Tuesday, March 20, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/19/2018

The Morning Dish – Sunday, March 18, 2018--Hoopville
Along with the University of Maryland-Baltimore County becoming the first 16 seed to defeat a 1 seed with a fearless performance Friday against Virginia (‘UMBC’ should appear right next to the word ‘onions’ in the dictionary), we also know after Saturday that we’re guaranteed to have at least one double-digit seed remaining after this weekend. Loyola Chicago nipped Tennessee 63-62 in a second round game in Dallas, the Ramblers advancing with a second straight game-winner in the final seconds, this time as Clayton Custer’s jumper hit all parts of the rim and rolled in with :03.6 left for the winning points.

Loyola was outstanding and in control much of the way after falling behind 15-6 just over four minutes into the game, limiting the Volunteers to just 10 points the rest of the first half and eventually leading by 10 with four minutes to play. Tennessee fired back late, hitting several three-pointers and taking advantage of turnovers and missed free throws by the Ramblers to eventually take a 62-61 lead with 21 seconds left after a three-point play by Grant Williams.

As they oft have been this year in tight situations, though, the team from Chicago was cool in the clutch, and Custer’s fadeaway jumper from the right wing bounced three times before going in. Loyola is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1985, also its last NCAA tourney appearance. And we can’t continue to get enough of the Ramblers’ story, as well as Sister Jean, the team’s 98-year old nun/team chaplain.

(Loyola’s run shows yet again the absurdity of just how badly the NCAA Selection Committee continues to misjudge teams like them. It’s all but a sure thing that the Ramblers wouldn’t have been in the tourney if not for winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, this despite having 27 wins going into the MVC tourney final and handily winning the regular season title in a double round-robin schedule in the No. 8-ranked league in the country.)

Something that should be noted about Loyola coach Porter Moser, who is rightfully getting a moment in the sun this week: he entered this season with a career record as a head coach of 193-206. This is his seventh year at Loyola, and the Ramblers’ record through his first six was 89-105, and in his overall first 13 years as a head coach he’d had exactly one season with more than 18 wins-the 2014-15 campaign at Loyola, when the Ramblers went 24-13 and won the College Basketball Invitational title. Moser’s teams had never made so much as the NIT before this year, and he was fired from Illinois State after four years, which to some made him a retread when he took over at Loyola, though he served four years as the top assistant to the late, great Rick Majerus at Saint Louis. At some schools, he assuredly would’ve been fired before ever getting to accomplish what his team has this year.
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Today’s Menu:
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One more CIT game on the slate has Drake at Northern Colorado.
Under The Radar Postseason News, Notes and Highlighted Games – Sunday, March 18th--Hoops HD
CIT

-DRAKE AT NORTHERN COLORADO (5:00 PM, CBS Digital Network). The Bears of Northern Colorado were the last team to get a bye into the 2nd round of the CIT – they will play a Drake team that won against Abilene Christian 80-73 in their opening game on Monday (dubbed the Lou Henson Classic).
Drake men's basketball: Bulldogs' season ends with 81-72 loss to Northern Colorado in CIT--Des Moines Register
Drake men's basketball: Bulldogs a bright light among state's hoops futility--Des Moines Register
Bulldogs lose early, tight game to Bradley in first round; Loyola wins MVC bid--Times Delphic
Men's Basketball Season Comes To An End In CIT Loss At Northern Colorado--godrakebulldogs.com

Drake women finish undefeated in conference schedule . . . again--Times Delphic
Spencer: UE basketball coaching search is progressing--Evansville Courier & Press
Loyola reaches Sweet 16, Muller tweets approval--Vidette Online
ISU men have to do what they haven't done all season to win Arch Madness--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Late Friday tipoff means time-killing for Sycamores, Redbirds--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Scott has nightmare game as Sycamores season ends in 77-70 loss--Terre Haute Tribune Star
TODD AARON GOLDEN: Curse the basketball gods for cruelty toward Scott--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Q&A: Lansing wants to rise to challenges as he tries to get ISU program back on-track--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores go head-to-head with Redbirds in MVC Tourney--The Statesman
Sycamores Push Bears to Brink, Fall in Regular Season Finale--The Statesman
Sycamores Fall To Redbirds In Arch Madness Quarterfinals--The Statesman
Sycamores Fall To Redbirds In Arch Madness Quarterfinals--gosycamores.com
Make Plans Now To Attend The Greg Lansing Basketball Camps--gosycamores.com

ISU women fall to Salukis, locked into No. 5 seed in Valley tournament--Terre Haute Tribune Star
ISU falls short at Missouri State--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Tournament time for ISU Women’s Basketball--The Statesman
Sluggish Offense Stymies Sycamores, 54-43--gosycamores.com
Sycamores Push Bears to Brink, Fall in Regular Season Finale--gosycamores.com
Indiana State Secures Fifth Seed, Faces Southern Illinois in MVC Tournament--gosycamores.com
Ashli O'Neal Named to MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team--gosycamores.com
Wendi Bibbins Named All-MVC First Team--gosycamores.com
Heartbreak in the Heartland--gosycamores.com
No. 11-seed Loyola-Chicago beats No. 3 Tennessee to advance to Sweet 16--College Basketball Talk
Sister Jean the star of Loyola’s Cinderella run--College Basketball Talk
Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Recap: An evening full of buzzer-beaters and monster performances--College Basketball Talk
SHOTS OF THE DAY

You make the call here.

Was it Jordan Poole’s buzzer-beating three for No. 3-seed Michigan:

MICHIGAN WINS IT AT THE BUZZER!!!! 🚨🚨🚨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/COR9MEjX59

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 18, 2018

Or Clayton Custer hitting Loyola-Chicago’s second game-winner in the span of three days?:

RAMBLERS WIN!!! 🚨🚨🚨

CINDERELLA LIVES ON!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ynhEMDNAGs

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 18, 2018
2018 NCAA Tournament Conference Breakdown: ACC, Big 12 make up half of Sweet 16--College Basketball Talk
1 — Missouri Valley Conference

No. 11 Loyola

Notes: The Ramblers advancing to the Sweet 16 is important for the Valley because it signifies that the league can still make noise in March without Wichita State. It probably feels even better for the Valley knowing that the Shockers also lost in the first round to No. 13 seed Marshall. One Valley head coach even made sure to mention all of that on Twitter.
Most memorable moments from first weekend of 2018 NCAA Tournament--College Basketball Talk
2. THE No. 11-SEED LOYOLA-CHICAGO RAMBLERS, AND SISTER JEAN, ARE IN THE SWEET 16 AFTER TWO GAME-WINNERS

I don’t even know where to start with this.

Twice in the span of three days, Loyola trailed 62-61 with less than 10 seconds left and twice in the span of three days they made a game-winner to advance to the next round of the tournament.


2018 NCAA Tournament: Eight viral heroes from first weekend of March Madness--College Basketball Talk
1. SISTER JEAN

Mic drop:

Unfazed by the Big Stage, Loyola-Chicago Is Ready to Keep Its Streak Alive--Sports Illustrated
Who is Sister Jean? Meet Loyola-Chicago's spiritual guide and biggest fan--CBS Sports
WATCH: Loyola-Chicago wins on wild last-second shot again in NCAA Tournament--CBS Sports
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, Loyola-Chicago has earned your March Madness fandom--CBS Sports
Prayer answered again: Loyola tops Tennessee on late jumper--CBS Sports
2018 NCAA Tournament: One reason to believe in every Sweet 16 team--CBS Sports
No. 11 Loyola-Chicago

Sister Jean's scouting reports and the vibes around Loyola are undefeated so far in the NCAA Tournament. Even if you ignore the potentially storybook, made-for-a-movie scenarios at play here with the lovable underdog, Loyola has simply been the most clutch team in the NCAA Tournament. The Ramblers have beaten the SEC regular season co-champions and the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament by a combined three points, with one buzzer beater.
2018 NCAA Tournament: The top 16 epic moments from an incredible first weekend--CBS Sports
6. Loyola-Chicago wins in closing seconds over Tennessee in second round. You already know there's another Ramblers moment that ranks higher than this one, but still, rare is the team that gets to the Sweet 16 by winning consecutive one-possession games on their final shot in each contest. Porter Moser's team has something special going on. And given the state of the South Regional, it's completely rational to believe the Ramblers can make the Final Four.

Here's how they ensured themselves a trip to Atlanta. Clayton Custer got some generous bounces from the rim and backboard, as if the apparatus was reassuring the ball all would be OK.

Sister Jean must be mentioned with all of this as well. This year's tournament is providing national headlines from so many origin points across the country. A 98-year-old nun has become the biggest celebrity of this tournament.

Read that sentence again.

Only the NCAA Tournament can do this. It's terrific. Best event in sports, and you know it to be true.
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2. Loyola's late bucket beats Miami. Poole's shot is the only true buzzer-beater of the tournament so far, but Loyola's winner is bigger because the school is smaller. Sorry, but those are the rules. Plus, the flow of this play is also more frenzied, enhancing the drama. It is almost a buzzer-beater. And the sound of that ball crashing into that net is beautiful.

What's forgotten somewhat is that Loyola was a trendy upset pick. Every couple of years we get a small-school team to deliver on that. Porter Moser's crew has been fabulous. The team also got Obama to give a shoutout.

Mark me down for Loyola in the title game. I am all in on the Ramblers.
NCAA Tournament Podcast: Discussing Sweet 16 left from a wild first weekend--CBS Sports
2:22: We discussed the South Regional -- where Kentucky, as a No. 5 seed, is the highest-seeded team remaining. Turns out, the Wildcats won't have to beat a top-six seed to get to the Final Four. But watch out for Loyola-Chicago. And Mariah Musselman is coming for everybody's job.
Nevada vs. Loyola Chicago: Full preview, odds, TV schedule--24/7 Sports
Ranking each Sweet 16 team's road to the Final Four--24/7 Sports
15. Loyola Chicago
Road: Nevada, Kentucky/Kansas State
After a first round full of upsets, Loyola Chicago was one of the few teams to pull off an encore. The reward? A winnable game against Nevada in the Sweet 16 — KenPom favors Nevada by two — and a possible date with another SEC school in the Elite Eight after Loyola-Chicago took down Tennessee in the Round of 32. Loyola likely wouldn’t be favored against any of those teams (maybe Kansas State?), so the road to the Final Four wouldn’t be easy.
Sweet 16: Re-seeding the 2018 NCAA Tournament field; Kentucky not in top 10--CBS Sports
9 Loyola-Chi.
Actual seed: No. 11 in the South Regional. At 30-5 with wins over Florida, Miami and Tennessee, the Ramblers are quickly shifting from Cinderella story to bona fide Final Four consideration. Porter Moser's team ranks in the top 15 in 2-point and 3-point field goal percentage. Clayton Custer is the perfect point guard for this system. You can't really phony your way to 30 wins if you come from the Missouri Valley. Sister Jean is the biggest story with the Ramblers, but I think there's more to come with this team. Custer hit a winner and so did Donte Ingram. Who's next up? Junior guard Marques Townes, your number could be next.
Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago's 98-year-old team nun, has Tennessee thoroughly scouted--The Dagger
Loyola Chicago's magical run continues with another late game-winner--The Dagger
Sister Jean, crying Tennessee girl sum up ecstasy, agony of March after Loyola Chicago upset--The Dagger
Loyola-Chicago's Cinderella run continues with last-second upset of Tennessee for Sweet 16 berth--USA Today
Loyola-Chicago's Cinderella run continues with last-second upset of Tennessee for Sweet 16 berth--USA Today
Final Four good? Six reasons Loyola-Chicago is more than just your average Cinderella--USA Today
March Madness: Five key takeaways from the NCAA tournament's second-round action Saturday--USA Today
4. Loyola looks like VCU and George Mason more than FGCU. The Ramblers' last-second 63-62 victory over SEC regular-season champion Tennessee proved coach Porter Moser's team is no one-hit wonder. And closer inspection at Loyola shows this isn't your typical Cinderella, either — buzzer-beaters aside. Loyola's got the makeup and moxie of a team that can do more than bottom out in the Sweet 16. The recipe includes an unselfish cast that lives for the extra pass, a balanced offense that leans on a different hot handed player each game, and a top-five defense nationally.
2018 NCAA tournament: Porter Moser brings winning culture to Loyola-Chicago--USA Today
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Tip times, TV, and streaming info for the regional semifinals--Mid-Major Madness
NCAA Tournament: First Round Recap/Second Round Preview – Saturday, March 17th--Hoops HD
DALLAS

(11) LOYOLA-CHICAGO VS. (3) TENNESSEE (6:10 PM, TNT). The Ramblers scored the first upset of the tournament after beating Miami with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds on Thursday afternoon. It was their first win in the NCAA Tournament since 1985 (which also happened to be their last trip to the Sweet 16). Tennessee started cold against Wright State, but ended up winning fairly comfortably in their own right. The winner will face either Cincinnati or Nevada in the South Region.
Little Caesars has to give America free pizza thanks to UMBC beating Virginia--The Comeback
Just like that, we’ve gone from 68 teams to 16 in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. After a wild opening week that saw UMBC make history, Loyola-Chicago (and their trash-talking nun) become America’s darlings, and multiple high seeds head home early, we’ve whittled down the teams left standing with a chance to win the national title.

It’s been one of those tournaments where seeds didn’t mean much in most cases. So now that we’re left with almost as many 11-seeds as there are 1-seeds, let’s take a look at the remaining squads to figure out where they all rank now. Some of them have clearly been under-seeded while others have acquitted themselves quite well given their high seed.

By re-ranking based on what’s happened, perhaps it’ll give us a clearer idea of which teams will end up in San Antonio a week from now.
16. Loyola-Chicago

All due respect to 2018’s Cinderella darlings because they’ve certainly earned the right to be here in the Sweet Sixteen. They’ve had not one but two thrilling, buzzer-beating victories to get them here, but they’ve also topped a 6-seed and a 3-seed in doing so. They’ve even “lucked out” in getting 7-seed Nevada in the Sweet Sixteen (though the Wolfpack is certainly thinking the same thing).

While it’s possible the Ramblers could keep rambling into the Elite Eight and beyond, the odds remain thoroughly stacked against them. They’re almost never going to be able to out-muscle their opponents and will instead need to rely on a strong defensive effort to keep things close.
Two Teams of Destiny--Valley Hoops Insider
Rocky toppled: Clayton Custer's do-or-die shot lifts Loyola over Tennessee and into Sweet 16--Chicago Tribune
Loyola headed to Sweet 16 after Clayton Custer hits game-winning shot in final seconds--Chicago Tribune
NCAA tournament winners and losers: TruTV, Sister Jean, Thomas Jefferson and more--Chicago Tribune
Loyola toast of the town — and campus — ahead of Sweet 16 game against Nevada--Chicago Tribune
Fantastic finishes and memorable moments: Now it’s on to Sweet 16--Chicago Tribune
No. 11 seed Loyola has gained as much recognition with back-to-back game-winning shots in the closing seconds to take down No. 6 Miami and No. 3 Tennessee. Who’s rooting against a team with a 5-foot, 98-year-old nun who is greeted in her wheelchair after each victory with warm hugs from players about 80 years younger?
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SOUTH

No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 11 Loyola

These teams know how to fight. Their coaches know how to make adjustments. Neither team wants to stop pulling off upsets. Loyola won its first two games on heroic shots in the closing seconds. The Ramblers have the longest winning streak — at 12 games — of any team in the tournament. Nevada fought back from a 22-point deficit in the final 11 minutes to beat No. 2 Cincinnati. Prediction: Loyola 67, Nevada 64.
Rambler Return Receives Warm Welcome on Campus--Loyola Phoenix
NCAA Regional Ticket Information Announced--loyolaramblers.com
Men's Basketball Season Comes To An End In CIT Loss At Northern Colorado--The Missouri Valley
Loyola: NCAA Regional Information--The Missouri Valley
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