Arch Madness – Championship Sunday

Shorthanded Bulldogs and Rested Ramblers

(St. Louis, MO) – Shorthanded Drake and well rested Loyola will meet in the Arch Madness final for the second straight year. The story-lines from March of 2021 are the same in March 2022. Drake limped into St. Louis, wracked with injuries and reached the finals again. Once again it was a narrow victory over Missouri State that brings them to this championship game.

While Loyola isn’t the regular season champion, the Ramblers clearly came to St. Louis as the odds-makers’ choice to cut down the nets today. Heading into the final, ESPN calls them a five point favorite.

For the first time in tournament history the third and fourth seeded teams will meet in the St. Louis final.

Drake’s Overtime Win

Bulldog starter D.J. Wilkins injured a knee just before the tournament. The Valley all-defensive team member and Drake’s second best three-point shooter’s departure is a huge loss. This seems like Drake’s annual rite-of-Spring. If it’s Arch Madness, then Drake will have a new injury. Last season the Bulldogs were without Roman Penn and ShanQuan Hemphill.

Saturday’s overtime win over Missouri State (79-78) was great theater and high-level basketball. It may also have been the initiation of Tucker DeVries as the Missouri Valley’s next star. His overtime three-pointer and game-winning free throws gave him 23 points and ‘new star status’.

Missouri State’s Gaige Prim’s basket gave the Bears a one-point lead. DeVries’ drive to the basket was cut off by Isiaih Mosley. A foul was called and the Drake freshman buried the free throws. Watch it here.

 

 

Today’s Final

While no Rambler played more than 31 minutes during its 66-43 victory over Northern Iowa, all five Drake starters logged over 38 minutes in their overtime win. Coach Darian DeVries admitted that his team was gassed during the final moments of the iconic victory.

With a similar story line last March the Ramblers took the championship (75-65) on their way to a Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament run.

Loyola is clearly the taller, more physical and deeper team, but the Bulldogs won both regular season matchups between the two Valley powers. LUC has won at least 20 games for five straight seasons and the Bulldogs have turned that trick for four.

Loyola’s Braden Norris scored 19 points during the semifinal win over Northern Iowa, but it was defense that caused the Ramblers to prevail. LUC didn’t allow a field goal during the final 15:12 of the Rambler triumph.

These two, well-coached and veteran squads are have experienced so much success. Drake is 94-38 during DeVries’ four seasons and the Bulldogs have played post season basketball in two of his first three seasons. This is Loyola’s fourth Arch Madness final appearance in five years. During those five seasons the Ramblers have been to a Final Four and a Sweet Sixteen.

Game time on CBS is set for 1:00 pm.

Do Good

 

Editor: Feature photo courtesy of the Missouri Valley Conference.