Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 2018 Christmas wish list for top mid-major conferences

By Jacob Matteson

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 24: The Loyola Ramblers celebrate after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 24, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyola defeated Kansas State 78-62 to advance to the Final Four. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 24: The Loyola Ramblers celebrate after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 24, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyola defeated Kansas State 78-62 to advance to the Final Four. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

MVC wish: A new set of slippers

The fell-good run of the Ramblers from Loyola-Chicago was magical and embodied what we love about this zany, wacky thing called sports.

But the clock struck midnight.

While you can hit me with whatever cliche you’d like, the fact is the Ramblers are transitioning.  You can point to their adjusted defensive efficiency, good for 38th in the nation, and I’ll point to their scheduling of UMKC, Niagara, Grambling State, Richmond, and Illinois-Chicago.  Only UR (100) and UIC (143) fall in the top 150 for adjusted offensive efficiency, while the rest range from 265th-313th in the same category.

The Ramblers are young, averaging just 1.48 years of college experience, ranking them 241st in the country.

It’s time to resize the shoe for a different foot.

Hello, Southern Illinois.

The Salukies are one of the best teams in the country at shooting the long ball (40.3%) and boast an effective FG% of 56.3%, good for 13th in the nation.

With four players averaging double-figures, they’re a well rounded team who earlier in the season pushed Kentucky and Buffalo to their limits and hold a win over Saint Louis.

The Missouri Valley Conference, unlike previous slides, is not a conference who should have hopes of a multi-bid league.  An almost certain one-bidder, the MVC’s faith should lie in the hands of Southern Illinois as a team to place their foot in the slipper.

So it’s alright to allow the past to remain where it is.  Loyola-Chicago isn’t gone forever.  They will be back.  But until then, let’s embrace the change.

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