MVC – Can Loyola Repeat?

One-On-One With Porter Moser

(St. Louis, MO) – Missouri Valley Conference co-champions Drake and Loyola set a record for most losses by a regular season title holder. Valley teams won road games with great regularity. Just three games separated the top seven teams in the final standings. So can Loyola repeat?

However, that looming question, ‘Can Loyola repeat?’ is on the minds of fans and media members alike. While everyone is talking about parity, there is that underlying feeling that the Ramblers are still the team to beat at Arch Madness 2019. The defending champions feel like they have something to prove and don’t want people to think of their Final Four run as a ‘flash in the pan’.

Porter Moser’s team is determined to be a part of the national conversation. By tying Drake for the regular season title, the Ramblers made history. This is the first time Loyola has won consecutive conference championships. Their 19 wins are the third most during Moser’s stint in Chicago.

Arrow Pointing Up

With all those positives, there is this lingering question. Have the Ramblers succumbed to the the pressure of high expectations? They’ve already doubled their loss total from a year ago. Clayton Custer’s numbers are down.

Moser says team is still growing and overcoming obstacles. He insists that his team is fine, but building a nationally relevant program is difficult. The Chicago native says last year’s success was great, but he believes the ‘arrow’ of their trajectory is still going up.

 

 

Difficulties and losses are real, but Moser insists the expectations by others have magnified Rambler imperfections. His team had early season stumbles and difficulties last year too, but no one expected them to be a national power, so there was less pressure and scrutiny on that edition of Rambler basketball.

 

 

Every opponent this season had the Loyola game circled on their calendar. Opposing arenas saw their largest crowds. Media attention was greater and everyone wanted to know how Moser and his players would respond. Fans and media alike want to know, can Loyola repeat?

The energetic leader says once the season is over, we’ll truly know how they handled all the pressure.

 

 

Arch Madness Expectations

The Ramblers were swept by Missouri State, lost three out of four games to fall to 9 and 6 in the league before closing out with two victories to secure their co-championship. Loyola swept Northern Iowa on a pair of one-point decisions. The difference between the Valley teams this season is razor thin.

So I asked Moser, ‘can Loyola repeat and how confident are you that your team or another Valley team can have postseason success?’ His response is predictably positive.

 

 

Arch Madness 2019 should prove to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.

Almost as a side note, I remembered Moser has been outspoken about the joys of growing up as a ‘Catholic boy from Chicago’ and now coaching at a Catholic University in his home town. So I asked him about that experience.

 

 

Moser’s team is the top seed and don’t yet know which team they will face in the tournament’s quarterfinal round. Indiana State and Valparaiso play Friday night for the right to play the champions.

Can Loyola repeat? Their first answer to that question begins Friday at noon.

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