Sunday men’s tournament open thread
Fighting Sister Jean’s looking good early against Illinois!
March 21st, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^
So many choices. Like being at the Old Country Buffet with a hangover on a Sunday. Did I pick the right one?
Doesn’t matter, because you can always go back for Round 2...
...or 3, or 4...
March 21st, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
Krutwig playing well against Cockburn so far.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
The big man has amazing touch around the rim
March 21st, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
I picked Loyola
March 21st, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
Me too.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:29 PM ^
illinois is really good. they're also really dumb.
trent frazier's gunner mentality will cost them a game. book it.
curbelo, too, by the way. he'll be great eventually, probably after he bugs out for the nba.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:29 PM ^
I’m glad we have 3 threads on this, I can voice my different thoughts in each one.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
The Moms only had one job...
March 21st, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
Kofi Cockburn is getting exposed against skilled centers. When Kofi can't play bully ball, he is lost out there.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
Illinois with the floor stop surprisingly got the stop
March 21st, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^
Fukc. Was hoping that one would go in like they do on Staee.all the time.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^
So Illinois slaps the floor in unison...that’s...uh...cute!!
Really ramps up their unlikability.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
Illinois looks completely lost on offense.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
Right now it’s either feed it to Cockburn or hoist a three at the end of the shot clock. Gotta give Loyola credit through, this is what they do
Just heard Loyola’s coach tell his players that they just won the Big Ten Regular Season Championship and the Big Ten Tournament because they beat Illinois and Illinois beat Michigan and you know the rest.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:38 PM ^
Hoping for the best but not sure Loyola is going to have the horses to keep this up for a full forty minutes. They’ve been lucky that Illinois buckets haven’t been falling much so far.
If Ayo is able to turn hero ball mode on their deficit will go away in a matter of minutes.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
They’ve missed a few inside of 6 feet as well though, Krutwig has had some rim out.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
Let’s go LOYOLA
March 21st, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
How has somebody not offered Porter Mosier eleventy billion dollars to come and coach their program?
They guy is an incredible coach. If I was Indiana he'd be the only name on my list
March 21st, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
Jesuits have deep pockets
March 21st, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
If I recall correctly, he was on the short list of candidates to come to Michigan and almost no one on this board wanted him. We all thought that his 2018 Final Four run was a fluke in what was (up to that point in time) an okay but nonetheless uninspiring tenure at Loyola.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
Believe this is an accurate statement of the board's opinions re: Moser
Loyola grad here. Moser's success increased greatly once Loyola upgraded it's facilities. They played in a gym that was legitimately worse than some high schools, and had a practice facility that was built in 1924 and very rarely upgraded. Once they upgraded the gym and built a new practice facility, things turned around. Around the same time, they switched from the Horizon league to Missouri Valley, a huge upgrade in competition, but helpful for recruiting.
Long story short, we were able to keep him in 2018, but I'd imagine he's going to get some really tempting offers this summer.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
I remember.
Sometimes it takes guys a few years to figure themselves out. He's proving that he's legit.
I have no idea if he can recruit but its obvious he can coach.
Both ends of the court. I like their action on offense and they have surprised Illinois with the double teams. And his kids are just giving more effort than Illinois so far.
Here's Brian:
https://mgoblog.com/content/searchbits-back-against-its-will-and-better-judgment
Here's a board post:
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/porter-moser-whispers-getting-louder
IIRC he had the opportunity to take over an East Coast program (St. John's?) and passed on it.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
Loyola is playing Southern Indiana HS style basketball. Fundamentals baby!!!
March 21st, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
I think Brian brought it up, but there absolutely needs to be some form of advantage in basketball. That play where Miller smacked the dude in the face who would've had a clean dunk to go up 10 or 12 and then they come up empty
March 21st, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
Loyola doing a good job controlling tempo and flow of the game so far. Definitely being played on their terms.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:44 PM ^
Looks like Illinois is going to struggle to break 60
March 21st, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
Loyola putting on a clinic in how to defend the post
March 21st, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
This Loyola team is well coached. You know they have lesser athletes and not high as rated kids but they run quality stuff on O and defend in the opponents grill.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
Ref bailout call
March 21st, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Porter Moser is a good coach.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Beggining the think the B1G might be seedded a little higher than they should be due to doing well against the ACC early on the season, them being..... um, very down this year and the lack of more cross conference games in general. The PAC might have been underrated a bit this season for the same reason. Still early, we'll see.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
I hadn't seen Colorado play all season, and they sure looked good yesterday.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Loyola Chicago is so fun to watch.
They are playing flawless team basketball. They can get beat Allnoise.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
Regardless of what happens from here, it’s very clear that Loyola is an extremely well coached team. They’re not doing anything flashy, but they are executing so well. Porter had his team ready to go.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
Loyola's defense is LEGIT
March 21st, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Loyola’s shot selection has been impressive.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
Go Ramblers!
March 21st, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
Bad end to the half
March 21st, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^
I don’t understand why Hunter gets illegal screen calls a lot when Kofi does it almost every single time.
That's the Michigan Difference.
Seriously, watching this game, FSU, and LSU, the fouls aren't being called on players offensively at at the rim like they were called on HD.
I'm convinced that it's because he's such a giant human being compared to the TSU players. Hopefully, it will be better called tomorrow.
Great defense by Loyola-Chicago first 20 min. They are no fluke with the second least PPG average. It showed the first half. Keep it Ramblers! Win the second half and get the victory.
just FYI - iowa women vs central michigan on espn right now...iowa wbb is very, very, VERY similar to the iowa men. a lights-out offensive player (caitlin clark, with range out to ames) surrounded by other good offensive players...and no defense whatsoever. central staying with them, down 8 midway through the third.
Go Chips!