After Loyola Chicago's amazing run to the Final Four last season, many pre-season prognosticators were putting them in the Top 25. I didn't believe it. I figured they would be good, but not that good. And so they have moved off the national spotlight to some extent.
The Ramblers are tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference, which is saying something, but not quite as much as was formerly the case before Wichita State existed the league. They are 14-9 overall, which is underwhelming. Sagarin ranks them #117 in the nation, which basically puts them in the top third. That is better than a poke in the nose, but hardly the stuff that legends are made of.
Loyola might indeed make the NCAA tournament again this season, since several of their key players have played on that big stage under the bright lights and they should be tough in their conference tournament. However, the odds are against it, since they can make no claim to being at-large worthy at this point, and they will have to get hot at the right time.
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