Quarterfinals
Game 3 – # 1 UNI versus the winner of Game 1
The regular-season champions should have no problem with either team that comes out of the Illinois State/Indiana State game. UNI swept both during the regular season and neither of these teams has the depth or talent to hang with the Panthers.
With that said, UNI needed overtime to win one of their games with the Sycamores and won a two-point decision over Illinois State in their first game after Muller was fired. So, it may not be an easy win, but UNI should prevail.
Game 4 – # 4 Loyola Chicago versus # 5 Bradley
These two teams and their fan bases don’t really like one another. They both play tough and physical defense. Loyola (2) and Bradley (3) are second and third in scoring defense and first and third in shooting percentage defense.
Loyola is the deeper team, particularly with starter Marquise Kennedy scheduled to return to the lineup this week. Bradley has played most of the season without their preseason all-conference forward JaShon Henry, and he isn’t returning.
Bradley has proven they can play with anyone. With two Arch Madness titles (2019 & 2020) in the last three years, they understand the pressures of Arch Madness. The Braves have won four of their last six games and split their regular-season games with the Ramblers. Their loss was an overtime road affair.
With Kennedy returning, give Loyola the nod in what should be an absolute war. This should be the most entertaining game of the weekend.
Game 5 – # 2 Missouri State versus Game two winner
This might be the ugliest game of the weekend. With the way the Bears are playing, hide the women and the children, the Bears may dominate by a large margin. Dana Ford’s team swept both Indiana-based schools. Evansville’s nine-point loss on Saturday was the closest of the four games MSU played against Valpo and UE.
Game 6 – # 3 Drake versus #6 Southern Illinois
These two teams played two of the tightest games all season. While 13 Missouri Valley Conference games went into overtime, Drake swept SIU by a total of three points. They just played Saturday with Drake prevailing 62-60.
Drake only plays seven players, but five of them average double figures in scoring. Point guard Roman Penn is the Valley’s best floor general. He is Drake’s all-time leading assist man and makes clutch shots. He is surrounded by capable scorers, including Valley Freshman of the Year Tucker DeVries. The coach’s son is the team’s leading scorer (13.6 ppg) and has grown into a force during his rookie campaign.
Southern Illinois’ Marcus Domask is one of the most complete players in the Valley. Coach DeVries says Domask is extremely difficult to defend, ‘because he can spread you, post you, make his free throws and rebound in traffic’. The 6’6 junior averages 15 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and .825 from the stripe. Guard Lance Jones is dangerous from deep and ‘Allen Iverson tough’ on his drives to the basket. Ben Coupet is one of the league’s best three-point shooters.
While SIU could win this game, they have lost all eight games they played against the Valley’s top four teams. I have to pick the Bulldogs to win this one too.