Loyola-Chicago Sweet Sixteen Preview: Will the Magic Continue?
The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers have made an incredible run in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, knocking off six-seed Miami and three-seed Tennessee in consecutive upsets. The Ramblers look to continue their amazing run against Nevada on Thursday.
Anything is possible in March.
The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers have certainly backed that statement up so far in this years tournament.
The Ramblers took down six-seed Miami in the opening round on Thursday, thanks to a must-see buzzer-beating three pointer by Donte Ingram.
RAMBLERS WITH THE LAST SECOND THREE! 🚨🚨🚨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lNQlJtrq7o
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 15, 2018
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Unbelievable. The win was the Ramblers first tournament win since 1985, also the team’s last appearance in the Sweet Sixteen.
Loyola then moved on to play three-seed Tennessee, fresh off of a 26-point blowout win against Wright State in the opening round.
The Ramblers stuck with the Volunteers throughout the contest, taking a four-point lead into halftime before surrendering that lead with under a minute left in the game.
Loyola put their season in the hands of Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Clayton Custer with 10.5 seconds remaining.
The rest is history.
LOYOLA-CHICAGO DOES IT AGAIN!!!
— Dylan Reubenking (@drksportsnews) March 18, 2018
Clayton Custer gets the game-winner to go as the Ramblers upset 3rd-seeded Tennessee, clinching a spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1985! pic.twitter.com/QMmfTH4gWs
With the win, the Ramblers move onto the Sweet Sixteen, and will play Nevada in Atlanta on Thursday at 6:07 PM Central Time.
Nevada, a seven-seed, is fresh off an NCAA-record 22-point second-half comeback on Sunday. The Wolfpack trailed the Cincinnati Bearcats by 22 with around 11 minutes remaining, but stormed back to win, 75-73.
Led by coach Eric Musselman, the Nevada Wolfpack were an at-large bid out of the Mountain West Conference. Boasting the nations 16th-ranked offense, the Wolfpack win games by scoring efficiently, and getting big defensive stops late.
Nevada became the first team in over twenty years to win an NCAA tournament game while using only six players all game in Friday’s win over ten-seed Texas, another comeback win.
As for star power, Nevada certainly doesn’t lack any. Twin junior forwards Caleb and Cody Martin average a combined 32 points per game. Jordan Caroline, another junior forward, averages about 18 points per game.
One area where the Ramblers can take advantage is rebounding. Nevada does not play a true center, instead playing three forwards and two guards. Loyola forward Donte Ingram and center Cameron Krutwig are going to need to make a big impact down low in order for Loyola to have a chance to win.
Another key point of emphasis for the Ramblers must be ball-movement. Loyola has won their first two games mostly in part due to their passing efficiency, and they must continue to make an effort to get the ball in the hands of Custer and Ingram with open looks.
Momentum will be key. It’s hard to argue who has more momentum going into the game, but whichever team can get off to a quick start and maintain a high level of energy will have a great chance to win. Nevada took advantage of Cincinnati’s careless mistakes during a big lead, and it ended up costing the Bearcats a win.
Finally, the Ramblers will need to maintain their composure. This is obviously the biggest game of everyone’s lives, therefore upperclassman leaders such as Clayton Custer and Donte Ingram will need to do their part in slowing the game down, and sticking to the game plan.
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If Loyola-Chicago can keep their magical run going, they will face the winner of Kentucky and Kansas State in the Elite Eight. Remarkably, the Ramblers are two wins away from a Final Four berth, and four wins away from a National Championship.
Let’s join (inter)national superstar Sister Jean in praying for Loyola-Chicago in their upcoming game. March is the time for upsets, magical runs and more, so lets hope the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers can keep it going.
Amen.