As St. Bonaventure welcomes Loyola Chicago to the Reilly Center, the stakes are clear: the Bonnies need a win to snap a three-game losing streak and inject life into their flagging tournament hopes. With a NET ranking of 158 and a quad record of 0-3 in Quadrant 1 games, St. Bonaventure is running out of time to build a compelling resume. A win over Loyola Chicago, ranked 317 in the NET, would be a Quad 4 victory, but it's a start.
Loyola Chicago, meanwhile, is struggling to find its footing, with a 5-17 record and a 1-8 mark in conference play. The Ramblers have shown flashes of competitiveness, particularly in their Quadrant 1 wins, but consistency has eluded them. According to the CHD Scout prediction, St. Bonaventure is favored to win by 10.7 points, with an 83.2% chance of emerging victorious. Given the Bonnies' superior talent and home-court advantage, it's hard to argue with those numbers.
CHD Scout Prediction
Loyola Chicago
69
St. Bonaventure
80
Neither team has a player on a notable hot streak, but St. Bonaventure's overall depth and balance should give them an edge. With their tournament hopes hanging in the balance, the Bonnies will be motivated to perform. I predict St. Bonaventure will win 80-69, covering the predicted margin and getting back on track in the process. The Bonnies' superior talent and home-court advantage should prove too much for Loyola Chicago to overcome.