Missouri Valley Basketball: Northern Iowa benefits from chaos in standings

Loyola-Chicago makes changes in its lineup

LUC had won thirty-straight games at Gentile Arena until Missouri State stopped the streak on January 22nd. After utilizing the same starting lineup the first 17 games, Drew Valentine has used four different starting lineups during the next nine games. Marquise Kennedy’s injury has necessitated some of those changes.

Valentine has used Ryan Schwieger, Keith Clemons and Tate Hall in Kennedy’s spot. Hall has started the last three games. After Jacob Hutson started the team’s first 19 games, Chris Knight has taken over the center position. Team leader Lucas Williamson, point guard Braden Norris and forward Aher Uguak are the staples of Valentine’s rotation.

The Ramblers are efficient offensively and depend on stingy defense to win games. LUC is the Valley’s best shooting team from deep and overall. When they lose games it is because their normally suffocating defense is off.

LUC allows an average of 63.1 points per game, but in three of their four Valley losses, they’ve averaged nearly 80 points allowed. Loyola’s changing lineup may have produced uncertainty on the defensive side.

Loyola prides itself on defending without fouling. In games other than their four Valley losses, they are committing less than 16 fouls per game. During those losses, they are averaging 22.