 win to complete a terrific run for the Ramblers, who won the regular season title. Defense again carried the day for the Ramblers, as they held Illinois State under 32 percent from the field. It remains the case that the 1999 tournament is the only one in conference history where all of the games were decided by ten points or less.

Conference tournament brackets, automatic bids to 2018 NCAA Tournament--CBS Sports

Elsewhere in auto bid land ...

There were five automatic bids on Tuesday. We've got the details below. Be sure to check in with this post daily, as it will be updated with schedules, scores and conference tournament info as results shift throughout championship week.
...
For the first time in 33 years, Loyola-Chicago will compete for the national championship as a participant in the NCAA Tournament. That 1985 team made to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual runner-up Georgetown, and now Porter Moser's Ramblers will try to put together a run of their own after defeating Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship Sunday to claim that league's automatic bid.

Loyola-Chicago, Radford, Lipscomb and Michigan punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, earning automatic bids in conference tournament championship game victories. Radford was the first champion of the day, winning the Big South tournament final in buzzer-beating fashion and snagging a ticket to the Big Dance with a 55-52 win against Liberty.

Champ Week Live Blog, March 1: This. Is. March.--Mid-Major Madness

UPDATE: 10:43

With Missouri State coach Paul Lusk facing an uncertain offseason, his Bears played a solid first half in the Missouri Valley’s Conference Tournament. MSU leads Valparaiso 39-30. The Bears have dominated the glass 23-15 and senior Jarrid Rhodes buried all three of his shot attempts from long distance to lead the Bears with 13 first-half points. Missouri State last won the MVC’s conference tournament in 1992. This is Valpo’s first season in the Valley.

Northern Iowa, Missouri State could break MVC quarterfinal dominance by top seeds--Hoopville
The Morning Dish – Friday, March 2, 2018--Hoopville

Conference Tournament roundup:
...
The Missouri Valley’s Arch Madness opened with 9 seed Northern Iowa (60-50 over Evansville) and No. 7 Missouri State (83-79 victors over Valparaiso) moving out of the play-in games. We wrote last night about the opportunity available to both teams now to break a long history of those first round winners being quickly taken out in the tourney’s quarterfinals.
...
Today’s Menu:
...
Arch Madness in St. Louis really gets cranking with what should be four very competitive quarterfinal games. The best just might be the 2/7 game between Southern Illinois and Missouri State.

Loyola outlasts Northern Iowa at its own game to move on at Arch Madness--Hoopville
The Morning Dish – Saturday, March 3, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

A marathon day of games is ahead of us, including a couple of rivalry games, and the first NCAA Tournament bid will be handed out as well.
...
The Horizon League has quarterfinal action in Detroit with No. 7 Green Bay taking on No. 2 Wright State (5:30 p.m.), then No. 8 Cleveland State taking on regular season champion Northern Kentucky (8 p.m.)
...
Also with semifinal action is the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, where No. 5 Bradley plays No. 1 Loyola-Chicago (3:30 p.m.), then No. 3 Illinois State takes on No. 2 Southern Illinois (6 p.m.)

March Madness: Loyola earns first NCAA Tournament bid since 1985--Fan Sided
Madness Men's Basketball 2017-2018 All-High Major Teams--College Sports Madness

First Team
G Clayton Custer
Loyola (IL)
...
Third Team
F/C Alize Johnson
Missouri State

Illinois State tops Indiana State 77-70 to advance in MVC tournament--Chicago Tribune
SIU holds off Missouri State to earn spot in Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals--Chicago Tribune
Illinois State beats Southern Illinois 76-68 in OT to advance to MVC championship against Loyola--Chicago Tribune
Loyola moves on to MVC tournament championship with 62-54 victory against Bradley--Chicago Tribune
Champ Week Live Blog, March 2: This. Is. March.--Mid-Major Madness

UPDATE: 12:40 a.m.

Saturday will be an Arch Madness first. All four teams in the semifinals are from the State of Illinois.

In the final games of the quarterfinal round, Southern Illinois (20-12) defeated Missouri State, 67-63, as five Salukis reached double figures in scoring and shutting down all-league forward Alize Johnson. The 6’9 Johnson scored just six points.

Illinois State (17-14) advanced by edging Indiana State, 77-70. All-conference performer Milik Yarbrough scored 24 points in just 22 minutes of play. ISU’s Big Three of Yarbrough, Keyshawn Evans and Phil Fayne accounted for 57 of the Redbirds’ 77 points. They held Sycamore star Brenton Scott to three points.

SIU and ILS split their season series, as each succeeded on their own home floor.
...
UPDATE: 10:49 p.m.

Illinois State has fought off foul trouble (four players with two fouls each) and hot shooting by Indiana State guard Jordan Barnes to take a halftime lead in their quarterfinal game with the Sycamores.

What is at stake is an all-Illinois final four in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Bradley, Loyola and Southern Illinois have already qualified for Saturday’s semifinal games.

Milik Yarbrough sat much of the first half with two fouls, but still contributed seven points and three assists. Barnes tallied 14 points, making three treys. The St. Louis native is playing in his home town and has collected a league leading 115 triples this season.
...
UPDATE: 9:15 p.m.

Southern Illinois shut down Missouri State’s Alize Johnson and defeated the Bears, 67-63. Five of the six games of Arch Madness have been decided by five or fewer points. Five Salukis scored in double figures and MSU’s Johnson did not.

The NBA hopeful only attempted one shot in the entire second half and finished with six points and 11 rebounds. SIU (20-12) heads to the semifinals. Sean Lloyd’s 13 points led the way. Jarrid Rhodes (21 points) and Jarred Dixon (16) led the Bears (18-15).
...
UPDATE: 5:44 p.m.

Arch Madness delivers every single year, and this year isn’t any different.

Today’s heroics are courtesy of Bradley’s Donte Thomas, who laid the ball in with just over a second left to give the Braves a 63-61 win over Drake. Take a look for yourself:

Here’s the game-winning putback that gave Bradley the win over Drake in #ArchMadness.#MVCHoops pic.twitter.com/wyWBIKnDl9
— Cam Newton (@morrisoncrying) March 2, 2018

This season is turning out to be a really good showing from Brian Wardle’s program, and they’ll have a chance to continue that tomorrow against top-seeded Loyola.

Championship Week Video Notebook: Day 6, Sunday--Hoops HD

both semifinals of the Missouri Valley were exciting

Drake Women's Basketball 2018 NCAA Tournament Capsule--College Sports Madness

Redbirds come up just short again at Arch Madness--Mid-Major Madness
March Madness: At-large bids should be determined before Conference tourneys--Fan Sided

Final Arch Madness Notes: MVC’s choice of Loyola has proven a terrific one--Hoopville
Ten Questions to Consider: Final Regular Season Weekend--Rush The Court

Is Loyola-Chicago an NCAA Tournament team if they were to lose in the Missouri Valley Tournament? While Loyola-Chicago is one of the best shooting teams in college basketball, a single Quadrant 1 win on its resume is likely not enough to earn a Tourney bid.

College Basketball Bid Thieves: What teams could steal a spot in the tournament from the bubble?--College Basketball Talk

MISSOURI VALLEY

Is Loyola-Chicago is deserving of an at-large bid? According to Bracket Matrix, they are the second highest-rated mid-major program. They also have a win at Florida and a top 35 RPI. But a 3-3 mark against the top two Quadrants and a pair of losses to teams outside the top two Quadrants is not ideal, particularly when you consider that they could end up taking another one if they don’t lose to either ILLINOIS STATE or BRADLEY.

2018 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: The South Region--College Basketball Talk

The No. 3 seed in the South is Tennessee, who draws Wright State in the first round of the tournament, while No. 6 seed Miami draws Loyola-Chicago in the first round of the tournament. The Ramblers won at Florida back in December and will be one of the trendy upset picks in the first round of the tournament. They won both the Missouri Valley regular season and tournament, and as a No. 11 seed, they’re rated higher than Davidson, who won the Atlantic 10 tournament.

2018 NCAA Tournament: The Cinderellas you need to pick in your bracket--College Basketball Talk

FOUR TEAMS THAT CAN WREAK HAVOC EARLY

LOYOLA-CHICAGO (11-seed, South): It’s been a while since Loyola-Chicago has reached the NCAA tournament, with this being the program’s first appearance since 1985. But this isn’t a team that’s going to show up for its game against Miami with a “we’re just happy to be here” attitude. Porter Moser’s team has won 28 games and the Missouri Valley regular season and tournament titles, and they’ve been flat-out stingy defensively. The Ramblers have limited opponents to 41.2 percent shooting from the field and 32.9 percent from three, and they’ve also forced a turnover on 20 percent of their opponents’ possessions.

Senior guard Ben Richardson, the Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year, sets the tone on that end of the floor but the entire team is committed defensively. Offensively, league Player of the Year Clayton Custer has led the way for a balanced attack that has five players averaging double figures. According to Ken Pomeroy’s numbers, Loyola’s ranked in the top 20 nationally in both two-point and three-point percentage and eighth in effective field goal percentage. The Hurricanes should be on notice for this dangerous matchup.

2018 NCAA Tournament Power Rankings: The Field of 68, from 1-to-North Carolina-Central--College Basketball Talk

45. LOYOLA-CHICAGO: The Ramblers are currently ranked 41st on KenPom, which is quite impressive for a team in the Valley not named Wichita State. Then throw in these three fun facts: Loyola has not lost since January 31st, they have won 17 of their last 18 games and they went into Florida and picked up a win on the road. They can lock you up and, with five players averaging in double-figures, you never quite know where the offense is coming from. This is a good, dangerous basketball team.

2018 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Will Tony Bennett or Sean Miller end Final Four drought in the South Region--College Basketball Talk

HERE ARE YOUR UPSETS

No. 11 Loyola-Chicago over No. 6 Miami: The Ramblers are a top 25 defense nationally and probably the best defensive team in the tournament from the mid-major ranks. Where Miami can struggle is when they play a team whose defense can keep their guards from penetrating.
No. 11 Loyola-Chicago/No. 6 Miami winner over No. 3 Tennessee: I’m just not sold on Tennessee this season. I think Miami has superior talent and Loyola can hang with their toughness and physicality.

Five-minute guide: Players, teams, storylines and everything else you need to know, from 1 to 68--The Athletic

Five Cinderellas

Loyola-Chicago (36) The Ramblers have a stifling defense (24th nationally) and won at Florida. They feature five upperclassmen in the rotation, led by Clayton Custer and Marques Townes. Their first-round game against Miami will probably not feature a spread of more than a couple of points.

Loyola-Chicago--Sporting News
NCAA Tournament 2018 Bracket: Region-by-Region Breakdown--Sports Illustrated

Most intriguing matchup: No. 6 Miami vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago

The Ramblers are everybody’s favorite Cinderella candidate, making their return to the Big Dance after a 33-year drought, but dismiss a Jim Larrañaga team at your own risk—you may recall Larrañaga knows a thing or two about plucky 11-seeds. The Hurricanes have a balanced lineup led by hyper-athletic freshman guard Lonnie Walker IV that has been hit-or-miss since sophomore Bruce Brown, the team’s most important player, suffered a stress fracture in his foot in late January. (Brown won’t play Thursday.) Their charge will be containing Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Clayton Custer, who needs to return to his regular-season form after a shaky MVC tournament.

March Madness 2018: 5 potential Cinderellas that could pull off upsets--The Dagger

1. Loyola-Chicago | Seed: 11 | Matchup: Miami

The Ramblers are full of great stories. Their coach, Porter Moser, likes to say he’s just “a Catholic kid from Chicago.” And in many ways he is, which is one reason he took the job, then endured a 32-61 start to his tenure. Senior small-ball four Donte Ingram is the Chicago kid who watched local peers leave for the Dukes of the hoops world, but decided to stay home himself. The starting backcourt, meanwhile, grew up on the same Kansas street, won a state title together, then reunited in Rogers Park. These are the protagonists on Loyola’s first journey to the tourney in 33 years.

Great stories, of course, don’t win basketball games. Teams do. But there’s a lot to like about Loyola in that sense as well. It might not be favored against any potential opponent, including a strong Miami team on Thursday. It won’t, however, be outclassed by any either. It could be overpowered, with freshman Cameron Krutwig the only rotation player above 6-foot-6. But it has four 38-percent-or-better 3-point shooters around Krutwig at all times, and plays consistently sound defense. If there’s a double-digit-seeded mid-major in the Elite Eight, it’s going to be the Ramblers. — Henry Bushnell

Porter Moser has Loyola (Ill.) on cusp of NCAA tournament with lessons from Rick Majerus--USA Today
Bubble Watch: Saturday's winners and losers among fringe NCAA tournament teams--USA Today

WINNERS
...
Loyola (Ill.)

The Ramblers don't have a lot of meat to their profile, but Florida's recent surge (Loyola beat UF in non-conference action) could mean quite a bit for their at-large chances should they lose in the Missouri Valley tournament final on Sunday. They defeated Bradley 62-54 in the semifinals on Saturday at St. Louis. The committee has not been kind to mid-majors in recent years, but a blind eye test shows this team having a No. 11 seed and being right in the middle of the bubble.

Drought over, Loyola gets its shining moment with NCAA spot--USA Today
2018 NCAA tournament: Breaking down the March Madness field of 68--USA Today

SOUTH REGIONAL
...
11. Loyola-Chicago

Nickname: Ramblers. Location: Chicago.

Record: 28-5, 15-3. Bid: Missouri Valley champ.

Last appearance: 1985, lost to Georgetown in Sweet 16.

Coach: Porter Mosier (first appearance).

Overview: Loyola had an NCAA tournament profile worthy of an at-large bid after convincingly winning the Missouri Valley regular season and upsetting Florida on the road in non-conference play. There’s no star on this team, but there’s tremendous balance on offense. Loyola ranks third nationally in field-goal percentage. It’s been on defense is where the Ramblers are most impressive, ranking fifth in scoring defense by allowing opponents under 63 points a game. An X-factor is 6-9 freshman Cameron Krutwig, a superb passer who gives this four-guard lineup a dynamic inside-out game.

Projected starters: G Clayton Custer, 6-1, Jr. (13.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, 44.0 3FG%); G Ben Richardson, 6-3, Sr. (6.7 ppg, 3.8 apg); G Marques Townes, 6-4, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 40.3 3FG%); G Donte Ingram, 6-6, Sr. (11.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg); C Cameron Krutwig, 6-9, Fr. (10.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg).

Introducing Cinderella: Loyola-Chicago earns first bid since 1985--College Basketball Talk
The Darkhorse Dozen: 12 Underrated Players Primed to Become Breakout Stars in March--Sports Illustrated

High Five
...
4. Loyola Chicago: The tourney’s most dangerous (likely) double-digit seed may hail from the Missouri Valley. The Ramblers, who rank 42nd nationally in adjusted overall efficiency, won the MVC tournament the way they like: slow (in a 59-possession game) and stingy (holding Illinois State to 49 points, or 0.83 per possession).

Five bold projections for March Madness: Will Michigan go all the way?--USA Today

A mid-major not named Gonzaga will go to the Sweet 16

Loyola's Lucas Williamson (middle) leads the celebration with his teammates after beating Illinois State for the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center. (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images)

There are some dangerous mid-majors out there this season. And forecasting some of these teams as Sweet 16 capable is probably being modest.
...
Loyola-Chicago (a projected No. 10 seed) has a top-five defense and a well-spaced offense loaded with sharpshooters. The Ramblers also have a great inside-out game behind freshman Cameron Krutwig.

March Madness 2018: Ranking all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament field--CBS Sports

34 Loyola-Chi.
At 28-5, is a milestone season for the Ramblers, who haven't danced since 1985. Coached by Porter Moser, this team wins a lot with defense -- and then closes the deal with four 3-point shooters who average 38 percent or better.

NCAA Tournament 2018: Miami vs. Loyola-Chicago live stream, TV channel, time, date--CBS Sports
Loyola Chicago got just what it needed in historic season--Mid-Major Madness
Missouri Valley Tournament championship: Loyola is dancing for the first time since 1985--Mid-Major Madness
Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings: Conference champions get a boost--Mid-Major Madness

This week, you’ll see that the few conference champions who have already been crowned have received a bit of a boost — Loyola Chicago and Murray State, in particular, both made big jumps. Lipscomb also received quite a few votes this week and lands just outside the top 25.
...
Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings: Week 16
RANK    TEAM            RECORD  LAST WEEK       POINTS
...
7       Loyola Chicago  28-5    12              167

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas offers up a few mid-major teams to consider in your bracket--Mid-Major Madness

And Bilas didn’t stop with the Wolf Pack.

Loyola-Chicago is good. I’ve seen them play a few times and they’re tough and talented.

I happen to like Boise State a lot. Chandler Hutchison is the real deal. He’s a first-round draft pick.

You mentioned Middle Tennessee. They’re right there with Nevada as being the best of the traditional mid-majors.

Loyola Chicago (28-5) won the Missouri Valley Conference on Sunday and will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 33 years.

The Ramblers will enter the tournament having won 10 games in a row and 17 of their past 18.

Every Canadian player in the 2018 NCAA Tournament--Mid-Major

Mid-Major Players:

Aher Uguak - Loyola-Chicago - 6’7 So. F. Edmonton, AB Did not play this year due to NCAA rules after transferring from New Mexico.

Get to know the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, who have built a true team culture--Mid-Major Madness
Need bracket help? Here are three mid-major teams capable of first round upsets--Mid-Major Madness

No. 6 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago

Miami comes into the tournament with a 22-9 record, but they have lost four of their past eight games. They started out red-hot but have fizzled late in the season. The Canes don’t have that one player who can take over a game unlike most of the other ACC teams. Their top scorer Lonnie Walker IV only averaged 11.5 points per game.

Loyola-Chicago will play in the tournament for the first time since 1985 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference with a 28-5 record. The Ramblers have the No. 5 ranked scoring defence in the entire country and only allow their opponents 62.2 points per game.

Loyola-Chicago has won 10 games in a row and 17 of their past 18.

The Ramblers are playing with house money: They will be playing a lot of emotion and could be able to knock off the higher-seeded Canes.

Bubble Talk--Bracketville

BEST OF THE REST
Our list resides remains at four. It’s possible another team (or two) could emerge late if things break apart in the conference tournaments.

Locks: None

Should Be In: None

Work to Do: Loyola-Chicago, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Western Kentucky

Loyola-Chicago | RPI: 31 | BPI: 52 | SOR: 50 | Not sure whether a win at Florida will be enough, but it keeps the Ramblers in the conversation. So does an escape Friday afternoon in the MVC Quarterfinals against Northern Iowa. Loyola is 1-1 vs. Quadrant 1

Hoops HD Staff Bracket Projection – Monday, March 5th--Hoops HD

COMMENTS FROM THE HOOPS HD STAFF

THE PUPPET’S COMMENTS:
...
-He has Loyola Chicago, who won at Florida and also beat up on a bunch of sub-NIT teams, on the #12 line. This is what I don’t understand. If you do like the Bonnies, then don’t you kinda have to like Loyola a little bit more??

Loyola-Chicago Basketball: Why the Ramblers will upset Miami--Busting Brackets
Men's Basketball 2018 NCAA Tournament South Regional Overview--College Sports Madness

Who Can Surprise?
Loyola will be one of the popular double digit seeds to win a couple games. Their balanced offense and tough defense will give some teams problems. A win over Miami is one thing, but expecting them to beat Tennessee might be asking too much. Assuming Tennessee can get past Wright State and Loyola or Miami, they are a team to watch too. With the way Virginia, Cincinnati and Kentucky are playing right now and the talent on the Arizona roster, Tennessee could get overlooked. They are a very good team though if their lack of depth in the paint does not become a big issue.
...
Upset Alert!
Loyola beating Miami will be one of the most popular upset picks. Loyola went 28-5 on the year and have a very balanced scoring attack. They also shoot over 50 percent from the floor and will work for quality shots. Miami has a balanced offense too with seven players averaging at least 8.7 points per game. The key for the Hurricanes will be their defense. They rank 11th in the ACC in field-goal percentage and that is a statistic that plays right into Loyola’s strength.

Men's Basketball 2018 NCAA Tournament South Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns--College Sports Madness

#6 Miami (FL) vs. #11 Loyola (IL)
This will be one of the most popular upset picks. Loyola went 28-5 on the year and have a very balanced scoring attack. They also shoot over 50 percent from the floor and will work for quality shots. Miami has a balanced offense too with seven players averaging at least 8.7 points per game. The key for the Hurricanes will be their defense. They rank 11th in the ACC in field-goal percentage and that is a statistic that plays right into Loyola’s strength.

Winner: Loyola

Some forecasted a 12 seed, but the Ramblers are an 11 and will face Miami. The Hurricanes are formidable but beatable, having lost to Syracuse four weeks ago and splitting a pair with North Carolina. KenPom.com rates the Hurricanes just five spots about the No. 41 Ramblers.
...
Winners: Loyola fans

The good news is the Ramblers are in the tourney and an 11 seed. The other good news is that Thursday’s game will be against vulnerable Miami in Dallas, where most round trip flights are under $300. Earlier projections had the Ramblers playing in Boise, where airfare was more than $600. And for intrepid Loyola students, the drive is a mere 14 hours.
...
Winners: Loyola fans

The good news is the Ramblers are in the tourney and an 11 seed. The other good news is that Thursday’s game will be against vulnerable Miami in Dallas, where most round trip flights are under $300. Earlier projections had the Ramblers playing in Boise, where airfare was more than $600. And for intrepid Loyola students, the drive is a mere 14 hours.
@UICFlamesMBB Earns Postseason Opportunity in CIT

Freshman center Cameron Krutwig has Loyola Chicago as a mid-major threat--The Catch and Shoot
68 Degrees of Separation: a Wisconsin connection to every team in the 2018 NCAA Tournament--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

(11) LOYOLA (Chicago) – Porter Moser. The Loyola head coach is from Illinois, but he does have a number of area connections. He spent one year on the staff at UW-Milwaukee as he was working his way up in the early 1990s and also coached for four years at St. Louis under coach Rick Majerus, one of the most notable Wisconsinites in the coaching profession. He also recruited Germantown's Ben Averkamp to Loyola, where Averkamp finished with more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and an Academic All-American nod. Other top players in Wisconsin to play a full allotment of years at Loyola include Andy Polka (Oshkosh West) and JR Blount (Dominican), who was the Ramblers' MVP in 2008 and 2009 and finished in the school's top 10 career totals in points and assists.

Tourney trip: Sixth (last in 1985). Tourney record: 9-4. Facing Wisconsin teams: Never. Leading scorer: Clayton Custer, 13.7 ppg. Best name: Aher Uguak