Non-favorite favorite

by **freddycat68** » February 28th, 2022, 9:23 pm

Okay so we all know that Loyola and UNI will be favored to win in St. Louis. But assuming neither one of them wins, who would be your pick to pull off the unexpected?

**Sponsor**

by **BUFanatic** » February 28th, 2022, 9:38 pm

I picked BU because… well my username but also Coach has a pretty good track record in STL and I’m banking on another run if we can get by Loyola.

Right next to us I like MoSt and The Drake, though I have some doubts about Drake’s legs over 3 days.

Dark Horse would be SIU, I don’t know why other than a gut feeling.

by **goramblers2011** » February 28th, 2022, 10:15 pm

I picked Drake. They have substantial experience on their roster and a really good coach. Ended the year on a five-game winning streak. Granted, they were swept by MSU, their likely semifinal opponent, as well as Bradley. But when the chips are on the table, you win games in March with good guard play, experience and coaching, all of which Drake has.

by **TBS_20** » February 28th, 2022, 11:01 pm

Currently, Missouri State but soon to be Murray and Belmont.

by **keane1** » March 1st, 2022, 7:32 am

KenPom’s odds for STL.

https://twitter.com/kenpomeroy/status/1 ... 10244?s=21

Looks like it’s LUC and MSU are the top favorites.

by **Adunk33** » March 1st, 2022, 8:46 am

Gotta be Drake for me. A likely Bears vs Bulldogs match up on Saturday will be a good one but in this setting, I give the nod to Drake. Prim and Mosley are great players but I think Drake is better coached and has a better unit, overall, despite the Bears sweeping the Dogs this season. As they say (with little to no validity) "It's tough to beat a team 3 times in a year."

by **TheDrake** » March 1st, 2022, 9:08 am

Depends on whether DJ Wilkins can go or not. If he's fine then I think Drake has a good shot to win it all. They lost two nail biters to MSU, swept Loyola and split with UNI. If he's injured we lose our best defender and one of our better shooters. In that case I'd probably go with Bradley since Wardle has proven that his strongest attribute as a coach is to get his team playing their best during Arch Madness.

by **bradley_townie** » March 1st, 2022, 12:05 pm

I consider Missouri State to be a favorite, so instead went with the red hot Salukis. They can scratch out a win if their offense isn't clicking and can compete against anyone. They seem to have found some offense lately and are peaking at the right time.

by **BCPanther** » March 1st, 2022, 1:35 pm

Slightest of slight leans to SIU just simply because of style. They're damn near impossible to speed up.

That said, I think we get chalk to the semis and we're in for one hell of a Saturday.

by **BirdsEyeView** » March 1st, 2022, 1:54 pm

Evansville is primed for a run. I bet my house on it.