Closing out the regular season with the best team in the conference.
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Meeting Loyola-Chicago as a team:
The Ramblers started the season late on COVID pause and then started the season 3-2 with 2 losses to quality opponents in Wisconsin and Richmond. Since that point, Loyola has only dropped 2 games. Loyola is 37th in college basketball in experience (average years in college basketball is 2.25 years) and 14th in college basketball in minutes continuity from last season (73.8% of their minutes returned from last season). The Ramblers are currently the 9th ranked team in the country in adjusted efficiency margin in KenPom. Loyola tends to play at one of the slowest paces in the country. They're 331st in the country in adjusted tempo and 276th in the country in average possession length on the offensive end (18.2 seconds per possession).
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What Loyola-Chicago does well:
Let's start with defense as the Ramblers are currently 1st in college basketball in defensive efficiency. The Ramblers are 2nd only to Bradley in average possession length on the defensive end (teams average 18.8 seconds a possession against Loyola). Loyola is 26th in college basketball in effective field goal % against, 50th in the country in turnover % on the defensive end, 6th in the country in preventing offensive rebounds on the defensive end, 37th in the country in 3 point % on the defensive end, 60th in the country in 2 point % on the defensive end, and 55th in the country in steal %. Needless to say, it's going to be tough to score this weekend.
On the offensive end, the Ramblers are 52nd in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. Loyola is a very good shooting team as they're 9th in the country in effective FG %, 85th in the country in 3 point shooting %, and 4th in the country in 2 point shooting %. With a veteran team like Loyola, it's no surprise they take care of the ball very well on the offensive end. They're 29th in the country in steal % on the offensive end.
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What Loyola-Chicago doesn't do well:
Not much! Really only two things stand out that the Ramblers kind of struggle with. One is oddly enough, offensive rebounding. They're 239th in the country in offensive rebounding %. And as good as they are defensively, the Ramblers tend not to block many shots as they're 309th in the country in block %.
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Meeting the Loyola-Chicago players:
Can't start with anyone else but 6'9 Senior Cameron Krutwig. Krutwig finished 2nd to AJ Green last year for the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year but he'll be an absolute runaway winner this year. Krutwig leads the Ramblers in points per game (15.0 points per game, 4th in the MVC), rebounds per game (6.6 rebounds per game, 6th in the MVC), assists per game (3.0 assists per game, 11th in the MVC), and blocks per game (1.0 blocks per game, 6th in the MVC). Krutwig gets by far the most possessions run through him on Loyola. He's 41st in the country in % of possessions that go through him when he's on the court and he's 1st in the Missouri Valley since conference play started. He also gets the bulk of the shot % as he's 62nd in the country in % of shots taken when on the court and he's 1st in the Missouri Valley since conference play started. Krutwig can do everything on the offensive end well. He's 155th in the country in effective field goal % and 229th in the country in true shooting %. If you think he's shooting is impressive, he's 71st in the country in offensive rebounding % (and 3rd in the MVC) and 322nd in the country in defensive rebounding %. For a big man, Krutwig is an excellent passer as well as he's 143rd in the country in assist rate and 1st in the Missouri Valley in that stat since conference play began. On the defensive end, Krutwig contributes as well. He's 280th in the country in block % and 457th in the country in steal %. Obviously Krutwig is the clear best player in the Missouri Valley Conference but KenPom has him ranked #5 in the country in their kenpom.com Player of the Year standings behind only Luka Garza of Iowa, Drew Timme of Gonzaga, Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois, and Jared Butler of Baylor. Needless to say, Cameron Krutwig is one of the most impressive players we've seen in the Valley over the decades.
So who does Loyola have around Krutwig? 6'4 Senior Lucas Williamson is the Ramblers 2nd leading scorer (8.0 points per game) and leads the Ramblers in steals (1.3 steals per game, 7th in the Missouri Valley). Williamson is 72nd in the country in steal % and 2nd in the Missouri Valley in conference play. Williamson struggled a bit from 3 last season but has taken a big step up this season as he's shooting 37% from 3 on the season, good for 476th in the country.
Another impressive player for the Ramblers this season has been 6'1 Sophomore Marquise Kennedy. Kennedy is 72nd in the country in steal % and 4th in the Missouri Valley since conference play began. Kennedy does a lot of his scoring close to the basket as he's 129th in the country in 2 point %. Despite his 6'1 size, Kennedy is 310th in the country in defensive rebounding %.
6'1 Senior Keith Clemons is 34th in the country in 3 point % (46.4% from 3) and he's been the best 3 point shooter in the Missouri Valley in league play (25-51, 49%). Clemons is 3rd in the Missouri Valley in effective field goal % and 2nd in the Missouri Valley in true shooting %. Clemons is another player on Loyola that's ranked nationally in steal % as he's 401st in the country in that stat and 7th in the Missouri Valley.
6'7 Senior Aher Uguak was a prized transfer from New Mexico a few seasons ago but never really panned out but he's having a terrific season this year. Uguak is 15th in the country in effective field goal % and 13th in the country in true shooting % and 1st in the Missouri Valley in both stats. Uguak is 18th in the country in 2 point shooting % and 1st in the Missouri Valley. Uguak does a lot of his work near the basket and draws a ton of fouls, he's 155th in the country in FT rate. Uguak has been one of Loyola's best players down the stretch scoring 20 against Drake 2 weekends ago.
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Last Season:
Bryan Mullins made his first return trip to Loyola but saw his Salukis lose 64-48 on January 16th, 2020 in one of the early games of Valley season. Marcus Domask played 38 minutes and had 10 points and 9 rebounds. The Salukis were able to hold Cameron Krutwig in check to just 8 points and 8 rebounds and kept the game close for the first half but Loyola ended up pulling away in the 2nd half.
On January 29th, 2020; the Salukis got revenge on Loyola winning 68-63 in Carbondale. The Salukis were led by 27 points by Eric McGill in his best game of the season which later earned him MVC Player of the Week honors. Cameron Krutwig had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists and Marquise Kennedy led all Loyola scorers with 18 points off the bench. This win gave SIU their 4th win in a row.
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Past SIU/Loyola games on YouTube:
2018:
1/17 Loyola-Chicago 79 SIU 65 (Road)
2020:
1/29 SIU 68 Loyola-Chicago 63 (Home)
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Links:
Bryan Mullins MVC teleconference 2/23
Rodney Watson interview with Dalton Banks
Mike Reis Interview with Will Keller
Just looking for them to compete. Obviously not expecting a win in either game but want to see them make Loyola earn it
There isn't another coach anywhere, excepting Moser, who knows the strategy of Loyola better than Bryan Mullins. Just wish Marcus were healthy!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Any update on Marcus?
Bryan Mullins with Mike Reis pregame:
Tipoff is coming up at 8:10
Lance Jones 4-4 from 3. What a start!
Interesting: I just noticed that the benches are on the opposite side of the court.
If you're gonna reply to me in the forums, please quote what I wrote that you're replying to so I have a clue...thanks! 😀
Woof this game got ugly fast for SIU. Still only down 1 but haven't received any production besides Jones.
Loyola has been ice cold but Southern’s offense is non-existent outside of Jones from deep. Missed opportunity to grab a lead.
Not sure what offense they are trying to run with this 4 out 1, but it sure looks like a bunch of lost guards dribbling on the perimeter and jacking up a late shot clock shot. Need to get that fixed ASAP before Loyola starts hitting their threes.
Loyola's defense is great but someone has to step up behind Jones. He has 14 of the 16 points with 4:55 left in the first half
Neither game on ESPN+. 😥
