Arch Madness 2022 - Final Thoughts

[FakeLoyolaFan]

I think we've got to define what Loyola failing in the A10 means. Will they win one 3 titles every 9 years like they did in the Valley and go to Sweet 16s and Final Fours? Almost assuredly not. This 5 year run is the mountain top IMO. They hadnt done that prior to the Valley no reason to think it'd continue whether they stayed in the MVC or moved to another conference (excluding pre 80s stuff because honestly its irrelevant to most of us).

If Loyola doesnt win regular season titles for decades but occasionally makes the tournament and loses in round 1 or 2 is that a failure? Maybe! But thats also what most CBB programs are (looking at you Bradley!). If Loyola is to the A10 what Valpo is to the Valley is that a failure? Certainly! But given what Loyola spends on hoops compared to Valpo Im not sure thats a likely outcome.

What does Loyola failing in the A10 look like to Valley fans?

[Blers42]

Here's my view on Lie-Oyla (as they call themselves in Rogers Park):

I feel like a freshman girl during the first week of college doing the walk of shame back to my dorm after an evening of.....romance? I jumped head first thinking it was a long term relationship when it little more than a one night stand.

Initially, not very excited about adding the Jesuits after looking at their dismal record for the past 50 years and then touring the campus and gym, I bought into the whole idea when the Salukis played there and it was less than 90 minutes from my former home in McHenry County. The first game I ever attended there, there were two Jesuit students studying to become priests in a dance off called Jesuit Jam during half time. One Jesuit was about 150 lbs and was 6'5". The other one was about 5'2" and weighed about 250 lbs. It was so ridiculous it was embarrassing

Then they shocked the world by winning the Valley (who knew Porter Moser could actually coach....no one in Normal, for sure) and made a magical run to the Final Four. Sister Jean captivated the entire world of sports. The entire Valley bought it. Then two years later they made another magical run to the Sweet 16 by knocking off the high and mighty professional team from the University of Shampoo-Banana.

Now they're going to a conference that is a better "cultural" fit. Cultural fit? Will all those Harry Potter scarves be in Brooklyn or DC or whevever the A10 holds their conference tournament? Doubtful. I'd bet money, lots of Wheatshucker fans in Kansas would enjoy a trip to St Louis for a 3 day tournament. I'm not sure if anyone knows where the AAC tournament is held.

I wish no ill will on anyone, but when they're not as good, interest dwindles and you don't have the SIU, ISU and Bradley alumni base to buy tickets in your gym, the atmosphere will be as dreary as it was before.

I thought it was clear why people claim the A10 is a better cultural fit for LUC? I can't tell if you're trolling or serious, so I'll assume you're somewhere in between but I'm going to respond because I don't want to work. Fordham, Saint Joe's, Saint Louis, and Loyola are all private Jesuit universities and are in the A10. There are zero Jesuit schools in the MVC now that Loyola & Creighton have left. 11/15 schools in the A10 are private, 5/12 schools in the MVC are private. Most people I've talked to about this agree that it A10 makes sense as culture fit. The A10 tournament is held in the Barclays center in Brooklyn (home to the Brooklyn Nets), dumbing down the idea of a cultural fit to how fans will look at a conference tournament isn't the right way to think about this.

Steve Watson, the Loyola AD was the AD for St. Bonaventure and anyone close to him has known for years that he was interested in getting Loyola into the A10. Outside of basketball and religion it made sense from an academic perspective too. The A10 as a whole has consistently been ranked in the top ten conferences when averaging the US News and World Report, and WSJ college rankings. Personally I think the rankings are BS but they're important for recruiting and public image.

[Blers42]

One could argue that the rooting against Loyola can be used as a deterrent for other schools leaving the Valley in the future. If Loyola fails in the A10, it can help show that the "grass isn't always greener" so to speak and maybe the next school thinks twice about leaving the conference. This line of thinking could be applied starting with the NCAA tournament this year because if Loyola makes another run, it could propel them into more immediate success next season. One could argue that is worth more than the paycheck from an extra game or two Loyola wins in the tournament coming back to the MVC.

I'm not specifically saying this is the way I look at it, but it's something I have thought about and could see why some people might have that frame of mind.

I think Loyola getting into the tournament this year already has impact on propelling them forward regardless of the outcome in the tournament. Yes, wins in the tournament would only improve that but making the tournament back to back years and having the final four run from 2018 keeps the University fresh in peoples minds, that has to make a difference with recruiting. I do understand Valley fans wanting Loyola to crumble in the A10, at the end of the day people mostly care about their team and conference. It's in their best interest for the competition to do worse.

[Salukimadness86]

This was a good thread initially about Arch Madness, but has gotten off topic.
Many of you have some great ideas as to making the tournament experience better. Here's a suggestion:
E-mail Jeff Jackson with your thoughts and concerns. He responded to me fairly quickly.
jjackson@mvc.org

Good luck.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

This was a good thread initially about Arch Madness, but has gotten off topic.
Many of you have some great ideas as to making the tournament experience better. Here's a suggestion:
E-mail Jeff Jackson with your thoughts and concerns. He responded to me fairly quickly.
jjackson@mvc.org

Good luck.

He is an A+ Commissioner by every measure.

[GoSIU88]

Here's my view on Lie-Oyla (as they call themselves in Rogers Park):

I feel like a freshman girl during the first week of college doing the walk of shame back to my dorm after an evening of.....romance? I jumped head first thinking it was a long term relationship when it little more than a one night stand.

Initially, not very excited about adding the Jesuits after looking at their dismal record for the past 50 years and then touring the campus and gym, I bought into the whole idea when the Salukis played there and it was less than 90 minutes from my former home in McHenry County. The first game I ever attended there, there were two Jesuit students studying to become priests in a dance off called Jesuit Jam during half time. One Jesuit was about 150 lbs and was 6'5". The other one was about 5'2" and weighed about 250 lbs. It was so ridiculous it was embarrassing

Then they shocked the world by winning the Valley (who knew Porter Moser could actually coach....no one in Normal, for sure) and made a magical run to the Final Four. Sister Jean captivated the entire world of sports. The entire Valley bought it. Then two years later they made another magical run to the Sweet 16 by knocking off the high and mighty professional team from the University of Shampoo-Banana.

Now they're going to a conference that is a better "cultural" fit. Cultural fit? Will all those Harry Potter scarves be in Brooklyn or DC or whevever the A10 holds their conference tournament? Doubtful. I'd bet money, lots of Wheatshucker fans in Kansas would enjoy a trip to St Louis for a 3 day tournament. I'm not sure if anyone knows where the AAC tournament is held.

I wish no ill will on anyone, but when they're not as good, interest dwindles and you don't have the SIU, ISU and Bradley alumni base to buy tickets in your gym, the atmosphere will be as dreary as it was before.

I thought it was clear why people claim the A10 is a better cultural fit for LUC? I can't tell if you're trolling or serious, so I'll assume you're somewhere in between but I'm going to respond because I don't want to work. Fordham, Saint Joe's, Saint Louis, and Loyola are all private Jesuit universities and are in the A10. There are zero Jesuit schools in the MVC now that Loyola & Creighton have left. 11/15 schools in the A10 are private, 5/12 schools in the MVC are private. Most people I've talked to about this agree that it A10 makes sense as culture fit. The A10 tournament is held in the Barclays center in Brooklyn (home to the Brooklyn Nets), dumbing down the idea of a cultural fit to how fans will look at a conference tournament isn't the right way to think about this.

Steve Watson, the Loyola AD was the AD for St. Bonaventure and anyone close to him has known for years that he was interested in getting Loyola into the A10. Outside of basketball and religion it made sense from an academic perspective too. The A10 as a whole has consistently been ranked in the top ten conferences when averaging the US News and World Report, and WSJ college rankings. Personally I think the rankings are BS but they're important for recruiting and public image.

Thank you, Father Blers II. So y'all are into being Catholic. Maybe you could have a Jesuit Jam with all the other schools. That was certainly entertaining.

[GoSIU88]

Here's my view on Lie-Oyla (as they call themselves in Rogers Park):

I feel like a freshman girl during the first week of college doing the walk of shame back to my dorm after an evening of.....romance? I jumped head first thinking it was a long term relationship when it little more than a one night stand.

Initially, not very excited about adding the Jesuits after looking at their dismal record for the past 50 years and then touring the campus and gym, I bought into the whole idea when the Salukis played there and it was less than 90 minutes from my former home in McHenry County. The first game I ever attended there, there were two Jesuit students studying to become priests in a dance off called Jesuit Jam during half time. One Jesuit was about 150 lbs and was 6'5". The other one was about 5'2" and weighed about 250 lbs. It was so ridiculous it was embarrassing

Then they shocked the world by winning the Valley (who knew Porter Moser could actually coach....no one in Normal, for sure) and made a magical run to the Final Four. Sister Jean captivated the entire world of sports. The entire Valley bought it. Then two years later they made another magical run to the Sweet 16 by knocking off the high and mighty professional team from the University of Shampoo-Banana.

Now they're going to a conference that is a better "cultural" fit. Cultural fit? Will all those Harry Potter scarves be in Brooklyn or DC or whevever the A10 holds their conference tournament? Doubtful. I'd bet money, lots of Wheatshucker fans in Kansas would enjoy a trip to St Louis for a 3 day tournament. I'm not sure if anyone knows where the AAC tournament is held.

I wish no ill will on anyone, but when they're not as good, interest dwindles and you don't have the SIU, ISU and Bradley alumni base to buy tickets in your gym, the atmosphere will be as dreary as it was before.

I thought it was clear why people claim the A10 is a better cultural fit for LUC? I can't tell if you're trolling or serious, so I'll assume you're somewhere in between but I'm going to respond because I don't want to work. Fordham, Saint Joe's, Saint Louis, and Loyola are all private Jesuit universities and are in the A10. There are zero Jesuit schools in the MVC now that Loyola & Creighton have left. 11/15 schools in the A10 are private, 5/12 schools in the MVC are private. Most people I've talked to about this agree that it A10 makes sense as culture fit. The A10 tournament is held in the Barclays center in Brooklyn (home to the Brooklyn Nets), dumbing down the idea of a cultural fit to how fans will look at a conference tournament isn't the right way to think about this.

Steve Watson, the Loyola AD was the AD for St. Bonaventure and anyone close to him has known for years that he was interested in getting Loyola into the A10. Outside of basketball and religion it made sense from an academic perspective too. The A10 as a whole has consistently been ranked in the top ten conferences when averaging the US News and World Report, and WSJ college rankings. Personally I think the rankings are BS but they're important for recruiting and public image.

Thank you, Father Blers II. So y'all are into being Catholic. Maybe you could have a Jesuit Jam with all the other schools. That was certainly entertaining.

And I'm far from being a troll. The powers that be over at Saluki-Insider hate me (because they couldn't handle the truth AND they claimed I was trying to get people at SIU fired. That's the most laughable thing of all time).

[FakeLoyolaFan]

I mean Jesuit Jam is an annual tradition at the school used to raise funds for the Society and intended to create more connection with the athletic department and our schools mission. I know many Loyola students and fans who look forward to it. Been that way since '05 at least.

It may not be your cup of tea but I hardly think taking issue with a Catholic school for leaning into its Catholic base and having a good time with the SJJ folks is a logical complaint to make.

[Blers42]

A catholic school into being catholic, shocking.

[Birdfan2018]

A catholic school into being catholic, shocking.

My guess is that Loyola will be like Tulsa & Wichita St, playing in the #7 vs #10 game with no fans there, and the Gentile Center will go back to 500 fans again. You didn’t bring many fans to St Louis, so can’t imagine many traveling to New York (or wherever it is) for the A10 tournament