Benson column

[bb fan]

Exactly correct....

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/columnists/benson/benson-cinderella-ride-of-loyola-exposes-ncaa-bias/article_c649dbfc-bbbd-5c85-abd7-3aa7913a5beb.html?utm_content=buffer2be3a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=LEEDCC

 

[redbirdron1]

Agreed, good article.

Benson states '17 Birds were better on D, not sure about that but Birds were good. Paris, being Paris - will
always get my vote. HOWEVER, Loyola team had a ton more composure than '17 Birds. I hope Coach Dan emphasizes
fundamentals and the value of possessions in off-season.

A U of I fan told me this week I had to realize everyone plays the same nowadays with the silly/unforced turnovers. I don't
buy into that theory.

Happy Easter and Go Birds!

 

[V Boy]

To what end though?

College basketball has changed a lot in the past 10-15 years and the Valley has:

1) Lost its 2 premier programs
2) Not made an effort to re-invent itself, expand, and compete year in and year out for multiple at-large bids

Valley is like Motorola continuing to say people should buy its flip phone because it comes out with a flashy new feature while Apple and Samsung come out with 3, 4, 5 versions of the the smartphone that 97% of people use.

Stop trying to make the old flipphone relevant and reinvent how you can compete in a smartphone world.

 

[The Beak]

Benson from the column:

" ... here's praying there will be talk amongst Jim Nantz, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery about the rigged state of the NCAA Tournament. Hopefully, someone will mention that if Loyola had lost to Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final, one of the best sports stories of the year would never have happened."

Don't recall hearing this, though I had the volume down a bit. I did hear praise of Krutwig, and as a player that "slipped through the cracks."

I thought that answered Benson's question right there.

 

[IHateWSU]

Twice last night during the halftime of the Kansas / Villanova game they referenced what we need to improve on.

A. They talked about how Villanova spaced and passed the ball so well. Passing was one of our main flaws this year. We rarely threw a pass where it was a catch and shoot type of pass. Many times the pass was at the knees, or over the head. First and foremost, We need to work on our passing.
B. They then talked about empty possessions where Kansas would come down and shoot a 3 before anyone was even in the paint. I felt like he was preaching to the choir! We do this way too many times EVERY GAME. ATTACK the basket!! Loyola made a living this tourney by attacking the basket and if it was not there kicking it out. We need to do more of this or we will continue to be a live by the 3 , die by the 3 team.

 

[FriscoBird90]

Benson from the column:

" ... here's praying there will be talk amongst Jim Nantz, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery about the rigged state of the NCAA Tournament. Hopefully, someone will mention that if Loyola had lost to Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final, one of the best sports stories of the year would never have happened."

Don't recall hearing this, though I had the volume down a bit. I did hear praise of Krutwig, and as a player that "slipped through the cracks."

I thought that answered Benson's question right there.

Jim Nantz was right there with Billy Packer in 2006 on the Selection Sunday show, heavily criticizing that year's selection committee for putting so many teams in the field from a conference like the MVC at the expense of teams from the ACC. That was the year Southwest Missouri State got screwed out of an at-large berth, or else the Valley would have had yet another team in the field. Loved it when the Valley teams proved Nantz and Packer wrong.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Agreed, good article.

Benson states '17 Birds were better on D, not sure about that but Birds were good. Paris, being Paris - will
always get my vote. HOWEVER, Loyola team had a ton more composure than '17 Birds. I hope Coach Dan emphasizes
fundamentals and the value of possessions in off-season.

A U of I fan told me this week I had to realize everyone plays the same nowadays with the silly/unforced turnovers. I don't
buy into that theory.

Happy Easter and Go Birds!

We will never know but I do not buy into the argument that ISU '17 is better than Loyola '18. This Loyola team had high basketball IQ and was well rounded team in which players really complemented each other to the point that the team was much greater than the sum of the parts.

 

[FEAR the Bird]

"We will never know but I do not buy into the argument that ISU '17 is better than Loyola '18. "

I agree with that statement hands down, but ISU deserved a bid last year.

 

[Hamdonger]

This Loyola team had high basketball IQ and was well rounded team in which players really complemented each other to the point that the team was much greater than the sum of the parts.

EXCELLENT observation, loved the quote "team much greater than the sum if its parts." They were everything a team should be. They were a sheer joy to watch for the last month.

I'll say it. Forget the FinalFour for a sec...they were better, overall, than our '17 Birds. Particularly from this standpoint - they just kept getting better and better as the year went along. Could last year's team have beaten LU? Sure. But overall, from the whole perspective, they were better. Specifically from the offensive end.

I really like our team next year and think we could be better than '17, but I am concerned about the flow and chemistry of our offense.

 

[Atrey22]

I really like our team next year and think we could be better than '17, but I am concerned about the flow and chemistry of our offense.

I think the offense will hopefully work itself out as we move forward next year- lots of options/weapons for us if we are healthy.
I am more concerned about everyone being committed to defense. IF we can become a solid defensive TEAM...I believe we may have the potential not only dance but also advance.

 

[bb fan]

I dunno that this year's Loyola was better that last year's Redbirds. We went 17-1 in the conference. We beat Wichita, which magically became an at large #4 seed this year with pretty much the same team. We swept LUC just last year. Who knows what would have happen had we were not ripped off. Hopefully what the Ramblers did this year will help get that at large the conference deserves most seasons. I also think we might have beat the Ramblers in the MVC tourney had we come from the 4 seed.

 

[Birdswin]

The difference was Luke Yaklich's familiarity with Loyola and Porter - was able to make enough adjustments on defense to make the Ramblers a little frustrated in the second half - thus, 11 turnovers and several bad shots.

The other item - Loyola missed a lot of shots off the glass after making good drives - sort of like what happened to the Birds in the Valley championship game - those come back to bite you.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Hopefully what the Ramblers did this year will help get that at large the conference deserves most seasons.

You would think, but past experience says “no”.