The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers found themselves in the Final Four after uncorking one upset after another in the tournament. They have betting odds of +1,000 to win it all, the longest among all the four teams still in contention for the national title, but can they pull off the miracle and become the first-ever double-digit seed to be crowned national champions? Read below for a preview of what’s to come for the remainder of the Ramblers’ postseason.
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3 Reasons Why the Loyola Chicago Ramblers Will Win the 2018 NCAA College Basketball Tournament
1. Unpredictability
The Ramblers won the Mountain Valley Conference tournament the same way they are tearing it up in the Big Dance – they are getting help from everybody or — perhaps more appropriate – from anybody. The team finished the regular season with five players averaging with at least 10.3 points per game. Loyola-Chicago’s leading scorer (Clayton Custer) and the Ramblers’ lowest scorer (Cameron Krutwig) among those producing double digits in points only only differ by only 2.9 points. No Rambler has single-handedly won a game for them in the tournament so far. Donte Ingram delivered the game-winning three in the first round of the tournament against Miami, but he was just one of the four Loyola-Chicago players who finished that game with 11 points. (Ingram had 13, while Custer led the team with 14). Oh yeah, Ben Richardson top scored for the Ramblers in the win over Kansas State in the Elite Eight, but he was only the sixth-leading scorer for the team in the regular season with 7.0 points per game. Richardson had also not scored more than eight points in his previous four games, which included the goose egg he laid against the Hurricanes. In short, Loyola-Chicago will hit teams with weapons even the Ramblers themselves will be surprised to know that they have.
2. Balanced Offense and Defense
Listen, the Ramblers found a way to the Final Four not only because they are lucky. That’s part of the game. But apart from that, they also have the necessary tools to beat the teams that they had beaten along the way. Back in the regular season, Loyola-Chicago was only 223rd nationally in scoring with 71.3 points per game, but they would have averaged more if not for its pace. The Ramblers take just 51.1 field goal attempts per game, which were among the fewest in Division I basketball, but what they lack in volume, they make up in accuracy. The Ramblers then had the fifth-best effective field goal percentage (58.0) and the second best field goal shooting percentage (50.8). They were 11th in three-point percentage (40.2), and ninth in two-point shooting percentage (56.8). On the other end of the floor, the Ramblers are arguably better. Their defense has already been proven legit in this tournament, as they have yet to allow more than 68 points in a game. Prior to the postseason, the Ramblers were allowing just 62.2 points per game to their opponents. Per KenPom, the Ramblers adjusted defensive efficiency is 19th in the nation. Not too shabby.
3. Nothing to Lose Mentality
The Ramblers have surpassed everyone’s expectations. They were the underdogs in each of their first four games in the tournament, but did not just cover the point spreads, but won in those outings as well. Speaking of which, Loyola-Chicago is a 5.5-point underdog as of this writing in its Final Four matchup against Michigan. Unlike Michigan, Kansas, and Villanova, the pressure is not that heavy on the shoulders of the Ramblers. Win or lose, they have already captured the imagination of college basketball fans and experts, They will play loose and confident knowing that.
Writer’s Prediction – Your heard it here folks. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers will upset the Michigan Wolverines in their Final Four matchup this coming March 31, and then roll on to defeat either Kansas or Villanova (likely Kansas) to win the 2018 NCAA Basketball Championship. Bet on it.
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