The Loyola Ramblers completed their thirteen game non-conference schedule on Christmas Day against Murray State University in the 7th-place game of the Diamond Head Classic in Maui – finishing their 13-game slate with a 9-4 record.
Loyola surprised many in the league in 2023-24, going from worst in 22-23 to winning a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship with Richmond. However, an early bow-out in Brooklyn and a first-round NIT exit was a bitter end for many beloved players in the Maroon and Gold.
The ‘Blers had softer expectations in the preseason, tabbed to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 standings. This time, they had an all preseason first-team selection in senior Des Watson and all-defensive team selection in sophomore Miles Rubin.
With a host of new transfers coming into Drew Valentine’s roster, the Ramblers scheduled relatively easy – ostensibly to create cohesion with the new team ahead of conference play. By the time it was all said and done, the Ramblers’ non-conference strength of schedule petered down to 16th-weakest in the entirety of Division 1, according to KenPom.
Injuries and strength of competition racked up towards the end of the schedule, leaving some fans to wonder if the team had some weak points heading into league play.
Let’s take a look back at Loyola’s journey to January and grade each of their matchups with a fresh eye.
11/4/24 – vs Chicago State (W, 79-72)
The last two contests between the Ramblers and the Cougars have been relatively close. The Southsiders lost every non-conference game they played this year, though held a lead as big as 6 at one point in the first half. The Ramblers got their head in the game for the final 20, with strong performances from Jayden Dawson and Des Watson – as well as newcomer Justin Moore.
Grade: B-
11/7/24 – vs Detroit-Mercy (W, 85-67)
Too many turnovers and fouls against an otherwise weak Titans team, but it was still a get-right game for the Ramblers after a close one three days earlier.
Grade: B+
11/10/24 – vs Eureka College (D-III) (W, 105-53)
Going forward, I refuse to rate games that aren’t against Division 1 opponents. Congrats, you beat a team with 28 players on a roster, nary one over 6’6.
Grade: N/A
11/15/24 – at Princeton (W, 73-68)
The best win of the Ramblers’ non-conference schedule, that, at the time, stood as a Quadrant One victory. Jayden Dawson shined on both ends of the floor – holding NBA hopeful Xaivian Lee to 5-16 shooting from the field. Miles Rubin also shined with a double-double and some key blocks down the stretch.
Grade: A
11/19/24 – vs Southern Utah (W, 76-72)
Another scary game for the Ramblers right out of the gates. While they led by as many as 9 in the first half, the Thunderbirds were never out of it. They gave the Ramblers a challenge across all 40 minutes – a sentence many fans wouldn’t have wanted to hear within the first two weeks of the season.
Grade: C-
11/23/24 – vs Tulsa (W, 89-53)
The return of a home-and-home went far better for the Ramblers this time around. A classic return of the defense of old, and five players made it into double figures.
Grade: A
12/3/24 – vs Eastern Michigan (W, 76-54)
This game was another one of those random, forgettable early December contests against a who-cares opponents. Nearly rinse and repeat of their game against Tulsa, but it was nice to see Des Watson match his career-high in the contest.
Oh, and two players totally did not forget to high five Sister Jean on their way into the locker room at the end of the game and got clowned on social media for it…
Grade: A-
12/7/24 – vs South Florida (W, 74-72)
When you see a box score this close, it’s strange considering the Ramblers only turned the ball over 7 times and fouled 13 times all afternoon. The shooting splits were not as generous, going 42% from the field, 28% from 3 and shooting just under 70% from the line. Those 7 extra free throws could have given Rambler fans less of a heart attack against the Bulls.
Grade: B+
12/15/24 – MKE TIP-OFF vs San Francisco (L, 76-66)
I got to witness this game live and in-person, and what was supposed to be a chance to take down a tournament-caliber team ended up doing more harm than good for the Ramblers. Already down Jayden Dawson for the contest, then losing Kymany Houinsou for an extended period – and Justin Moore for the season – were the last things the Ramblers would have wanted to finish out their conference slate. It also doesn’t help leaving 17 free points at the charity stripe, either.
Grade: B-
12/18/24 – vs Canisius (W, 72-60)
The Ramblers have officially played two winless teams on their non-conference schedule and I truly cannot recall the last time that’s happened, nor the time they made it a competition. The Griffins were within two possessions for a stretch in the first half, but the Ramblers did what they had to do shorthanded to get the dub.
12/22/24 – DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC vs Oakland (L, 72-71)
The Padawan squaring off against the Jedi, think of the storylines!
The shorthanded squad plays down to a Golden Grizzlies team, gets out-rebounded, technicalities go out the window and give up a buzzer-beater to lose the game.
Grade: B-
12/23/24 – DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC vs Charleston (L, 77-68)
The Ramblers looked like they were going to avenge their loss from the day before, leading by as many as 9 in the first half before giving up 40 second half points and losing by 9. What’s more, they turned the ball over 19 times and went 6-24 from beyond the arc.
Grade: C
12/25/24 – DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC vs Murray State (L, 71-68)
Once again, the Ramblers were in control early in the second half. Up 12, even relying on key minutes from a WALK-ON to control the pace of play…
They lost again???
33% from the 3-point line, 19 turnovers and 27 fouls will do that to a team.
Grade: C-
Losing 3 of their final 4 non-conference games was not the result Drew Valentine could have even imagined – especially after being just one of a handful of teams remaining on the national undefeated map a few weeks before. Battered and bruised, the Ramblers have a few more days to recover before they open up A-10 play against VCU on Saturday afternoon.
With a full and healthy roster, some may wonder if the fate of the ‘Blers may have changed down the stretch. Call it what you want, but the team’s weaker scheduling came to hinder their progress down the stretch. Their sudden surprise that they fail against quality mid-major programs isn’t much of a surprise at all. It’s a far cry from the Loyola “standard” that’s been preached in Rogers Park since Valentine took over – even dating back to Porter Moser’s tenure.
This is not a time for fans to press the panic button or write the whole season off. Teams go through tough stretches – it’s an inevitability of college basketball. What this should be is a wake-up call. It’s difficult to have a shortened bench in a tournament, that can’t be argued. But across November and December, there were subtle signs that this was on the horizon. Playing down to competition against two winless teams or narrowly beating a middle-of-the-road WAC opponent. Great wins against Princeton and a couple AAC teams, sure, but is it better to be lucky than good? Hopefully not in a 17-game gauntlet known as A10 conference play.
Posted In: General Discussion