Is Loyola an NCAA Title Contender?

[Blers42]

Not even remotely close.

Kenpom is not gospel this year - we're the best example of how a truncated non-conference slate (particularly for us) has broken the algorithms.

We're not the 11th best team in the country. We're not the best defense in the country.

We're a solid top 40ish team that is getting a lot of love based on becoming a name brand in 2018 and having expectations going in to the year based off a deep roster and Krut/Williamson being seniors.

As much as we were woefully underrated in 2018 (most experts said we would not have even made the NCAAT if we lost at Arch Madness), we are criminally overrated this year.

Minimal non-conference + crushing inferior MVC opponents = a broken Kenpom ranking.

That's before looking at how anemic our offense has looked the past 3 games against inferior (no offense, Drake fans - talking about injuries for you guys) opponents.

This post and thread aged well.

[Kyle@MOState]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 792232001/

This list has Loyola ranked number 4 of the remaining teams...

I am going to admit that I didn't think Loyola was a legit title contender, but I saw what they did to Missouri State, and am now convinced that crushing loss was more about Loyola's stifling defense, and less about a severe deficiency of Missouri State talent and game plan. Don't get me wrong, Missouri State didn't compete well those two games, but I just think Loyola is that good and took away Prim and Mosely and we had no answer.

Also shout out to Drake for putting up a good showing against a really good USC team. The way USC manhandled Kansas, was impressive.

[hot nuts]

Here's the first major publication I see predicting(ish) a LUC national title.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 966728002/