The No. 2 ranked Ramblers were trounced by Indianapolis North Central on ESPN2 last night. They didn’t even slightly resemble the team I’ve watched play numerous times this season.
The margin of victory demonstrates just how hard it is for a high school basketball team to play a high-profile game in another state. It puts Simeon’s three-point loss to Rice (NY) at Madison Square Garden in proper perspective. Rice doesn’t have a player as good as Eric Gordon, but they are a far better team than North Central.
As for Loyola, the loss brings up plenty of questions. Observers have already pointed out that Gordon tore up the Ramblers just like Marshall star Patrick Beverley did in the supersectionals last season. Loyola plays excellent team defense, but seems to have trouble holding down a superstar scorer.
