Arch Madness-- Northern Iowa Preview and Game Thread

[JCT]

Saturday, March 07, 2015 4:00 p.m.
Scottrade Center, St. Louis

The Ramblers made a statement about belonging in the MVC Friday night, when they demolished the Indiana State Sycamores 81-53 to set an Arch Madness record for the largest margin of victory in the 25 years of the tournament in St. Louis. They did it as an underdog, against a team they’d never defeated since joining the league, in front of a mostly Loyola crowd on the MVC main stage. Next up for Loyola are the #11 UNI Panthers, who defeated Bradley 71-46 behind a dominating second half on Friday afternoon.

Loyola played UNI tough in a loss at Cedar Falls before being outclassed in Chicago without Milton Doyle. But as Indiana State witnessed, this is a different Loyola team from earlier in the year. The Panthers are more experienced—from their exceptional head coach down to their very deep bench. Yet they’ve shown some vulnerability at times in their last two games. To add another interesting wrinkle, UNI has had problems at Arch Madness recently, having compiled a 1-4 record in MVC tournaments since they won it all in 2010. Loyola now stands at 2-1 in less than two full years in the league.

No one would expect Northern Iowa to falter with a chance to face the #8 Shockers in the title game. Yet after the Ramblers’ last three gritty performances and the Panthers’ sluggishness in their game at WSU and in the first half against Bradley, the door for a Rambler upset is slightly ajar.

On just about every metric, UNI has the clear advantage. They’re experienced, tested, well-coached, and very deep off the bench. Loyola’s only hope of staging an upset is playing the kind of energetic, help defense they played against Indiana State, and hope that the shots go down with as much regularity. And Loyola won’t “sneak up” on the Panthers like they did against Indiana State—the Ramblers will have to execute with near perfection to keep the game within striking distance at the end. UNI is playing for a 4th or 5th seed in the NCAA Tournament and a chance to meet Wichita State for a definitive matchup deciding the champions of the MVC. Loyola has lesser expectations, and is playing to extend a very good season that was sidetracked by injuries. But if it comes down to the later minutes of the game, the Ramblers might be able to dig a little deeper.

Saturday’s game will be Loyola’s first trip to a conference semi-final since 2007, and their first season facing a sixth ranked team since 1978. A win would give LU their first 20-win season since 2007 and (most likely) a shot at playing a seventh ranked team in a season on national broadcast television. With 19 overall wins, 8 conference regular season wins, a 119 RPI, and an impressive conference tournament win, snapping the 30-year postseason tournament drought is probably already secured if Loyola will take it.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 307aaa.pdf

Northern Iowa game notes: https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf9/3255 ... M_ID=26200

TV: Comcast Sports Net, Fox Sports Midwest, ESPN3 (outside viewing area)

Vegas odds: Northern Iowa by 10

[GoRamblers]

I'd love for us to play like we did last night, but for sure we need to play like we did at UNI. We weren't great, but our defense kept us in it.

The players need to just play loose...have fun. There is no pressure on this team as all of this is just gravy now. I'd love for us to upset the Panthers today because I think it puts us on the bubble for the NIT.

[brot4britu]

HUH ???
CBSSPORTS has us at nine point favorites ??????? Must be a mistake ! We are good, yes ! But that good ???

[didea]

I think if the Ramblers win today, it is a very good chance they to go to the NIT. They will have a top 10 upset in their wins, a win over a very good Boise State team - what will throw things off is if there are a lot of smaller conference championship upsets ( regular season champs go to the NIT automatically if they don't win the their tournament ).

[didea]

It's probably reversed - a 9 point dog makes more sense

[08rambler]

Brot - LU getting 9 right now. I'll bet that eases down a bit closer to game time.

[Bear]

Best part of this game is that--at least in my opinion--whatever happens tonight this season is a success. We avoided Drake night, got a marquee win against a tough opponent, and are playing in the semis. Hopefully with this in mind the boys are able to go out and play relaxed, and hey--who knows what will happen! Kind of crazy that worst-case scenario we leave this season with at worst a .500 record in the MVC--the naysayers who didn't want us in the conference definitely didn't see that coming.

Anyway, UNI put the hurting on Bradley. Anyone happen to catch part of that game?

[swellafelon]

Just spit balling here, but, assuming Keke White is not injured, but played only three minutes against ISU due to a coaching decision, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Keke with fresh legs will be a key against UNI.

Is it possible that Porter held Keke out against ISU just so he'd be rested for UNI?

[JCT]

Anyway, UNI put the hurting on Bradley. Anyone happen to catch part of that game?

It was very close up until just after halftime. UNI led by only two at the break, and then they unleashed their typical stuff on the Braves, who must have been dead tired after playing an OT game less than 24 hours before.

[ToledoRambler]

I can't help but feel like we have a real chance at winning this game. We played them well the first meeting of the season, and with Doyle back we are a vastly improved team! Ever since Doyle came back in the middle of the second half at Missouri State, the team has looked awesome. We should not have too much fatigue from last night's easy win either. I like us by 5 today!