What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/2/2018

Yarbrough will not enter NBA Draft, cites 'unfinished business' at ISU--The Pantagraph
Milik Yarbrough Announces He Will Not Enter NBA Draft--goredbirds.com

The Morning Dish – Sunday, April 1, 2018--Hoopville

Villanova’s opponent in the final is Michigan, which ended the sensational run of Loyola Chicago by rallying late to win 69-57, a final score completely deceiving for what it might say about this one. The Wolverines trailed a good share of the way-including most of the second half-but went on a big run late and are in the final for the second time in six years.

Moritz Wagner was the difference in this one, in even more ways than many think. Sure, Wagner finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds, becoming the first player to top 20 & 15 in the Final Four since none other than Hakeem (then ‘Akeem’) Olajuwon for Houston in the legendary 1983 national title game won by North Carolina State at the buzzer. What an honor. Wagner was especially tough on the offensive glass in the first half, and had multiple big plays in Michigan’s late tidal wave, even a backdoor pass for a big layup.

In true modern basketball styling, though, the 6-foot-11 Wagner’s biggest contribution came with his hitting three three-pointers to lead the Wolverines’ otherwise struggling effort from deep. Two of them were especially timely, with his first tying the score with 6:56 to play-the first time Michigan had been as much as tied in nearly 20 minutes of game action-and the second putting the Maize & Blue up 59-51 with 2:59 to play, essentially thwarting any final comeback attempt by Loyola.

The Wolverines finished the game on a 27-10 run over the final 7:44, surviving despite struggling much of the way, as evidenced by their 7-for-28 three-point shooting. The final score makes it easy to forget that Loyola led for much of the second half and was superb again much of the way, building a 10-point second half lead, slowly dissecting Michigan as the game went on and playing near-perfect team defense much the same way the Ramblers did against their first four NCAA tourney opponents.

This one, though, had the feeling of slipping away quickly. Turnovers absolutely killed Loyola in the second half-11 of them in the half total (and 17 for the game), including five in a span of 2:14 in the midst of Michigan’s decisive run. The Wolverines finished with an 18-0 advantage in second half points off turnovers. Moreover, for the first time in the tourney, the Ramblers in the last 10 minutes appeared to get a little soft defensively, a little rushed offensively, and in short time a five-point lead with less than eight minutes left became an insurmountable deficit before even the final TV timeout came with 1:39 to play.

Undoubtedly, it will sting how this ride ended for Loyola, not being at its best down the stretch. Regardless, the Ramblers’ spectacular and charming run this March will be remembered for a long time, as it should be. Loyola proved again for all the ‘little guys’ out there that they should dare to dream, that great things can be done. A team that hadn’t been to the NCAA Tournament in 33 years, was eighth of 10 teams in the Missouri Valley Conference two years ago and that wouldn’t have even been in the tourney if not for winning the MVC tourney (and never let that ridiculous scenario be forgotten, either) was in the Final Four this year, and was seven minutes from the national title game.

Rushed Reactions: #3 Michigan 69, #11 Loyola (Chicago) 57--Rush The Court
Why did Sister Jean leave Final Four early?--Sporting News
11 moments to remember from No. 11 Loyola-Chicago’s Final Four run--SB Nation
Bravo, Loyola: A story for the ages--Chicago Tribune
Column: Loyola created cynicism-free zone that was fun to share — now comes the hard part--Chicago Tribune
Expectations rise for Loyola next season--Chicago Tribune
Loyola's top 10 moments from its NCAA tournament run--Chicago Tribune
Loyola Alum Charania Takes Break From NBA for Final Four Broadcast--Loyola Phoenix

No relief from Alize Johnson as Valparaiso loses in conference tourney--The Post-Tribune
Matt Lottich on last-place Valparaiso men's basketball: 'We have to get job done'--The Post-Tribune
Freshman Parker Hazen leaving Valparaiso in search of more playing time elsewhere--The Post-Tribune
NWIU NOTES: NAIA Bowling Championships coming to Highland--NWI Times

VU's Hazen to transfer: Valparaiso freshman Parker Hazen confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that he will transfer after spending one season with the Crusaders.

Hazen started 11 games during the 2017-18 campaign and averaged 1.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 21 games. The Columbia City native scored a career-high eight points against Trinity Christian in his second collegiate game and then scored just 10 points the rest of the season.

“I have nothing bad to say about Valpo,” Hazen said. “It was a difficult decision because of the 14 guys and because of my coaches. I’ll be looking at all the options I have. Whether that’s at the D-I level or going to Juco where I could play right away. The first priority is looking at all D-I offers.”

Hazen started at power forward for the first 10 games of the season before coming off the bench for a game at Northwestern in which he only played four minutes. He played in 15 minutes the next game against Santa Clara, but then was relegated to the end of the bench, save one more starting spot in the conference opener against Indiana State. Hazen didn’t play in 10 of the final 13 games of the season and played in just 11 minutes in 2018.

“It was difficult going from starting to not playing,” Hazen said. “I kept the same approach and I worked out even harder. I worked toward getting more opportunities. I’m grateful for everything even if those opportunities never came. Mentally, the guys that kept me going were my teammates.”

The Crusaders are expected to have two scholarships open now after losing Tevonn Walker and Max Joseph to graduate and Joe Burton to academics in addition to Hazen’s transfer. Valparaiso has Whitney Young product Javon Freeman coming in as well as Canadian point guard Daniel Sackey.

NWIU NOTES: Villanueva to be inducted into IUN Hall of Fame--NWI Times

Walker is heading to Final Four: Loyola won’t be the only team representing the Missouri Valley Conference at the Final Four in San Antonio this weekend. A quartet of Valley players, including Valparaiso’s Tevonn Walker, will compete in the inaugural Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship beginning on Friday.

Walker will team up with fellow Valley seniors Bennett Koch (Northern Iowa), Donte Thomas (Bradley) and Brenton Scott (Indiana State) to participate in a new event that features a team from all 32 Division I conferences. Teams will compete in pool play the first two days with eight teams advancing to Sunday’s championship tournament.

The teams, all comprised of college seniors, will compete for prize money along the way. Each win in both pool and tournament competition will earn the team $1,000 while the championship game will be played for $50,000 and will air on ESPN2 on Sunday afternoon.

Walker averaged 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his lone season in the Valley and was named the MVC All-Defensive Team. Walker finished his Valparaiso career 14th in program history with 1,405 points and eighth in steals with 150.

What's Up In The Missouri Valley

Monday, April 2, 2018

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/2/2018

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