Initial thoughts
1) This is not a Wright State situation. Loyola is a much more talented basketball team in a better conference. The MVC is a really solid mid major conference that has a pedigree for winning games in the NCAAT. They are 28-5 on the year.
2) I liked the Miami match up immediately upon seeing them in our bracket. It didn't surprise me at all to see them get beat because the reality is they are an a mediocre ACC (especially after Brown got hurt for them mid year). I like many picked Loyola to beat Miami.
3) This is a good match up for Tennessee.
Like I talked about in the Wright State scout the blue print to beat Tennessee is (and its very hard to do)
1) Having length in the front court that can disrupt Grant and Admiral (when he posts). But its not just length it is having length that knows how to defend UTs post players who are very skilled on the block.
2) Having guards that can really create their own shot and get in the lane. Tennessee is very solid on defense, is in position and rarely beats itself rotationally etc. Having big time guards is how you have to attack a great team defensive team (Exactly what UMBC did to UVA tonight. Those 2 guards took over and were in the lane all night).
Loyola has absolutely no height/length. They do have guard play.
1) They essentially play 7 guys (this will be a key against a deep Tennessee team that is more fresh not having to play to the wire like Loyola did and playing Thursday and Saturday).
2) They are very balanced scoring with 5 starters averaging between 13 and 10 PPG
3) They live and die with the 3
Best players and Keys for them
1) Clayton Custer- 6'1 JR- 13 PPG and really good 3 point shooter with 55 makes on 45%. 4.5 assists per. He is their engine and their playmaker.
2) Donte Ingram- SR 6'6 215 wing- 11.7 PPG Big time shooter with 70 made 3's on 40%. Good rebounder at 6.5 per. This will be a really good match up with him on Admiral. Gives them a good match up size wise compared to Wright State trying to guard AD.
Other starters (again not a ton of separation among the 5)
3) Marques Townes- JR 6'4 210 wing. Good size and another guy who can match up with AD decently. 11 PPG and a glue guy for them. He is a decent shooter but not his bread and butter. 27 made 3's on 39%. Averages 4 RPG and 2.5 assists per game. Solid playmaker.
4) Cameron Krutwig- 6'9 260 FR- the only true size on their team. He is young and it will be a really tough match up for him. Him playing on Thursday afternoon will have an effect because playing against Grant Williams is brutal with how relentless he is posting up every single possession. Can't take a play off. We will see how the freshman responds.
Averages 10.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG He is not a shot blocker. Nor a 3 point shooter at all (0 attempts). Solid from the line. Solid passer out of the post to shooters.
5) Ben Richardson- 6'3 185 SR - PG and good playmaker at 4 APG. Decent shooter at 31 makes on 39%. More of an open shooter than anything. 6 PPG. 8 assists against Miami and he took 1 shot.
Reserves- this are the 2 main subs who play around 20 minutes
1) Aundre Jackson- 6'5 SR 6'5 230 pound F- Not much of a shooter but can hit the open 3. 19 makes at 36%. Doesn't rebound well for being one of their biggest players. Not a playmaker.
2) Lucas Williamson- 6'4 190 FR- G doesn't shoot it much but when he does its a 3. Has made 31 3's on 41%.
Defensively Tennessee is a really tough match up for them. Krutwig has to guard Kyle. Ingram will have to guard Grant. That leaves Admiral with a 6'4 wing. I look for Tennessee to go at Krutwig and Ingram. If either gets in foul trouble that is bad news for them from a rebounding and defensive perspective. I would personally play zone if I was coaching Loyola knowing that Grant/AD are deadly in the high post and that Tennessee is a really good catch and shoot inside out team. No way I allow Tennessee to ram it down my throat which will absolutely be Tennessee's game plan.
This Loyola team can absolutely shoot the basketball. Tennessee does a really good job defending the 3 but this is a dangerous team if they get hot. The are 40% from 3 as a team which is remarkable. The game plan will revolve around contesting 3's. Being a mid major they are not accustomed to the length Tennessee will have which makes shooting much harder than they experience in conference play. They are going to always have 4 shooters on the court. They are much more physical than Wright State and better shooters.
My prediction with the caveat that this tourney is absolutely WILD on a day to day basis. This is a really good match up for Tennessee. Tennessee will pressure and push the pace to try and get into the guards legs effecting their shots in the 2nd half. They will attack the 2 bigs that Loyola has and try to get them in foul trouble. They will hit some shots and will probably come out juiced up. If we do a solid job of defending the 3 point line and contest shots we probably win by around 20.
1) This is not a Wright State situation. Loyola is a much more talented basketball team in a better conference. The MVC is a really solid mid major conference that has a pedigree for winning games in the NCAAT. They are 28-5 on the year.
2) I liked the Miami match up immediately upon seeing them in our bracket. It didn't surprise me at all to see them get beat because the reality is they are an a mediocre ACC (especially after Brown got hurt for them mid year). I like many picked Loyola to beat Miami.
3) This is a good match up for Tennessee.
Like I talked about in the Wright State scout the blue print to beat Tennessee is (and its very hard to do)
1) Having length in the front court that can disrupt Grant and Admiral (when he posts). But its not just length it is having length that knows how to defend UTs post players who are very skilled on the block.
2) Having guards that can really create their own shot and get in the lane. Tennessee is very solid on defense, is in position and rarely beats itself rotationally etc. Having big time guards is how you have to attack a great team defensive team (Exactly what UMBC did to UVA tonight. Those 2 guards took over and were in the lane all night).
Loyola has absolutely no height/length. They do have guard play.
1) They essentially play 7 guys (this will be a key against a deep Tennessee team that is more fresh not having to play to the wire like Loyola did and playing Thursday and Saturday).
2) They are very balanced scoring with 5 starters averaging between 13 and 10 PPG
3) They live and die with the 3
Best players and Keys for them
1) Clayton Custer- 6'1 JR- 13 PPG and really good 3 point shooter with 55 makes on 45%. 4.5 assists per. He is their engine and their playmaker.
2) Donte Ingram- SR 6'6 215 wing- 11.7 PPG Big time shooter with 70 made 3's on 40%. Good rebounder at 6.5 per. This will be a really good match up with him on Admiral. Gives them a good match up size wise compared to Wright State trying to guard AD.
Other starters (again not a ton of separation among the 5)
3) Marques Townes- JR 6'4 210 wing. Good size and another guy who can match up with AD decently. 11 PPG and a glue guy for them. He is a decent shooter but not his bread and butter. 27 made 3's on 39%. Averages 4 RPG and 2.5 assists per game. Solid playmaker.
4) Cameron Krutwig- 6'9 260 FR- the only true size on their team. He is young and it will be a really tough match up for him. Him playing on Thursday afternoon will have an effect because playing against Grant Williams is brutal with how relentless he is posting up every single possession. Can't take a play off. We will see how the freshman responds.
Averages 10.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG He is not a shot blocker. Nor a 3 point shooter at all (0 attempts). Solid from the line. Solid passer out of the post to shooters.
5) Ben Richardson- 6'3 185 SR - PG and good playmaker at 4 APG. Decent shooter at 31 makes on 39%. More of an open shooter than anything. 6 PPG. 8 assists against Miami and he took 1 shot.
Reserves- this are the 2 main subs who play around 20 minutes
1) Aundre Jackson- 6'5 SR 6'5 230 pound F- Not much of a shooter but can hit the open 3. 19 makes at 36%. Doesn't rebound well for being one of their biggest players. Not a playmaker.
2) Lucas Williamson- 6'4 190 FR- G doesn't shoot it much but when he does its a 3. Has made 31 3's on 41%.
Defensively Tennessee is a really tough match up for them. Krutwig has to guard Kyle. Ingram will have to guard Grant. That leaves Admiral with a 6'4 wing. I look for Tennessee to go at Krutwig and Ingram. If either gets in foul trouble that is bad news for them from a rebounding and defensive perspective. I would personally play zone if I was coaching Loyola knowing that Grant/AD are deadly in the high post and that Tennessee is a really good catch and shoot inside out team. No way I allow Tennessee to ram it down my throat which will absolutely be Tennessee's game plan.
This Loyola team can absolutely shoot the basketball. Tennessee does a really good job defending the 3 but this is a dangerous team if they get hot. The are 40% from 3 as a team which is remarkable. The game plan will revolve around contesting 3's. Being a mid major they are not accustomed to the length Tennessee will have which makes shooting much harder than they experience in conference play. They are going to always have 4 shooters on the court. They are much more physical than Wright State and better shooters.
My prediction with the caveat that this tourney is absolutely WILD on a day to day basis. This is a really good match up for Tennessee. Tennessee will pressure and push the pace to try and get into the guards legs effecting their shots in the 2nd half. They will attack the 2 bigs that Loyola has and try to get them in foul trouble. They will hit some shots and will probably come out juiced up. If we do a solid job of defending the 3 point line and contest shots we probably win by around 20.
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