http://www.toledoblade.com/DavidBriggs/2...print.html

BG might have a shot in NAIA.

I think this part of the article is especially interesting:

"Loyola’s Porter Moser may well be a one-off hit. Crazy stat: the 49-year-old Moser’s best previous conference finish was fifth place ... in 2003 at Arkansas Little-Rock. He had a 33-73 conference record — in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Conference — his first six seasons in Chicago. Heck, Toledo, in down years, beat the Ramblers each of the previous two seasons.

But what mattered here is Watson (Loyola's AD) believed in the program Moser was building, and invested in it. This season, the Ramblers are 32-5.

We’re seeing the same game plan at Toledo, where the university this week extended the contract of Tod Kowalczyk, who, in fairness, had a beefier past resume than Moser. Kowalczyk has not led UT to the tournament in his eight seasons, but athletic director Mike O’Brien clearly believes he is the man who will."

(03-30-2018 09:51 AM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  I think this part of the article is especially interesting:

"Loyola’s Porter Moser may well be a one-off hit. Crazy stat: the 49-year-old Moser’s best previous conference finish was fifth place ... in 2003 at Arkansas Little-Rock. He had a 33-73 conference record — in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Conference — his first six seasons in Chicago. Heck, Toledo, in down years, beat the Ramblers each of the previous two seasons.

But what mattered here is Watson (Loyola's AD) believed in the program Moser was building, and invested in it. This season, the Ramblers are 32-5.

We’re seeing the same game plan at Toledo, where the university this week extended the contract of Tod Kowalczyk, who, in fairness, had a beefier past resume than Moser. Kowalczyk has not led UT to the tournament in his eight seasons, but athletic director Mike O’Brien clearly believes he is the man who will."

I hope you are right on your assessment of the coaching situation at UT...
TK may end up being the man... We shall see...

Keep improving your talent. Build upon the program's successes.

Have to take issue with Briggs' statement that UT and Loyola have "interchangeable modern facilities". Wrong.

UT has a mini NBA arena with great weight training facilities, revenue producing suites and seating, a very nice practice facility, a premium eating area (Grogan Room) and elite coaches' offices. As one who has been in Loyala's renovated arena, it has none of the above and actually might be worse than BG.

Yeah, Loyola is much better off than it was a generation ago when they split home games between an oversized YMCA gym and the ugly cavernous off campus Rosemont horizon. Their newish on campus arena is cute and basic, but until this year only a quarter or so of its 4000 ish capacity

Isn't Loyola building an $18 million practice/training facility?

Loyola got to the final four with a coach who lacked previous success. I don't think it follows, though, that if you want to make it to the final four you should go out looking for a coach with no record of previous success.

It's one thing after the fact to create explanations for why a particular mid-major made it to the final four. It's quite another thing to figure out ahead of time the formula for getting a mid-major to the final four, and then making it happen. I'm guessing Briggs' bracket didn't have Loyola in the Final Four.

For more mid majors to get into the final four the ncaa has to let more mid-majors into the dance and not so many 13 loss, 8th in their conference P5 teams. The whole process is skewed against mid-major teams. From scheduling, to the strength of schedule argument, to P5 not playing home dates with mid major schools.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk