2021 MVC Championship: #20 LOYOLA vs DRAKE (1 CBS)

[goramblers2011]

The two best teams playing on Championship Sunday. The way it should be.

[Mac13]

The two best teams playing on Championship Sunday. The way it should be.

Yup, it's been a few years.

[JoeTony]

A close Drake win is definitely the best scenario for a 2-bid Valley.

It bumps us (Loyola) off the dreaded 8/9 spot that the consensus has us slotted in to maybe a 10/11/12 seed, while bumping up Drake from worrying about how the other bubble teams do in the final week after their season ends to an autobid.

For the first round, it doesn't really matter much between 8-12 seed in terms of opponent, but a potential second round matchup against a 1 seed as an 8/9 seed is a guaranteed loss this year.

The 1 seeds are head and shoulders above everyone else - even the 2 seeds. Gonzaga, Baylor, and Michigan are so consistently great while a lot of those potential 2 seeds (Bama, Houston, Ohio State, etc.) have had a lot of puzzling losses this year.

If Loyola can get to the second round, at least they would have a chance as a 10-12 seed. They have nearly no chance as an 8/9 versus a 1.

[Drakey]

You have definitely bought in to the Power 5 conference agenda.

[Blers42]

This should be a great game, Drake getting a bye should help even out Hemphill and Penn being out. I still think a tired Loyola team will take the win. They’re too deep and those injuries hurt Drake a lot.

[Countrypanther]

Congrats to Loyola, great season! Need some love from the committee and get a 6 or 7 seed.

Drake's loss to Bradley may keep them from an at large bid, need the favorites to win this week. If Drake gets snubbed, would they accept a NIT bid or decline? Unless get to NIT final four, I don't see any upside to playing in the NIT with a depleted team.