One of the keys to victory in the Miami Hurricanes first-round game against Loyola-Chicago is to get out on their three-point shooters. Seven of the nine players in the Ramblers rotation shoot 34.8 percent or above on three-point attempts.
Loyola makes 39.8 percent of their three-point attempts as a team. That ranks 20th in the country. It will be a battle of strength against strength. The Miami Hurricanes are tough defending the three.
Miami holds opponents to 32.6 percent on threes. That’s 50th nationally. The Hurricanes took a step back in conference play defending the three. They finished seventh out of 15 teams in the ACC. Miami allowed opponents to make 36.6 percent of their three-point attempts in conference play.
The Ramblers are also good at defending the three. Their opponents made 32.9 percent of three-point attempts, 69th nationally. That dipped slightly to 33.2 percent in conference play. They were fifth in defensive three-point field goal percentage in the Missouri Valley.
The Ramblers can be tough to guard at times. They can use a one in, four out offense. Center Cameron Krutwig plays inside. The Ramblers can surround him with four shooters. Krutwig has nice footwork around the basket. He averages 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Donte Ingram leads the Ramblers in three-point attempts and makes. He averaged two made threes per game in 5.1 attempts. Clayton Custer was the Missouri Valley’s Player of the Year and second on Loyola in three-point makes and attempts. He led them by making 44 percent from beyond the arc. Ingram made 39.9 percent of his three point attempts.