Loyola Chicago vs Vanderbilt Picks and Odds (Dec. 10)

Odds as of December 9th, 2021.

Drew Valentine’s team features seven players averaging at least eight points per game heading into Friday’s matchup in Music City. One of those players (Ryan Schwieger) — along with Tate Hall — combined to score 29 points in Loyola’s most recent game Tuesday, an 88-49 victory over Roosevelt. Prior to the win over the NAIA program, the Ramblers earned wins over Arizona State, Indiana State and DePaul.

Meantime, the ‘Dores have been inconsistent for head coach Jerry Stackhouse. They won their first two out of the gate, then lost to VCU. Following that defeat, Vandy ripped off three straight victories, only to lose its last  Scotty Pippen Jr and Jordan Wright each scored a team-high 16 in a 72-68 overtime loss to Temple Tuesday.

Ramble On

Loyola’s leading scorer, Lucas Williamson, put up a team-high 15 in the team’s last win over a Division I opponent — a 68-64 victory over fellow Windy City program DePaul — on Saturday.He’s one of three players for Valentine averaging in double-digits (at 11.7 per outing).

Lucas Williamson's development at Loyola has been something to see. Was anyone on that Final Four team a better all-around player than Williamson is now?

— Steve Greenberg (@SLGreenberg) December 4, 2021

The Ramblers are, by far, the class of the Missouri Valley Conference (Drake is the next-closest rated team at No. 77) and rank in the top-25 in four key offensive categories on KenPom: offensive adjusted efficiency (21st), offensive effective field goal percentage (4th), offensive 3-point field goal percentage (8th) and offensive 2-point field goal percentage (15th).

Loyola lost by two to Michigan State and nine to Auburn in the Bahamas. But without those two close calls, the Ramblers would likely be ranked in the top-25 of the AP poll. This is a balanced club that does not waste possessions.

Anchor Down

Pippen and Wright are Vandy’s only players averaging in double-figures, with Pippen putting up 16.8 a game and Wright going for 14.9 a contest. And if the pair and their teammates can’t get going from distance — the Commodores shot a woeful 4-for-26 (15.4%) from 3-point range against the Owls — Memorial Gym may see a second straight loss to a mid-major.

Fell just short. pic.twitter.com/IsByoZa87Q

— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) December 8, 2021

Vandy is shooting 30.4% from beyond the arc this season. Wright — who has registered two straight double-doubles — says the team is getting good loos, but the shots simply haven’t fallen. Loyola isn’t particularly great defending the 3 (allowing 34.3% on the season), so this could be the game where things start to turn for Stackhouse’s squad.

The SEC squad isn’t that special on offense, but the ‘Dores — rated 84th overall by KenPom — can defend. Vandy is in the top-25 in a trio of categories: defensive effective field goal percentage (23rd), defensive turnover percentage (24th) and defensive non-steal turnover percentage (14th).

If Wright and Co. can get their shots from outside to drop — and slow down the Ramblers — Vandy should be in line for a W.

The Pick

Loyola will have additional reinforcements for this one, as starters Braden Norris (averaging 8.2 points and 4.1 assists per game) and Aher Uguak (10 point per game) sat out the Roosevelt game with undisclosed injuries but are expected back. Plus, as noted above, Valentine’s guys are 2-2 against Power 5 teams.