The WCC is certainly a conference on the upswing. Loyola Marymount sits 4th in the WCC standings, two games behind the leader, with a 10-4 record in conference play, 17-10 overall. Valparaiso is first in the Horizon League with a 12-4 record, 19-9 overall. These two teams have very similar records in conference and overall, yet the conferences they are in have put them in very different positions.
Valparaiso has absolutely no hope of an at large bid to the NCAA tournament, they have no good wins and a few bad losses, they have to win their conference tournament to get in. Which they should do considering a win in their next game against the 6-19 Loyola Chicago Ramblers gives them a #1 seed in the Horizon League tournament.
Loyola Marymount also has essentially no chance of an at large bid, but they aren't leading their conference but they have three good wins. Had they not battled injuries early in the season the Lions could, amazingly, be in the March mix. For the WCC to have a team of LMU's caliber, one that could quite easily beat the Horizon League's leader tonight (remember the Butler team that made the past two national championship games came from this very same Horizon League), sitting in 4th place is quite a boost for what was once a conference of Gonzaga and everybody else.
I really don't know anything about how the Crusaders of Valparaiso will match up with LMU so this is a short preview during a busy time for college basketball. Check back for a Recap.
Time: 6 PM Pacific
TV: ESPN U
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM L.A. Area (Streaming free online at www.kxlu.com).
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