Loyola (IL) Ramblers
2015-2016 Overall Rank: #130
Conference Rank: #6 Missouri Valley
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Back in 2013-2014, Loyola made their Missouri Valley Conference debut and won just four games. Most thought it would take more time before the talent level was ready to compete in their new conference. And maybe that talent level is not quite there yet, but the Ramblers boosted their win total in MVC play to eight and earned a berth to the CBI. It was only the CBI, but Coach Porter Moser and company took full advantage of the opportunity and won five straight games to take home the tournament title. The play of do-it-all guard Milton Doyle was the catalyst for the team’s success. Two years ago Doyle did everything for this team. Last year he still averaged 11.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, but he had more help. When Doyle missed a stretch of 11 games in the heart of conference play, Loyola lost seven of those games. Had he been around, we may be talking about a team that won 12 conference games and made a run in the NIT.
2014-15 Record: 24-13, 8-10
2014-15 Postseason: CBI
Coach: Porter Moser
Coach Record: 56-74 at Loyola (IL), 161-175 overall
Who’s Out:
On a roster that went ten deep, Coach Moser only loses two regulars. Christian Thomas will be the toughest to replace. He was second only to Doyle in scoring with 11.2 points per game and led the team with 4.5 rebounds. The 6-5 forward could stretch the defense, yet it will be his rebounding for a team that was not very good in the department, that will be missed the most. The other departure is Joe Crisman, a 6-4 guard who averaged 2.5 points and 1.3 assists per game.
Who’s In:
Loyola adds three eligible newcomers this year. Pernell Adgei, a 6-7 wing, is the lone freshman. The frontcourt will get more help immediately from junior college transfer Maurice Kirby. The 6-9, 240 pound forward redshirted during his freshman year at Virginia Tech before heading to the junior college ranks for one season. He is the biggest player on the roster and should at least add quality depth to the frontcourt. The backcourt adds junior college transfer Tyson Smith, a 6-2 point guard. He has a good enough outside shot to be dangerous offensively, but it will likely be his defensive skills that earns him minutes as a sophomore.
Who to Watch:
Earl Peterson and Devon Turk figure to join Doyle in the backcourt this season. Peterson averaged 8.7 points and 2.0 assists during his debut season with the Ramblers after a stint at the junior college ranks. The 6-2 senior really stepped up during the team’s CBI run last year, averaging 15.5 points and 3.0 assists during the last four CBI games. Turk is the three-point shooter of the bunch. He knocked down 78 last year at an impressive 42.4 percent clip. Turk may not be the most dynamic scorer around, but he has been one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in any conference over the last three years. Along with Smith, Ben Richardson and Jeff White will provide most of the depth on the perimeter. White’s minutes could decrease with Smith looking for minutes at the point, while Richardson proved to be a decent shooter off of the bench during his freshman campaign.
Final Projection:
Without Thomas, the frontcourt will rely on Montel James to pick up some of the slack. The 6-7 senior averaged 9.4 points per game and was second on the team with 4.3 rebounds. He is a traditional forward who will stay in the paint and use his toughness to get on the glass. The emergence of Donte Ingram would help this team in the rebounding department. In just 18.3 minutes per game, Ingram grabbed 3.1 rebounds as a freshman. With more minutes and overall improvement in his game, Ingram could very well be the best rebounder for Loyola. For now, seriously competing in the MVC might be asking too much, but this team has the talent and experience to hang around the race for a while.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
Projected Starting Five:
Earl Peterson, Senior, Guard, 8.7 points per game
Devon Turk, Senior, Guard, 8.5 points per game
Milton Doyle, Junior, Guard, 11.4 points per game
Donte Ingram, Sophomore, Forward, 5.0 points per game
Montel James, Senior, Forward, 9.4 points per game
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 62.8 (284th in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 60.4 (36, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.4 (30, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.2 (185, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.1 (208, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.2 (17, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.8 (187, 9)
Rebound Margin: -1.1 (239, 8)
Assists Per Game: 13.2 (120, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.6 (183, 4)
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