Over the course of the next 30 days, the Def Pen college basketball staff will preview the top 30 teams in the country. Each day will present a new team running all the way up to the start of the regular season. Follow along with us as we share our top 30 college basketball teams in 30 days.
Today we take a look at last year’s Cinderella story in Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers took everyone by surprise on a run as an 11-seed all the way to the Final Four. The Ramblers showed they were legit and that is why they find themselves sliding just into our top 25.
Loyola-Chicago is bringing back a small core of players but that includes Missouri Valley Player of the Year Clayton Custer. Custer, a transfer from Iowa State was instrumental in elevating the Ramblers to where they are now. His old high school teammate Ben Richardson departs though as does second team all-conference performer Donte Ingram. The Missouri Valley will post a tougher conference than last year but expect the Ramblers to still contend for the crown.
Key Returners
Custer is the straw that stirs the drink for Porter Moser and the Ramblers. His steady hand at the lead guard spot was the reason for Loyola’s breakout year. He was also the leading scorer last year and will more than likely take on that role again this year. Krutwig a big man that was solid as a true freshman last year is expected to take another step. His play at the give averaging ten and six was a welcome addition along with his nearly two assists a game from the high post, a place he loves to operate. Townes, a senior guard started every game for the Ramblers last year and was the second leading scorer. Loyola-Chicago returning three starters off a final four team, all of which averaged double figures is the main reason they are a preseason top 25 team.
Key Losses
Both of these starters will be sorely missed. Richardson, a high school teammate and best friend of Custer had great chemistry with his friend and was a 40% three-point shooter. In addition to his offensive game, Richardson was also the conference defensive player of the year a job. Ingram, on the other hand, was a second team all-conference performer. The 6-6 lefty hit a team-high 74 3s, leading the team with 6.4 rebounds a game, and averaging 11 points per game in 38 starts.
Key Newcomers
Coach Porter Moser is once again tapping into the metro Kansas City area for a guard. Richardson and Custer both hailed from Kansas City as does incoming three-star guard Cooper Kaifes. Kaifes is a little more similar to Richardson as a six-foot-three-inch guard with good range on his jumper a toughness of the defensive end. He plays more off the ball like Richardson as well and may be able to fill that void left by the senior guard. Agunanne is a big out of the famed La Lumiere High School in Indiana. Agunanne stands six foot nine inches but only weighs 210 pounds as a center. He will need time to put on weight but could play in a limited backup role to Krutwig.
Projected Starting Lineup
G: Clayton Custer
G: Lucas Williamson
G: Marques Townes
F: Christian Negron
C: Cameron Krutwig
Season Outlook
Coming off the dream season, expectations are high in Chicago. Although they lost a couple of important pieces they still bring enough back to put together a strong team. Their backcourt is still a main driving force for this team. Custer will need to repeat or expand on his conference player of the year season of last year. Now sophomore big man Krutwig is going to take that sophomore leap that most players take going into their second year.
In addition to known players like Krutwig and Townes, watching the development of some of the bench players who played limited roles last year will be interesting to watch. Players like Lucas Williamson who played in all 38 games last year and actually started five of them will need to be watched. It may take some time for this team to gel but once conference season rolls around expect them to be right in the thick of that race. The Ramblers should flirt around the outside/end of the top 25 all year.
Record Prediction
23-8 (13-5)
Loyola should be right there around the top one or two teams in the Missouri Valley. A light nonconference schedule will allow Loyola to rack up the wins before entering the tougher part of their schedule. A pair of games including Nevada and Maryland will pose tough threats in the nonconference portion of the season. The Missouri Valley returns three twenty win teams. Illinois State wasn’t one of them but they will most likely be the team picked to win the conference. The battle between the these two Illinois schools for Missouri Valley supremacy will be fun to watch.
