Peoria Journal-Star · Jun 28, 2018
Valley coaches discuss the magical Ramblers run
If this past Missouri Valley Conference basketball season teaches us anything, it’s how resilient this 110-year old league really is.
At last June’s annual summer coaches teleconference, the consensus was how the departure of perennial champion Wichita State would create, according to Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson “one of the greatest Valley races we’ve had in a long, long time.”
Well, it didn’t exactly turn out that way. Upstart Loyola dominated the regular season, winning by four games over Hinson’s Salukis, swept the MVC tournament and didn’t lose until it reached the NCAA Final Four.