Loyola University surprised one and all by reaching the Final Four in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament last season. Michigan extinguished the Ramblers’ flame prior to the championship game. The loss to the Wolverines hurt at the time for sure, yet, there was no denying the fine season by the Ramblers.
Loyola ended with a record of 32-6. Along the way, the Ramblers captured the Missouri Valley Conference championship in regular-season play and won the Conference tournament championship to gain an NCAA tournament berth.
Northwestern, one season earlier won the school’s first appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Wildcats ended 24-12 overall. A victory over Vanderbilt followed by a close loss to national runner-up Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament made for fond memories.
Why Loyola and Northwestern? Largely to point out that for an Illinois team to make the NCAA tournament this season will require one of the State’s 13 big-time basketball programs to step forward.
At the beginning of this week, Loyola found itself in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference race. The Ramblers are a respectable 13-8 overall and 6-2 in conference. Yet, the 32-6 record by the Ramblers last year against what the present team has done is cause for some concern.
To a mild extent, Loyola is a victim of last season’s success. Every opponent Loyola faces will be out to take down the Ramblers.
A look at the overall records of the 13 State schools with theoretical shots at the NCAA championship, and theoretical is the operative word, reveals that not one of the schools stands out.
Every State team has lost at least eight games. Northwestern is 12-8 overall, however, only 3-6 in the Big Ten Conference.
Numbers in the Missouri Valley might help. Loyola is one of four Illinois schools in the Missouri Valley. Illinois State is 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the Missouri Valley. Southern Illinois and Bradley are on the dark side of .500 in Conference and overall.
Illinois, 6-14 and 2-7 in the Big Ten, recorded a memorable 78-67 victory at ranked Maryland Saturday. Northern Illinois took a thrilling victory over ranked Buffalo. Spectacular upsets look good! A winning streak carries more weight, however.
DePaul in the Big East Conference started the week with an 11-8 record.
The last stops are the conference tournaments. A team that stumbled through the regular season can suddenly get hot and surprise in the conference tournament and with it comes an NCAA invitation.