CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago tips off the 2024-25 season at home Monday night against Chicago State. The Ramblers and Cougars will get after it at 7:30 p.m. following the Rambler women's basketball game.
Monday's game can be watched on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield (PXP) and Nick DiNardi (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
• Loyola Chicago is coming off a share of the Atlantic 10 Regular Season Title and 2023-24 NIT appearance last year.
• The Ramblers posted a 23-10 overall record, which was the fourth highest win improvement (+12) in the NCAA last year.
• Loyola was tabbed fifth in the A-10 Preseason Poll in early October with
Des Watson and
Miles Rubin bringing home individual honors. Watson was named a First Team selection, while Rubin was tabbed Third Team and All-Defensive.
• Watson was a Second Team honoree last season and named NABC All-District Second Team. He started all 33 games for the Ramblers last season and led Loyola in scoring with 12.6 points per game on 40.7 percent from the field. Efficient from three-point range, Watson shot 38.6 percent from the arc. He added 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
• Rubin's preseason honor comes after an All-Rookie and All-Defensive nod last year. He also earned Loyola's lone weekly award with Rookie of the Week on March 11.
• The Chicago native broke a 40-year-old record with 76 blocks in a single season, helping the Ramblers also break a four-decade old team block record. He led the country in blocked shot percentage (14.1 percent). Rubin blocked a career-high six shots vs. La Salle (March 9).
• Loyola added eight new players to its roster over the off-season. Head coach
Drew Valentine picked up four transfers and signed four freshmen.
• New to Loyola are transfers
Jalen DeLoach,
Justin Moore,
Kymany Houinsou, and
Francis Nwaokorie. The freshmen class is made up of
Daniil Glazkov,
Seifeldin Hendawy,
Jack Turner, and
Brayden Young.
•
Justin Moore got a nod in the starting line-up in Loyola's lone exhibition against Calumet St. Joseph. He led Loyola with 16 points (6-6 FG, 2-2 3PT, 2-2 FT). He also had four steals, two assists and a block.
• Rubin started at center, posting 12 points, nine boards, five blocks, four assists, and a steal.
•
Jalen Quinn (12) and
Jayden Dawson (10) also scored double-figures, while DeLoach matched Rubin's game-high nine boards.
• Valentine enters his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 58-39 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE
Chicago State finished 13-19 overall last season, which was highlighted by a 75-73 upset over No. 25 Northwestern. The Cougars averaged 69.5 points a game last year, shooting over 42 percent from the field. CSU ranked 24th in the NCAA with 8.7 steals per game and forced 14.44 turnovers per game to rank 35th in the country. The Cougars return six players and will tip-off their inaugural season in the NEC in January.
Noble Crawford in Chicago State's top returner. He averaged 7.8 points per game on 46,8 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from three-point range. Crawford added 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.0 spg, and 0.8 bpg. He scored double-figures in 12 games last season, including a season-high 19 against FDU.
SERIES HISTORY
Loyola leads the all-time series, 12-1. Last year, the Ramblers downed the Cougars, 62-53. Quinn (15), Edwards Jr. (14), and Watson (13) scored at least 10 in the game.
