Is This a Two-Bid Valley?

Drake and Loyola are Making their Case

(St. Louis, MO) – Will this be the first season since 2016 when the Missouri Valley Conference sends multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament? While we are at the half-way point of the league schedule, Drake and Loyola are making their case.

The undefeated Bulldogs (17-0, 8-0) have finally reached ‘nationally ranked’ status and the Ramblers aren’t far behind. Both teams have outstanding metrics, veteran leadership and innovative coaches.

But they still must play one another.

Drake Making Their Case

As one of just three, undefeated teams, the Bulldogs are getting noticed nationally. During Drake’s first game on the ESPN scroll, Tremell Murphy exploded for 30 points and some entertaining dunks. The four-letter network noticed.

 

http:/

👀 pic.twitter.com/C8FyOwQzNw

— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB) February 2, 2021

 

But DU has been performing at a high level all season. They outscore their opponents by an AVERAGE of 21.2 points per game. DU’s kenpom.com efficiency rate is a remarkable 50, but detractors will knock their non-conference schedule.

A season-opening win at Kansas State put the pundits on notice that Drake might be good. The subsequent sub-par season by the Wildcats has dimmed that victory. Defeating Summit League leader South Dakota (10-6, 8-0) twice are Drake’s next two best non-Valley wins.

The National Evaluation Tool (N.E.T.) is the NCAA’s pooling resource of data for differentiating and measuring teams. It takes into consideration strength of schedule, KenPom’s ratings and other data. Drake (9) and Loyola (14) give the Valley two teams in the leading measuring tool’s top 20 for the first time since 2014-15.

Drake has the nation’s 15^th best defensive unit (61.7 ppg) and while not overally tall they lead the Valley in rebounding margin (+8.1).

They Can Score

The Bulldog offense is racking up 82.9 points per game, good for 12^th nationally and their field goal percentage (.512) is sixth! While newcomers Shanquan (Tank) Hemphill (14.4 ppg) and Darnell Brodie (7.4 rpg) lead in scoring and rebounding, it’s Roman Penn who is engineering this team’s success.

Penn leads the Valley in assists (5.5 per game) and averages 12.5 points. Bradley head coach Brian Wardle calls Penn the Valley’s best point guard. His 2.3 assist-turnover margin is a fraction behind Loyola’s Braden Norris for the Valley lead and Penn is 69^th nationally. All of Drake’s top nine  players (double digit minute players) shoot better than 43% from the field.

Darian DeVries’ team still must play Northern Iowa, Bradley and the Ramblers.

Loyola Making Their Case

Name recognition, star power and incredible defense are the Loyola calling cards. Porter Moser may be the nation’s most recognizable ‘mid-major’ basketball coach, not named Mark Few. His energy, passion and court-side persona have captivated many. Moser’s recent book ‘All In’ describes his passion and positivity.

But there is more to these Ramblers than an enthusiastic coach. Ramblers are the twelfth nationally in kenpom.com’s rankings. Suffocating defense and highly efficient offense are the Loyola strengths.

Moser’s defenders are second nationally in points allowed (56.2 ppg) and Mr. Pomeroy calls them the nation’s sixth most efficient defense. Only four LUC opponents have scored more than 60 points.

LUC’s veteran squad has players that ‘have been there and done that’. Seniors Cameron Krutwig and Lucas Williamson were significant contributors during Loyola’s 2018 Final Four team. ‘King Krut’ is sixth on the program’s all-time scoring list. Williamson is a true lock-down defender.

Loyola easily goes nine deep and Moser resoundingly says he has seven starters. While only Krutwig (15.2 ppg) averages double figures in the scoring category, another seven Ramblers average more than six points per game. LUC’s offense is second to Drake among Valley teams.

Loyola’s .517 field goal percentage is third best nationally. While many Ramblers are talented shooters, great ball movement and unselfish play are hallmarks of LUC basketball. Their 300 assists are the tenth best number nationally.

They score, they defend and they rarely beat themselves. LUC is solid. They have explosive athletes in Marquise Kennedy and Keith Clemons. Aher Uguak may defend as well as Williamson and Braden Norris, Cooper Kaifes and Tate Hall rival most teams’ ability to score from long distance.

Valentine’s Day Weekend

These two Missouri Valley titans meet in Chicago next weekend (2/13 & 2/14). Great theater and two very talented, well-coached teams will meet for (potentially) the MVC regular season title. LUC’s loss to Indiana State means the Ramblers (15-3, 10-1) likely must sweep the Bulldogs to earn the title.

Indiana State coach Greg Lansing says the Valley pace setters are unselfish and tough.

 

 

Those game times have been changed to accommodate a national television audience.

These two have national resumes, depth in veteran talent and elite-level coaches. Both should be playing beyond Arch Madness.

Do Good

 

Editor: Feature photo courtesy of godrakebulldogs.com.