Evansville at Loyola-Chicago, 2:00 PM Eastern, NBC Sports Chicago+/espn+
The Drake Bulldogs are 18-0 overall, 9-0 in Missouri Valley play and ranked #25 in both the AP and Coach’s polls heading into action today. However, they may not even be the best team in their conference. When looking at metrics and recent play on the court, that honor may in fact belong to the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, who enter play today at 16-3 overall, 11-1 in the MVC, and with enough top 25 votes that a win this afternoon could propel them into one or both Top 25 lists as well. KenPom has the Rambler rated #13 inn the entire nation, well ahead of Drake’s #51, thanks in part to a top 40 offensive and top 10 defensive efficiencies. The Ramblers are led by Cameron Krutwig, who is averaging 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and had a double-double (20 and 11) in yesterday’s 68-55 win over Evansville.
If Drake and Loyola-Chicago are the top two stories in the Valley this season, the clear #3 story has to be the Evansville Aces. Evansville made national headlines last season when they knocked off Kentucky in Rupp Arena, but then completely imploded. By the end of the season, their head coach was gone and they went winless (0-19 including the conference tournament) against Missouri Valley competition. Head coach Todd Lickliter has completely turned this program round this season, and the Aces sit at 8-9 overall and 6-5 in conference play, good enough for a third place tie in the loss column with Indiana State and Missouri State. Four players are averaging double figures for the Aces, led by Jawaun Newton’s 12.5 and Shamar Givance’s 12.1 per game. A true team effort will be needed today, however, if Evansville is going to end the Ramblers’ 9 game winning streak.