March Madness: Loyola earns first NCAA Tournament bid since 1985

After a 33 years absence from the NCAA tournament, the Loyola Ramblers earn the automatic bid from the Missouri Valley Conference convincingly.

After winning their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, and last one overall since 1985, the Loyola Ramblers find themselves back in the NCAA tournament — earning the automatic MVC bid to March Madness after defeating the Illinois State Redbirds at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Sunday afternoon.

With recent history not on the side of MVC at-large hopefuls, the Ramblers took care of business, with seeding their only concern when Selection Sunday arrives. In what was thought to be a wide-open field in the MVC tournament, the Ramblers escaped two early scares during “Arch Madness.”

Here’s how the entire MVC tournament went down:

Play-in round – Thursday night

(7) Missouri State Bears 83, (10) Valparaiso Crusaders 79

(9) Northern Iowa Panthers 60, (8) Evansville Purple Aces 50

MVC Quarterfinals

(1) Loyola 54, (9) Northern Iowa 50

(5) Bradley Braves 63, (4) Drake Bulldogs 61

(2) Southern Ilinois Salukis 67, (7)Missouri State 63

(3) Illinois State Redbirds 77, (6) Indiana State Sycamores 70

MVC Semi-finals

(1) Loyola 62, (5) Bradley 54

(3) Illinois State 76, (2) Southern Illinois 68 (OT)

MVC Finals

(1) Loyola 65, (3) Illinois State 49

Other items of note from Arch Madness

Alize Johnson made history in Missouri State’s Thursday night win over Valpo, doing something only three other players in NCAA basketball have accomplished since 2010 — compiling at least 22 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. Johnson joins the elite company of Norris Cole of Cleveland State (2011), Caleb Swanigan of Purdue (2016), and Keith Benson of Oakland 2010.

Expect Johnson to be a late first round or early second round pick in the 2018 NBA draft. The 6′ 9″ forward can do it all — shoot, rebound, defend, and lead his team.

Speaking of Missouri State, coach Paul Lusk will not return as the team’s head coach, after a disappointing season — and tenure at Missouri State. After a 2011 MVC regular-season title under (now) Mizzou head coach Cuonzo Martin, the Bears have not returned to (legitimate) postseason play since the 2011 NIT. The Bears last NCAA tournament appearance was in 1999, under Steve Alford.

Until Sunday’s MVC tournament final, every single 2018 Arch Madness game was decided by 10 points or less — with each game a one possession game with five minutes (or less) remaining in their respective games. Bradley won on a last second put-back against Drake in the quarterfinals, while Illinois State outlasted Barry Hinson’s Salukis in an inevitable Arch Madness overtime game.

How deep can the Loyola Ramblers go in the 2018 NCAA tournament?

Projected March Madness Seed: 11-12

What they should be seeded: 6

With elite guard play (Ben Richardson and MVC Player of the Year Clayton Custer) the sky is the limit for the Ramblers. After winning at Florida earlier in the season in Gainsville, shorthanded by the way, Loyola’s proven they can beat the best while not having their best player.

Attending Arch Madness myself for the fifth straight season and seventh overall time was a blast. Even though the MVC is a “Mid Major” conference, there is nothing Mid Major about the event. From the play on the court to the accommodations, we media folks were treated as kings. Thanks to MVC commissioner Doug Elgin, Associate MVC commissioner Mike Kern, and the rest of the staff. You’re the real MVPs!

Next: Top 25 March Madness heroes of all-time

After winning both the MVC regular season and Arch Madness crown, the Loyola Ramblers look to become the first MVC team to reach the Sweet 16 since Wichita State in 2015. If you’re looking to bust the March Madness brackets of your competition, selecting Loyola into the second weekend is the start of your bracket challenge title.