Is Loyola an NCAA Title Contender?

[squirrel]

Bradley and Loyola finished 1-2 nationally in length of opponents' possessions, both at 19.0 seconds - a full .3 seconds longer than third-best UVA.

So I think the more impatient a team Loyola draws, the better their chances as long as the Ramblers also score on the offensive end.

[Red]

Bradley and Loyola finished 1-2 nationally in length of opponents' possessions, both at 19.0 seconds - a full .3 seconds longer than third-best UVA.

So I think the more impatient a team Loyola draws, the better their chances as long as the Ramblers also score on the offensive end.

I think the fact that the MVC has two teams at the top of this odd statistic says more about their Valley opponents than it does about either than Ramblers or Braves.

[squirrel]

Bradley and Loyola finished 1-2 nationally in length of opponents' possessions, both at 19.0 seconds - a full .3 seconds longer than third-best UVA.

So I think the more impatient a team Loyola draws, the better their chances as long as the Ramblers also score on the offensive end.

I think the fact that the MVC has two teams at the top of this odd statistic says more about their Valley opponents than it does about either than Ramblers or Braves.

Fair.

[glm38]

To me Loyola is a definite threat to make a deep run. I actually think this team is better than the one 3 years ago that made it to the final four.

[ahunte1]

Bradley and Loyola finished 1-2 nationally in length of opponents' possessions, both at 19.0 seconds - a full .3 seconds longer than third-best UVA.

So I think the more impatient a team Loyola draws, the better their chances as long as the Ramblers also score on the offensive end.

I think the fact that the MVC has two teams at the top of this odd statistic says more about their Valley opponents than it does about either than Ramblers or Braves.

Fair.

Any team that played Evansville twice had a leg up on this stat.

[Milanmiracle]

No. Not close. They’re a good team, but Gonzaga, Baylor, and Michigan are on a different plain, and Illinois and a handful of others are clearly better. Could they make a run? Of course! They have some of the pedigree and definitely the coaching. I’d love to see it again, but realistically, no.

[Red]

The obvious answer is no, but Yahoo has the Ramblers as the 17th most likely team to win it all.

TIER 5: The Lurkers
16. West Virginia (+2000 | M3; vs. Morehead State)
17. Loyola (+4000 | M8; vs. Georgia Tech)

Advanced metrics suggest that this Ramblers team is better than the 2018 Final Four team. It’s different, though, and so are its circumstances.

Cameron Krutwig was a freshman center on that 2018 squad, which at times went to a five-guard lineup. Now he’s one of college basketball’s best players, and the focal point of much of what Loyola does. He’s a brilliant passer from the high and low post, and a handful with his back to the basket. It remains to be seen, however, whether this reformed offense is built for March success.

More important, though, is this nightmarish Selection Sunday draw. In 2018, Loyola’s path to the Final Four went through a No. 6, 3, 7 and 8 seed. This year, the Ramblers get a streaking Georgia Tech in Round 1, with top-seeded Illinois looming in Round 2. Porter Moser is a heck of a coach, and his team defends ferociously, but even just reaching the second weekend will be a gargantuan task.

[sivert]

The obvious answer is no, but Yahoo has the Ramblers as the 17th most likely team to win it all.

LUC plays the #1 seed at a good time. Get them looking ahead and frustrate them with defense.

Go Ramblers!

[DUBulldog]

Krutwig vs Kofi Cockburn will be a really interesting matchup....assuming Loyola gets past GT first

[Birdfan2018]

Krutwig vs Kofi Cockburn will be a really interesting matchup....assuming Loyola gets past GT first

2nd Team All-American vs 3rd Team All-American.