CHICAGO (July 28, 2021) – Loyola University Chicago will open play at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis on November 24 by squaring off versus perennial Big Ten Conference and national power Michigan State. The contest will pit first-year Loyola University Chicago head coach Drew Valentine versus one of his mentors, Spartans Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.  Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and the contest will be televised live on ESPN.
 
The Ramblers and Spartans will be matching up for the 13th time in program history and the first since November 21, 2014, when the teams met in East Lansing, Mich. Loyola has won just two of the previous 12 encounters between the schools, and has dropped the last five games to the Spartans since a 46-44 victory on January 2, 1939.
 
Loyola has prevailed in at least one game in each of its last eight multi-team events (MTE's), winning tournament championships at the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic (2014-15) and the Savannah Invitational (2017-18), while posting a pair of victories over Power 5 teams. 
 
The last time the Ramblers took on a Big Ten foe, the result was one of the most impressive performances in program annals as eighth-seed Loyola played a nearly flawless game to oust top-seed and second-ranked Illinois, 71-58, in a NCAA Tournament Second Round contest on March 21, 2021.
 
This year's Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis field is loaded once again and features defending NCAA champion Baylor, along with Arizona State, Auburn, Connecticut, Syracuse and VCU, along with Loyola and Michigan State.
 
Other first-round matchups at the 2021 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis feature Auburn vs. Connecticut, Syracuse vs. VCU and Baylor vs. Arizona State. 
 
Reservations to Atlantis Paradise Island and tickets for both Battle 4 Atlantis tournaments are available now by visiting atlantisbahamas.com/battle4atlantis or calling 1-800-ATLANTIS. For more information about traveling to The Bahamas, please visit bahamas.com.
 
The complete 2021 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis bracket is below.
 
November 24 
Game 1 – Loyola vs. Michigan State, 11 a.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 2 – Auburn vs. Connecticut, 1:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 3 – Syracuse vs. VCU, 4 p.m. CST (ESPN2)
Game 4 – Baylor vs. Arizona State, 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
 
November 25
Game 5 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 11 a.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 6 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 4 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2)
Game 7 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2)
Game 8 – Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
 
November 26
Game 9 (Third Place Game) – Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 12:30 p.m. CT (ESPN or ESPN2)
Game 10 (Championship Game) – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 10 a.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 11 (Fifth Place Game) – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Game 12 (Seventh Place Game) – Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 p.m. CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU or ESPNnews)