Missouri State Preview and Game Thread -- 1-31-2021

[lusuperfan]

When we are up big in games, I'd just tell Kaifes to let it rip. See if he can find that in-game stroke that he had freshman year.

That's the problem (albeit a good one to have) with blowout wins. Guys like Kaifes are stuck in no mans land. The last 5 minutes will be for guys like Hutson, Baughman, Anderson, Hebb, Wojcik etc. to develop. However, you don't want those guys who aren't in the close game rotation and are playing during that first 15 minutes of the second half of a blowout to go off script and let the other team back in the game. If the game still isn't completely out of reach and he shoots early in the possession and bricks a couple of threes, it obviously will drive any coach up a wall.

[Mudville21]

Skipping Arch Madness: I do not know if we can afford to skip. Here's a scenario that would be a nightmare. Loyola AND Drake skip the conference tournament. Now the winner of the conference tournament gets the automatic bid. I am pretty sure the NCAA would not at that point want to give the MVC three bids. So, who gets in either Loyola or Drake? Head to head would be logical if either team swept the other. If its a split, how would you figure it out. It would also cost a beloved P5 conference a team. The NCAA I am sure would punish either Loyola or Drake or both for putting them in that situation. Also, would the NIT take both Loyola and Drake or just one?

Me, I would go and play. I think it sends the wrong message to the team not to play. You are literally telling them that they don't have the faith or confidence in them to win the event. It contradicts the message of "keep chasing." Our conference tournament also is also usually earlier than some other tournaments and if you do get in, its a long time with no games.

[swellafelon]

The assumption here is that Loyola is under no contractual obligation to play at Arch Madness.
Does anybody know if this is the case?