Sunday, December 15, 2019 1:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago, Ill.
This is the fourth straight year that Loyola has hosted the Norfolk State Spartans at Gentile Arena. Last year, Norfolk State made the NIT and knocked off Alabama in the first round of that tournament before falling to Colorado . This year the Spartans are still experienced-- they start two seniors and a junior-- but they lost their two key experienced players from last year's front court.
Norfolk State is scheduled to play three MVC teams this season. On Nov. 19, they lost 69-57 to Bradley in Peoria. They lost to SIU in Carbondale, 76-59, on Dec. 4. They also lost to Northwestern on Nov. 22, 70-59, in Evanston. Their three wins have come against non-Division I teams, and all of them at home. But the Spartans have been competitive in almost all their games, and came within four points of knocking off two respectable teams, Monmouth and Niagara. And just a reminder for anyone who might take Norfolk State lightly-- they are conference mates with Coppin State, who knocked off Loyola on Nov. 12, leading the game almost wire-to-wire.
The Loyola Ramblers are coming off the first of their two eight-day idle periods, in which the Ramblers had their heads primarily in books and over final exam test papers. Another eight-day gap comes over the Christmas break, after the Davidson game on Dec. 22 and before the beginning of conference play on Dec. 30. Wins in the last three non-con contests (Sunday vs. Norfolk State, Wednesday vs. Vanderbilt in Phoenix, and next Sunday vs. Davidson) could go a long, long way to help restore some momentum and fan buzz around a season that started with disappointments.
Coach Robert Jones is in his seventh year at Norfolk State, and his likely starters on Sunday are 6'3" senior guard Steven Whitley, 6'1" senior guard Jermaine Bishop, 6'3" juco guard Devante Carter, 6'6" junior guard/forward Kashaun Hicks, and 6'8"sophomore forward Chris Ford. Bishop is a transfer from St. Louis University, and leads the team with 13.7 ppg. Bishop, Whitley, and Carter each average double figures in scoring; Carter is the rebound leader with 4.9 per game. Joe Bryant Jr. averages 11.6 per game on offense and leads the team in three point percentage, but didn't play in NSU's last game. Ford leads the team in blocks and offensive rebounds.
The Spartans are focused primarily on defense, and struggle with offensive efficiency, just like Coppin State. The difference between NSU and Coppin State is the Spartans play at a slower tempo more similar to the Ramblers. NSU is more effective shooting inside the arc than from beyond the three point line, and has one of the best three-point defenses in all of college hoops. Coppin State plays the 5th fastest adjusted tempo in college basketball, and has a respectable defense against the three.
The Ramblers have strung together a modest three-game winning streak. Losses to Coppin State and Colorado State were the two most stinging losses, coming by four points and one point respectively, that cast a pall over the non-con season. The three remaining non-con games-- two at home, one at a neutral site-- are all winnable, but this stretch begins with a team that should be taken seriously, despite the odds. Of all Loyola's remaining games, this contest is the one where the Ramblers have the greatest estimated chances of winning, 91%. KenPom.com picks Loyola as 15-point favorites.
Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... _15_19.pdfNorfolk State game notes: https://nsuspartans.com/documents/2019/ ... hicago.pdfTV/Streaming Video: ESPN3
https://www.espn.com/watch?id=7aea0867- ... 478f66b28d Live audio feed: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=12&type=Live Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=280003Vegas odds: Loyola by 16
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