What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/21/2018

Bradley Basketball Season Ticket Prices Will Not Change in 2018-19--bradleybraves.com
Donte Thomas Named MVC Good Neighbor Award Winner--bradleybraves.com

Greiner of Women’s Basketball Receives MVC Good Neighbor Award--godrakebulldogs.com

5 finalists for the Evansville basketball head coaching job--Evansville Courier & Press
Sources: Boston Celtics coach Walter McCarty emerging as new frontrunner for UE coaching job--Evansville Courier & Press
Could David Ragland win a consolation prize in UE basketball coaching search?--Evansville Courier & Press

Indiana State to Announce New Women’s Basketball Coach Wednesday--gosycamores.com

2018 NCAA Tournament first week review: Chaos not so surprising in a season full of it--Hoopville

Moreover, for all the surprises based on seed in this year’s tourney, though, the final 16 is still light on charm. Florida State, Syracuse and Texas A&M may be lower seeds, but they also have a combined 36 losses this season. FSU and A&M, in particular, are teams whose dominance at times makes it almost unfathomable how they were able to lose to the likes of Boston College and Wake Forest (FSU) or to have seven losses by double digits (A&M). At least with Loyola Chicago facing Nevada in a regional semifinal, we’re guaranteed Cinderella hanging around at least another round.

NCAA Regional Reset: South Region--Rush The Court

Horse of Darkness: #11 Loyola-Chicago (30-5). It speaks volumes about this region that a #11 seed advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and there’s even a debate here, but #7 Nevada and #9 Kansas State both have solid arguments. Still, the Ramblers are the worst remaining seed and no team has taken on that Cinderella “feel” quite like Porter Moser’s group. For Loyola to advance, it took a pair of dramatic (near) buzzer-beaters and some prayers from Sister Jean to upend #6 Miami and #3 Tennessee, the program’s first NCAA Tournament victories since 1985. At no point have the Ramblers looked physically outmatched, though, and it’s doubtful they will against Nevada. Don’t be shocked if this team winds up playing for a trip to San Antonio on Saturday.
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Breakout Star: Clayton Custer, Loyola: The 6’1″ guard couldn’t crack the lineup at Iowa State, so he transferred to a Loyola-Chicago program that had not gone dancing since 1985. And now he’s a March star. Custer’s steady 14-point, four-assist, zero-turnover effort was key against #6 Miami (he was the MVP based on KenPom game scores), but it was his fall-away, kind-iron jumper against #3 Tennessee that’ll keep the point guard in NCAA Tournament highlight reels for years to come.
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Best Regional Semifinal: #7 Nevada vs. #11 Loyola-Chicago. The miracle Wolfpack vs. the blessed Ramblers? Yes, please. Setting basketball analysis aside, it required true heroics from both teams in order for this match-up to happen. As such, we should fully expect a great game — with an even better finish — to go down on Thursday night. And even if it doesn’t, we’ll still wind up with a non-power conference program playing for a trip to the Final Four on Saturday.
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Top Storyline: Sister Jean. UMBC notwithstanding, no story has captured the nation’s heart quite like Sister Jean, the 98-year-old nun who serves as Loyola-Chicago’s team chaplain. A huge basketball fan who’s been filling out brackets for years, Sister Jean has been the unquestioned inspiration for the Ramblers’ deep run, leading the team in prayer before each game and drawing more media attention than Kim Kardashian. The best part? She only picked Loyola-Chicago to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

2018 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 Power Rankings--College Basketball Talk

13. LOYOLA-CHICAGO

I’m a believer in Loyola-Chicago. They can really, really defend, and they are balanced enough defensively that you can’t really key in on one guy. Plus, they have God on their side. Sister Jean has apparently sent up enough Hail Marys that Clayton Custer’s last-second jumper against Tennessee was able to, somehow, find its way into the bucket:

RAMBLERS WIN!!! 🚨🚨🚨

CINDERELLA LIVES ON!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ynhEMDNAGs
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 18, 2018

Top 16 Players of the Sweet 16--College Basketball Talk

One player from each team not mentioned above: Terence Mann, Florida State; Clayton Custer, Loyola-Chicago; Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Michigan; Tyus Battle, Syracuse.

March Madness 2018: Ranking the Sweet 16, and how bitter end could come--Sporting News

13. Loyola (Ill.)

Why it's headed to the Final Four: The Ramblers won each of the first two rounds on last-second shots. They’ll arrive in Atlanta to face a No. 7 seed, and if they win, the opponent will be a 5 or a 9. It’s possible their good fortune will continue. Plus, they’re the most together team that’ll be in the ATL, maybe the most together team left in this show.

Why it'll go home: It’s going to be difficult to defend Nevada’s potent offense, more so to cope with Kentucky’s variety of talents.

March Madness 2018: Nevada vs. Loyola-Chicago matchup, pick, predictions--Sporting News
Ranking the National Championship Chances of Every Sweet 16 Team--Sports Illustrated

10. Loyola-Chicago (No. 11 seed, South)

The Ramblers looked like one of the mid-major ranks’ best teams on Selection Sunday, and the Missouri Valley Conference champs confirmed that by beating Miami in the first round on Thursday and Tennessee in the second round on Saturday. The fact that both of those wins were decided by one-possession margins could be framed as an indication of Loyola-Chicago’s precarious survival so far. Alternatively, it could be viewed as evidence that the basketball gods are looking favorably upon the Ramblers. Either way, the South is up for grabs, and Loyola-Chicago is in position to capitalize.

Ranking the Sweet 16 from most to least likely to win a national title--The Dagger
Ranking the Sweet 16 matchups from most to least compelling--The Dagger

4. Nevada (7) vs. Loyola Chicago (11) | Thursday, 7:07, CBS | South region — Atlanta

It’s Sister Jean vs. Shirtless Musselman. It’s two mid-majors that would pass as high-majors with different names on the fronts of their jerseys. It’s two great stories, two different but successful approaches to program rebuilds, and it’s more or less a toss-up.

Sixteen of the most interesting potential Final Four combinations--The Dagger

2. No chalk Final Four: Loyola-Chicago, Syracuse, West Virginia, Florida State

How weird would this Final Four be? You’d have a true Cinderella in Loyola-Chicago, two ACC teams that failed to finish above .500 in their league and an underseeded West Virginia team that would likely be favored to win.
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5. Final Four guaranteed to have NBA fans changing the channel: Loyola-Chicago, Clemson, Texas Tech, Florida State

These are mostly teams winning in spite of a lack of elite talent. Aside from Texas Tech’s promising freshman Zhaire Taylor, there may not be a first- or second-round pick on one of these four rosters.

6. The Brainiac Final Four: Duke, Michigan, Villanova, Loyola (Chicago)

According to U.S. News and World Report, Duke (9), Michigan (28), Villanova (46) and Loyola-Chicago (103) are the highest-rated academic institutions in their regions.
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10. No fast breaks Final Four: Loyola-Chicago, Syracuse, Michigan, Texas Tech

Virginia may be home early, but that doesn’t mean the pace of play in the Final Four will be fast. All four of these teams are 250th and below in tempo with Syracuse the slowest at 344th nationally.

Examining the six most surprising Sweet 16 teams no one saw coming--USA Today

No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago

Contender: The Ramblers don't have a superstar, and they've barely survived their first two NCAA tournament wins off last-second shots. But keep in mind these weren't Hail Mary shots. Donte Ingram's top-of-the-key game-winner vs. Miami and Clayton Custer's game-winner vs. Tennessee were both a product of a well-oiled offensive machine that coach Porter Moser has orchestrated. Great floor spacing, extra passing and gritty defense might make this team the Hoosiers of the Sweet 16, but it also makes them a viable threat.

2018 NCAA tournament: Big 12, ACC send 4 teams to Sweet 16; Missouri Valley is unbeaten--USA Today
Sixteen most memorable moments that have defined 2018 NCAA tournament--USA Today

6. Loyola-Chicago catches fire

The Ramblers became the first Cinderella from Thursday's first-round action after a Donte Ingram top-of-the-key buzzer-beater to sink No. 6 Miami (Fla.) Then the No. 11 seed continued its magical season with another last-second game-winner, this one courtesy of Clayton Custer, to oust No. 3 seed Tennessee.

IT'S OFFICIALLY MARCH!!!
Loyola-Chicago hits the buzzer beater to upset Miami! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/VPz6EVC85s
— DRK Sports (@drksportsnews) March 15, 2018

7. Sister Jean

As far as super fans, it's tough to beat a 98-year-old Catholic nun (Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt) who prays for the team before every game, gives coach Porter Moser a scouting report and emails players motivational takeaways. The longtime team chaplain (and "comfort blanket, as Moser calls her) could barely contain her glee in the two thrilling Loyola upsets.

Sister Jean on becoming a national sensation: “Really, if I can correct you, international.” pic.twitter.com/JQP2Rj0P8S
— Lauren Comitor (@laurencomitor) March 18, 2018

NCAA tournament: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams based on national title potential--USA Today

11. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

Loyola provides a Hoosiers feel to the Sweet 16 with its floor spacing and late-game heroics (the Ramblers advanced this far off two last-second game-winners, against Miami and Tennessee). But what really makes this team the ultimate threat as a mid-major are its sum-of-all-parts philosophy and team cohesion. There's no superstar, and that's by design. Coach Porter Moser has had two players — Donte Ingram and Clayton Custer —nail buzzer-beaters. And he's got three or four more capable of doing it in another close-game situation. Cinderella luck? Or a damn good system. Why this No. 11 seed can go way further than expected: A defense that ranks in the top five nationally.

NCAA tournament Sweet 16: Most important players for every March Madness team--USA Today

Cameron Krutwig, Loyola-Chicago. There's no star player on the Ramblers' roster, and that's what makes them so dangerous. There's a plethora of weapons at coach Porter Moser's disposal. But for the hot-shooting guards to be successful on the perimeter, there has to be a little inside-out game. That's where 6-9 center Krutwig (10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg), a true freshman who plays like a senior, comes in. His passing skills are exceptional for a big man, and his defense against the athletic bigs of Miami and Tennessee paved the way for this Cinderella's buzzer-beating wins.

NCAA Tournament 2018: Ranking remaining teams in Sweet 16--Fan sided

15 Loyola (IL) Ramblers 30-5 Missouri Valley

Loyola (IL) is a team that everyone should be keeping an eye on. The Ramblers were a popular upset pick over 6-seeded Miami in the first round and they took care of business at the buzzer. They then faced 3-seed Tennessee in the second round and prevailed in the final seconds yet again to earn their 30th win of the season. This Cinderella is a lot more talented than people think.

The 11 best wins of March Madness thus far, ranked and categorized--Fan sided

4. Loyola over Miami: How

Technically, No. 11 Loyola beating No. 6 Miami meets the upset requirement of a five-seed differential. Still, going into the game, Miami was only a -2.5 favorite and Loyola was a Cinderella favorite to make the Sweet 16. So, that Loyola pulled off the upset is not that surprising.

However, how they won was. Donte Ingram gave us the first basically buzzer-beater of the tournament, with a deep 3 on a play that had all the lesser-humans at home shouting for a timeout.

RAMBLERS WITH THE LAST SECOND THREE! 🚨🚨🚨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lNQlJtrq7o
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 15, 2018

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6. Loyola over Tennessee: How and That, in equal parts

How they won because Loyola held off an 11-3 Tennessee run and overcame a tie-game with 20.1 seconds left. How because for the second time, Loyola won with a last-second game-winner.

RAMBLERS WIN!!! 🚨🚨🚨

CINDERELLA LIVES ON!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ynhEMDNAGs
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 18, 2018

NCAA Tournament: Sweet Sixteen Staff Roundtable discussion--Mid-Major Madness

With the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in the books, we still have a healthy dose of mid-major action left to go. Nevada, Loyola Chicago and Gonzaga all moved on to the second weekend and have legitimate chances to make the Final Four.
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Who are you pulling for the rest of the way?
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Mitchell Northam: Nevada and Loyola Chicago of course, but my grandfather lives near Morgantown, so I’m also pulling for Huggy Bear and Press Virginia. COUNTRY ROADS. TAKE ME HOME.

Ellie Lieberman: Why would I even try to bet against Sister Jean? Loyola-Chicago, all the way. They got the seasoned veteran, Clayton Custer, the ice-in-his-veins newcomer, Donte Ingram, and an entertaining coach in Porter Moser. This team is fun to watch and I don’t want the ride to end soon.
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Make one bold prediction for the rest of the tournament.
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Mitchell Northam: A mid-major other than Gonzaga will make the Final Four. I wasn’t really impressed by Kansas State or Kentucky. K-State played an uninspiring brand of basketball in Charlotte, getting by Creighton and a UMBC squad that couldn’t buy a three-pointer. Kentucky is super young. They can get got. I think Nevada or Loyola Chicago comes out of Atlanta.
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Chris Schutte: The winner of Nevada and Loyola Chicago will play for the national championship. 2018 IS OUR YEAR.

The Hoops HD Report: Sweet Sixteen Edition--Hoops HD
Men's Basketball 2018 NCAA Tournament South Region Sweet 16 Game Breakdowns--College Sports Madness

#7 Nevada vs. #11 Loyola (IL)
This game matches up two teams who won thrillers to reach the NCAA Tournament. Nevada was down 22 points against Cincinnati and came back to win 75-73. They were also down 14 to Texas in the first round and came back. Loyola beat Tennessee on a Clayton Custer shot with 3.6 seconds left. The Ramblers got a big game out of Aundre Jackson off the bench, pacing the Loyola offense with 16 points.

Nevada cannot afford to get too far behind against Loyola. The Ramblers play great defense and are a very efficient offense. Both teams have a ton of momentum and one of them will get a chance of a lifetime to play for a trip to the Final Four. Nevada has the size and the experience and their ability to take care of the ball could make all the difference. The Wolf Pack average just over ten turnovers per game and committed just two against the Bearcats. If they can do that again, Nevada will be in the Elite Eight.