Sunday, February 17, 2019, 3:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois

Clearly the biggest surprise in the MVC this season is the performance of Missouri State under new head coach Dana Ford. Picked to finish 8th in the league in the preseason coaches and media poll, the Bears handed Loyola their worst loss since joining the MVC on Jan. 23, a 70-35 drubbing in Springfield. Now MSU finds itself just a game out of first place in the conference as they look to sweep the Ramblers for a share of the lead and control of the tiebreaker over Loyola.

How has MSU done it? With defense, of course. The Bears are second in defense in conference play, allowing only 60.9 points per game (Loyola is a tick better, allowing only 60.8). They have the best turnover margin in the league during conference play (+3.7 to Loyola’s 2nd place +2.5), and they lead the league in blocked shots (Loyola is last in that department). The combination of blocks, steals, low turnovers (third lowest in the MVC), and a positive rebounding margin (especially on the offensive boards) has allowed the Bears to limit the opposition’s possessions and shot attempts. MSU’s opposition has taken the 2nd fewest shot attempt in the league, and the MSU has an offense that is efficient enough most nights to rack up enough points to overcome their exasperated opponents.

MSU’s offense is led by transfers, particularly 6’8” junior center/forward Tulio Da Silva from South Florida, and 6’5” juco guard Keandre Cook who average 14.9 and 13.2 points respectfully. Six-four senior guard Jarred Dixon and 6’4 senior Ryan Kreklow are two holdovers from the Paul Lusk regime, and provide leadership. Dixon averages 13.1 points and Kreklow contributes 8.0 points; Dixon has good range, passing and driving ability, while Kreklow is primarily an outside shooter and improved rebounder. Texas Tech transfer Josh Webster runs the offense as starting point guard, chipping in 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds while leading the league with 5.2 assists per game.

Coming off the bench are 6’8” Xavier transfer Jared Ritter (5.6 ppg), 6’5” juco transfer Kabir Mohammad (6.2 ppg), and 6’10” freshman Szymon Wojcik. Senior Obediah Church has officially left the team since the last time Loyola played MSU.

Since Missouri State surprised the Ramblers with their lock-down defense and 63% shooting in the last meeting between the two teams, MSU is a totally new team. It’s as though the Bears finally began applying their coach’s lessons in the 70-35 Loyola drubbing, and the players liked the feel of it. MSU is 6-1 since they last tipped off against Loyola (they were 2-4 in conference prior to that game), and the Bears have limited the opposition to an average of 52.9 points in that span (they allowed 70.3 per game in the six conference games before facing Loyola). The Bears won an OT game on the road by one point at Valpo, and got a last-second half-court three in a hectic scramble to defeat Illinois State by one point, but their 6-1 surge is genuine, and has them aimed at the top of the league.

In the games since MSU last faced Loyola, the Bears have struggled when they’ve allowed the other team to shoot well from three. Loyola might need to have some plays in mind to facilitate open looks early. And MSU has been wobbly in games where the opposition gets to the free throw line often; perhaps sending in some interior players to earn free throw shots can take MSU out of their rhythm and get some points earlier in possessions.

Getting to the free throw line has been an important part of Loyola’s offense this season. Against Bradley, Loyola was limited to less than 12 free throw attempts for the third time in conference play, and all three of those games were losses. On the season, Loyola is 0-6 when getting to the line 12 times or less. Conversely, Missouri State is 2-4 in conference when allowing opponents 15 or more trips to the line, and one of those wins was by one point in overtime.

The Ramblers are coming off their fourth defeat in league play, a 61-54 loss at Bradley. Loyola played only seven players in that physical and hard-fought game. The Braves successfully limited Cameron Krutwig’s inside touches, and clamped down on threes. Clayton Custer was a non-factor, with only six points, one made basket, zero assists, and two rebounds in 33 minutes.


Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... df?id=8358

Missouri State game notes: https://missouristatebears.com/document ... tes_27.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN U http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3478017/ ... basketball

Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=234967

Vegas odds: Loyola by 6.5

Huge game this weekend, can’t wat! If you want even more content regarding the game take a listen to this week’s podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pod ... 0429967618

Thanks for the report. Sounds like the transfers needed time to come together. This game will tell us a lot about how far we go in the tourney coming up and whether we can keep that first seed. Glad to see Church gone. He was a talent but must not have bought into the system.

One correction: S. Wojcik is injured and out for the year. They do have Jan Wojcik, who is a 6'10 freshman but doesn't play much, and Darian Scott, a 6'11 freshman who owned us in Springfield.

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Brot predicts a hard fought win ii Krut will have a huge part--best center we have had almost ever-- at least since 88--forget his name----just funnin guys--top four in my mind Jack Kerris Clarence Red Les Hunter AND we all know who else== This bunch of guys will deliver in front of packed house

Mo State plays really hard.

I like the press.

What a block by Frank

Season ticket holders need to do a better job giving their tickets away if they can't go. Too many open seats behind the benches and media...prime seats.

I know a few people who weren't able to go to this game because it is a sellout. They'd have happily paid face for those seats.

Teams just drain 3's against us. Crazy.