NCAA Bids

[municup14]

So with Drake losing lastnight do they have to win Arch Maddness or at least make the championship game to get an At large bid.I would love to see us get 2 teams in.

[bleach]

Loyola is the only team that might get in without winning in St Louis.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

It’s behind a paywall but ESPN moved Loyola to lock status.

A lock on ESPN’s Bubble Watch hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament in the 15+ years they’ve been doing it.

[DUBulldog]

I don't think Drake has a chance to get in as an at-large. Hope I'm wrong.

[Blers]

I think a run to the finals and a loss to Loyola could and SHOULD get them in. Getting the two in some ways is almost better because Missouri State has the better NET should they make the semi finals.

I’m sure every valley coach including Moser will be pushing for them to get a bid, and the circumstances of their last few weeks of the season hopefully give someone on the committee pause.

[tribecalledquest]

The non-conference schedule will kill Drake. I know it was an odd year scheduling wise - but you have to play someone. Anyone who is halfway decent. I understand at at large bid probably wasn't on the radar when the schedule was made and even when adjustments were made on the fly - but it is what it is.

[mvfcfan]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but outside of Drake what good wins does Loyola have? I get they played Wisconsin and bubble team Richmond, but they lost both games. Then they also lost to Indiana State as well.

Loyola does have a great NET and their recent Final 4 I'm sure doesn't hurt anything. Just trying to figure out what makes Loyola a solid lock and top 25 team, while Drake is way outside the Top 25 and is probably out right now. They both have 1 good win, Drake has 2 bad losses, and Loyola has 1 questionable loss.

[MSUDuo]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but outside of Drake what good wins does Loyola have? I get they played Wisconsin and bubble team Richmond, but they lost both games. Then they also lost to Indiana State as well.

Loyola does have a great NET and their recent Final 4 I'm sure doesn't hurt anything. Just trying to figure out what makes Loyola a solid lock and top 25 team, while Drake is way outside the Top 25 and is probably out right now. They both have 1 good win, Drake has 2 bad losses, and Loyola has 1 questionable loss.

While not a name win, a mid season win against North Texas didn't hurt their numbers.

[Blers]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but outside of Drake what good wins does Loyola have? I get they played Wisconsin and bubble team Richmond, but they lost both games. Then they also lost to Indiana State as well.

Loyola does have a great NET and their recent Final 4 I'm sure doesn't hurt anything. Just trying to figure out what makes Loyola a solid lock and top 25 team, while Drake is way outside the Top 25 and is probably out right now. They both have 1 good win, Drake has 2 bad losses, and Loyola has 1 questionable loss.

This is a totally fair question. And i think a lot of it has to do with how and where they won the games that we did (as well as where and how we lost) and how it affects the NET rankings. The Wisconsin loss was away, and scheduled immediately following the UIC game with 48 hour turnaround time to travel and rest... Richmond is a high net team, and we lost on the road (I really think we beat them 9 times out of 10)... Indiana State again, was a quick scout on the road when Drake postponed...and Drake was a 1 point Q1 loss.

In terms of wins, before these last three games they've won a lot of games by double digits. Both ISU games by 30, UNI by 15 and 42, Valpo on the road by 36, Bradley on the road by 14 and 10, MSU on the road by 26 and 20, and Drake on the road by 27... North Texas is actually also really solid Q2 win at home. Before the Bradley implosion the schedule actually set up perfectly for Loyola to maximize their net with Drake, MSU, ISU, and Bradley all on the road, plus one game with Valpo. Drake similarly had a really strong away schedule with MSU and ISUb...

On top of all of this having the number 1 defense in the country helps. While the offense has been ugly the last four games, no one has hit 60 points against the team since Indiana State on January 10th.

[Drakey]

I don't think the NCAA selection committee is analyzing any mid major's travel time scheduling issues or anything else in making selections. They will do that to justify including mediocre power 5 teams being included, but for mid majors they are looking for excuses to keep them out. I don't think anybody in the country probably played a more ridiculous schedule than Drake down the stretch (7 games in 15 days) and playing all of them without their leading scorer and a bunch without their leading scorer, second leading scorer, assist leader and second leading rebounder.