Just as a reminder to anyone who misses the Horizon League-- the #10 seed in the HL would have played the #3 seed in the first round at the #3 home court on Tuesday. That would be like us playing our first round game at UNI.

With nine teams in the HL this year, the 4-9 seeds played each other on Tuesday, and-- SURPRISE!!-- all the home teams won against their lower-seeded competition. They'll start the quarter finals at Green Bay on Friday. The final will be held Tuesday at Green Bay, or at Cleveland, or at Wright State, or at Milwaukee. We won't know where the final will be until Saturday night.

So thus far, in the HL, there have been ZERO upsets in three games. In the MVC, there have been two upsets in two games.

I know I'll bring the few of you that miss the HL around someday. Maybe if you can make it to the Scottrade Center tomorrow to see Loyola play against Indiana State before a larger crowd than the capacity of the Gentile Arena, you can see some of the things I've been talking about for years.

You rule, breakthrough!

Congrats to the Ramblers on winning your inaugural Arch Madness game. That shot by Boyle was amazing. I wish you luck in the tourney, provided of course you're not playing the Shox.

Congrats to you all on your inaugural win. Amazing shot and fun game to watch. Indy State hasn't been firing on all cylinders the last few games. I think you have a decent shot at knocking them out. Tomorrow is where I would much rather be your #10 spot than our #9.

Now that was sweet! That's called laying the groundwork for next season, too.

And it couldn't have happened to a bigger jerk than Bradley's coach. I know--he used to coach my alma mater. He's now 0-3 in MVC tourney games, all opening round. He may not get the chance to lose #4.

But to more positive things: what a great effort and finish. This team is only a couple of players away from moving to the top half of the MVC and then can build off that. Just being in the MVC will bring in higher caliber players than the Horizon. Bright future!

I am very happy to be following LU hoops. Next year, I'll get on board early. I need to stop by the bookstore and get some gear when I take my daughter to the new student weekend at the end of March.
Go Ramblers!

This was just an outstanding experience all around. You guys and gal should have been here!!

There was a pregame pep rally in the hotel atrium before the team boarded buses for Scottrade. The band was playing as the team walked in, and Loyola friends, family, and fans were crowded in to hear from Porter. You could tell that the team was excited to see the support. Porter talked about what a great tournament Arch Madness is, but that the team came here to WIN. They played like it.

I think it's known to many here that the school's board of trustees and alumni groups held meetings in St. Louis yesterday. That was a smart move as it helped get more people down to the game than would have been there otherwise.

My first thought when I got to the arena was, "Holy shit this place is huge." I've been there before, but it's been several years. In the meantime I've gotten used to seeing games at Gentile. I'm reasonably confident that you could literally fit Gentile inside of Scottrade.



When it was time for the Loyola game and I saw our student section filling in, I couldn't believe it. I heard that we sold over 100 student passes. I also heard that the most one of the other schools has ever sold was 14. I think it bodes well that so many came and had a great time. Hopefully they continue making the trip every year as students and as alums.

As for the game itself, we obviously played well. You can tell in the first few minutes if we are into the game or not, and we were. We had a hard time stopping Lemon, but that's to be expected. I thought the officiating was pretty brutal, but it probably evened out. Couldn't believe that they changed the and-one call at the end to a foul on the floor. They got it right, but I'm shocked they changed it.

Aside from Doyle, Turk was a huge spark in the first half. Nick Osborne was very good down low even though he couldn't get a couple shots to fall. Thomas played his usual solid, steady game - and had the assist on the game winner. Jeff White had zero turnovers.

The Loyola sections went bonkers when Milt hit the shot.



It's interesting you say that. Geno seems intense, but also collected and intelligent when I hear him speak.

That said, he and most (not all) of his team walked off the court without shaking hands. One who did shake hands that I saw was Tyshon Pickett. He's a senior and was obviously emotional to have his career end that way, but he showed himself to be a class act.

Naturally, after the game I went back to the hotel for the party. And it was a great party. Great party.

I found a spot at the bar and ordered a beer. A few minutes later, I hear screaming and huge cheers from the lobby, so I walk over and there is a crowd of probably 200 people, including Sr. Jean and Fr. Garanzini waiting by the hotel entrance. The team and coaches pull up and walk in and the crowd went nuts again. It was LOUD. I tried to get some video of this, and I'll see if I can get it on YouTube later.

This was easily the most fun and exciting day of Loyola basketball since I started following them in 2003. I can't imagine what I'll do when we cut down the nets in St. Louis one day.

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MBB Scholarship Chart

First off, congrats on the exciting win last night. I truly am stoked for you guys. You're a good group that's had a rough first season and it was nice to see your loyalty rewarded with a good showing at Arch Madness. As a neutral observer I enjoyed it and was actually pulling for you guys to pull it out.

Good luck tonight against the Trees. They're a good team but you can take them down with solid play. I hope to catch the 2nd half at least and will be pulling for you guys again. Especially since Blue has no chance of an at-large anymore. There's a lot of potential at LU and I'm excited for you guys. Your future is bright.

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The Roundhouse

He knows how to play the PR game and say what he should say and come off like a good guy, but when the chips are down and the pressure is on, he can't be trusted or believed. He showed his class after the game. I doubt Bradley will tolerate being embarrassed by him like that for very long. Plus, he has lost 60 games there in 3 years. He sneaked out of Kent St. in the middle of the night without telling anyone, including his players who had to hear on the news that he took the Bradley job. He owes KSU about $800k in a buyout which he has refused to pay despite losing a court case on it this past summer in which the judge found he was liable for it. Geno is about the money and Geno, end of story. He didn't accomplish anything at Kent, and he is tanking at Bradley. Karma, baby.

If your assessment of Geno is accurate( and I have no info one way or the other) I doubt BU and Peoria will stand for it for long. Such a long, proud tradition.

Understood. I do have personal feelings about it, but the unvarnished facts, I think, speak for themselves: 60+ losses in three years, 3 straight years losing the opening round of Arch Madness, defaulting on his buyout and losing the court case, drastic decline in attendance in Peoria over the three years, and cap it by ending the season walking off the court without congratulating LU's coach and team. Enough said.