https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/9/ ... yu-gonzagaNevada at Loyola University Chicago, Nov. 27
How the hell did this game get relegated to ESPNEWS, while Virginia Tech plays Penn State on ESPN2 or ESPNU? If you get that alleged channel, you’ll be in for a treat as we get a rematch of last year’s Sweet 16 showdown. Nevada figures to be a trendy preseason Final Four pick, but the Wolf Pack will have an early challenge against a Loyola team that needs to take every opportunity it possibly can to beat a likely tournament team. Marques Townes, who dropped 18 on the Wolf Pack in March, is back for his senior season along with Clayton Custer, while Large Adult Son Cameron Krutwig enters his sophomore year with lofty expectations.
San Diego State at Illinois State, Dec. 1
The Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge gives us another gem, this one coming a few days later. Illinois State has three of the best players in the MVC in Phil Fayne, Malik Yarbrough, and Keyshawn Evans. For the Aztecs, Devin Watson is the leading returning scorer, though Jalen McDaniels made a name for himself inside with an awesome freshman year. Given how we get this game and the Loyola-Nevada contest, it should be a federal crime to end the MW/MVC challenge. Friends, please rethink this.
Illinois State at UCF, Dec. 21
Want to know the teams to watch in the Valley? Ask yourself this one question: Is the team from the state of Illinois? If the answer is yes, they have a shot to make some noise. For the Redbirds, this will be their second chance in a month to come up with a huge win over a possible NCAA Tournament team. No, literally a huge win. Like, a win against the 9-foot Tacko Fall
Illinois State at Loyola University Chicago, Jan. 12
In all likelihood, one of these two teams is going to win the MVC Tournament and the other will be fighting for an at-large bid. This will end up being a quad 1 (is that how we should write it? quad 1? Quad 1? quad one? Let us know, this is important) win for either team so it will become an important data point for the committee. Hopefully ESPN sees this game for what it is and puts it on one of its major channels. You know, unless Tulane is playing East Carolina or something.