1. Will Loyola participate in a CBI/CIT or Vegas 16 tourney? Teams have already have been contacted and I wonder what Loyola's response was.
2. Porter has one year remaining. It is hard to have a coach going out recruiting with only one year remaining. What will Loyola do? Offer Porter a short term extension?

I know what the answer is...if we get offered....it would be yes if the team wants to go....but we cannot host any games....no cash

The post game press release seems to indicate Loyola would be interested in post season. Road CIT?

May not host first round games but can you really demand all road games? What if two teams who only want road games make it to the championship?

I have no idea what the budget looks like, but I really want to see Milt play one more game. I wouldn't mind if the game is at home or on the moon. I also think the rest of the team/coaching staff wants the postseason tournament, if only to be able to practice up until the NCG.

Conference play is the measuring stick for every team, and it's clear there's something not up to par about us compared to the rest of the Valley. The last six weeks of the season screamed everything except job well done. The solution might not be something drastic like firing Moser, but something, at the very least philosophically, needs to change about this program. The big question is do you believe he can adapt and make those positive changes? You can make a strong case he hasn't shown it. Couple that with whatever financial problems we have that could be severely hampered with a bad long term deal, I say no on the extension. Obviously he's a great guy and representative of the university. He's improved our recruiting, and I truly agree that a lame-duck coach will have a negative impact on him this summer/fall. The quality wins (outside the CBI run) and conference success just aren't there.

I think you can practice now as you have a chance of making a post season tourney. Once you decline you must stop practicing and once you lose in a post season tourney you have to stop practicing. You can only practice up to the NCG if you are still playing. Maybe Loyola practices with the .001% chance of making the NIT and then stop when they don't get invited. The more I think about this a Vegas 16 would guarantee all that games. Road CIT is the most likely. Auburn may do the CBI.

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Cigarboy sucks!

I don't get how you would not think about it even before losing the MVC. Realistically the Ramblers were not going to win the tournament. Taking 5 min to think about a backup plan is fine. For example when kids decide on colleges they have back up plans. I imagine Porter does the same with recruiting. Thinking about a backup does not take away from your ultimate goal. Sorry I just don't buy it. I wonder what tourney they pick. Go on the road to a mid major in the CIT or on the road to a power 5 in the CBI.

Honestly next season will be a true measuring stick of a lot of things; and will be a great barometer in a lot of ways for the programs overall direction. Here's a flurry of thoughts:

-The first season in 4 years in which the offense isn't designed completely around Doyle. A lot of times our team looked a bit lost without him on the court because generally he had the ball so much. Our offense was at its best when we were moving the ball around. Spreading it around to more weapons COULD be beneficial (that said a lot of valley fans at large discounted Doyle vision, his playmaking ability for others was special at times and will be missed!!)

-I think Ben, Clayton, Donte, and Townes really steps up even more as emotional leaders. Love Milt but he had a much calmer quieter demeanor on the court. Overall next year I expect a bit more expression from our players.

-in terms of clutch shooting I trust Donte for the most part. At both UIC and UNI he hit clutch shots late. Ben is very well composed in big games as he showed today, I trust him taking the last shot.

-first time in four years we have freshmen bigs expected to contribute, also the highest rated bigs we've ever brought in. Aundre Jackson did what he did this season with basically no interior support. If either krutwig/negron can play a solid 25 and put up 7-8 points a game it will definitely open things up for him down low. Last and only time in MVC play that we had two quality posts we won 20 plus games.

-our offense was the best it's ever been under moser but the defense regressed. Will be curious to see what happens next season. Expect both to come back closer to the norm next season.... and I think that wins us an additional 4-5 games.

-First season without a horizon recruit.... Milt didn't play in the horizon but was recruited to it. Who knows the damage he'd do in that league... we'll get a good idea of where we stand in the league playing without him for the first time.

-Satterwhite really looked to be on the up and up late. Give him a summer in the weight room; full offseason healthy... could put up 8ppg and be a stud on ball defender as early as next year. Bruno likely will work on his shot, hopefully become more aggressive.... I think with time he can step and contribute as well.

-chastain. Man I hope his leg is better. I really think he woulda made the All Freshmen team. I've never seen an athlete up close jump like he could.

-honestly I think most of us predicted this team to finish anywhere from 3-6. I remember posting on either here or the MVC board that I wouldn't be surprised with us anywhere from 3-7... expecting 5 or 6 in particular.... with two games to go in the season we coulda ended anywhere in that range. This was arguably the most talented team we've had in that last decade. We were only really blown out twice all season.... it's a shame we didn't learn to close out by the end of the year, but i really think that changes next year.

-As of now I really think 3 seed is my expectation. Any worse than 10-8 in conference I'll be sorely disappointed. I think the team could peak as high as 14-4/second place in the Valley barring any major roster shakeup.

Go Ramblers.

I definitely think that's more coaching hyperbole and he doesn't really wanna talk about what's next after a brutal loss to be honest.