INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The matchup of Oregon State and Loyola Chicago in the Sweet 16 is a showdown of the overlooked and underappreciated. The matchup is also evidence of a narrowing talent gap in college basketball. Five-star prospects aren’t always a whole lot better than the three-star player that gets passed over by the bluebloods. It is why the Beavers and Ramblers — and schools like them — are increasingly making deep tournament runs. And why schools such as Duke and Kentucky aren’t finding things quite so easy these days.
