2021–22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team

The 2021–22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team represented Loyola University Chicago during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Ramblers, led by first-year head coach Drew Valentine, played their home games at the Joseph J. Gentile Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the regular season 25–7, 13–5 in MVC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place. As the No. 4 seed in the MVC Tournament, they defeated Bradley, Northern Iowa, and Drake to win the MVC Tournament for the second consecutive season. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 10 seed, where they lost in the First Round to Ohio State.

2021–22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball
Missouri Valley tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, First Round
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
2021–22 record25–8 (13–5 MVC)
Head coach
Associate head coachDan Hipsher
Assistant coaches
  • Amorrow Morgan
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Patrick Wallace
Home arenaJoseph J. Gentile Arena
2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Northern Iowa144 .7782012  .625
Missouri State135 .7222311  .676
Drake135 .7222511  .694
Loyola Chicago135 .722258  .758
Bradley117 .6111714  .548
Southern Illinois99 .5001614  .533
Valparaiso612 .3331418  .438
Illinois State513 .2781320  .394
Indiana State414 .2221120  .355
Evansville216 .111624  .200
2022 MVC Tournament winner

On November 16, 2021, Loyola announced that this would be the last season for the team in the MVC as they will join the Atlantic 10 Conference in July 2022.[1]

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ramblers finished the 2020–21 season 26–5, 16–2 in MVC play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Southern Illinois, Illinois State, and Drake to win the MVC Tournament championship.[2] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed in the Midwest region.[3] There they defeated No. 9-seeded Georgia Tech[4] and upset No. 1-seeded Illinois to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.[5] In the Sweet Sixteen, they lost to Oregon State.[6]

On April 3, 2021, head coach Porter Moser left Loyola to accept the head coaching position at Oklahoma.[7] A few days later, the school announced that assistant coach Drew Valentine would take over as the Ramblers' head coach.[8]

Offseason

Coaching changes

On April 20, Valentine announced the hiring of assistant coaches Amorrow Morgan, Sean Dwyer, and Patrick Wallace.[9] Former Oakland associate head coach Dan Hipsher was named special assistant to the head coach.[9]

Departures

Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA did not count the 2020–21 season against the eligibility of any basketball player, meaning that all seniors in that season could choose to return for 2021–22.

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Paxson Wojcik0G6'4"185SophomoreCharleston, SCTransferred to Brown
Jake Baughman2G6'3"180RS SeniorBloomington, ILGraduated; chose not to return
Baylor Hebb13G6'2"170FreshmanColleyville, TXTransferred to Colorado State
Cooper Kaifes23G6'3"195RS SophomoreShawnee, KSTransferred to Samford
Cameron Krutwig25C6'9"255SeniorAlgonquin, ILGraduated; signed to play professionally in Belgium with the Antwerp Giants
Sami Ismail31G6'1"182JuniorOrland Park, ILTransferred to Highland CC (IL)
Franklin Agunanne33F6'9"245JuniorAbuja, NigeriaTransferred to SMU

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Ryan Schwieger13F6'7"205SeniorMatthews, NCTransferred from Princeton
Chris Knight23F6'7"225SeniorMadison, WITransferred from Dartmouth

2021 Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ty Johnson
G
Chicago, IL DePaul College Prep (IL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Ben Schwieger
G / F
Aurora, IL Waubonsie Valley (IL) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Saint Thomas
F
Omaha, NE Millard North (NE) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Apr 13, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: N/R
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 132
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2021 Loyola Ramblers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

    Roster

    2021–22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Saint Thomas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrMillard North Omaha, NE
    G 1 Lucas Williamson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) GSWhitney Young Chicago, IL
    G 2 Ty Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrDePaul College Prep Chicago, IL
    G 4 Braden Norris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS JrHilliard Bradley
    Oakland
    Hilliard, OH
    G 5 Keith Clemons 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) GSWesley Christian
    Vincennes
    Norcross, GA
    F 10 Tom Welch 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrNaperville North Naperville, IL
    G 12 Marquise Kennedy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg) JrBrother Rice Chicago, IL
    F 13 Ryan Schwieger 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrWedington
    Princeton
    Matthews, NC
    C 22 Jacob Hutson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) SoEdina Edina, MN
    F 23 Chris Knight 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) SrJames Madison Memorial
    Dartmouth
    Madison, WI
    G/F 24 Tate Hall 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) GSGreenfield-Central
    Indianapolis
    Greenfield, IN
    F 30 Aher Uguak 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) GSHarry Ainlay
    New Mexico
    Edmonton, AB
    G 31 Will Smythe (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrSt. Mary's Prep Rochester Hills, MI
    G/F 33 Ben Schwieger 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrWaubonsie Valley Aurora, IL
    F 35 Damezi Anderson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) SrRiley
    Indiana
    South Bend, IN
    F 45 Will Alcock (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrZionsville Community Zionsville, IN
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    After losing several game to cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19, Loyola and San Francisco agreed to play a game on January 6, 2022, on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.[10]

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    November 3, 2021*
    7:00 p.m.
    UW–Stout W 93–41 
    Gentile Arena (2,374)
    Chicago, IL
    Regular season
    November 9, 2021*
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC+
    Coppin State W 103–45  1–0
    Gentile Arena (2,982)
    Chicago, IL
    November 13, 2021*
    1:00 p.m., ESPN+/NBCSC
    Florida Gulf Coast W 89–77  2–0
    Gentile Arena (3,277)
    Chicago, IL
    November 16, 2021*
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    Chicago State W 92–56  3–0
    Gentile Arena (2,637)
    Chicago, IL
    November 20, 2021*
    3:00 p.m., NBCSC
    UIC W 80–63  4–0
    Gentile Arena (3,732)
    Chicago, IL
    November 24, 2021*
    11:00 a.m., ESPN
    Michigan State
    Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals
    L 61–63  4–1
    Imperial Arena 
    Nassau, Bahamas
    November 25, 2021*
    1:30 p.m., ESPN2
    No. 19 Auburn
    Battle 4 Atlantis consolation round
    L 53–62  4–2
    Imperial Arena (804)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    November 26, 2021*
    6:00 p.m., ESPNews
    Arizona State
    Battle 4 Atlantis 7th Place Game
    W 77–59  5–2
    Imperial Arena (739)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    December 1, 2021
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    Indiana State W 88–76  6–2
    (1–0)
    Gentile Arena (2,915)
    Chicago, IL
    December 4, 2021*
    3:00 p.m., FS1
    at DePaul W 68–64  7–2
    Wintrust Arena (6,774)
    Chicago, IL
    December 7, 2021*
    7:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Roosevelt W 88–49  8–2
    Gentile Arena (2,379)
    Chicago, IL
    December 10, 2021*
    7:00 p.m., SECN+
    at Vanderbilt W 69–58  9–2
    Memorial Gymnasium (7,002)
    Nashville, TN
    December 19, 2021*
    1:00 p.m., ESPN3/ESPN+
    Norfolk State Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Gentile Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    December 22, 2021*
    1:00 p.m., ESPN+
    at Davidson Canceled due to COVID-19 issues John M. Belk Arena 
    Davidson, NC
    January 2, 2021*
    1:00 p.m., ESPN3
    Saint Xavier Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Gentile Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    January 6, 2022*
    1:00 p.m., WCC Network
    vs. San Francisco W 79–74  10–2
    Lifetime Activities Center (112)
    Salt Lake City, UT
    January 8, 2022
    3:00 p.m., NBCSC
    Bradley W 78–71 OT 11–2
    (2–0)
    Gentile Arena (3,092)
    Chicago, IL
    January 11, 2022
    8:00 p.m., CBSSN
    Valparaiso W 81–74 2OT 12–2
    (3–0)
    Gentile Arena (2,193)
    Chicago, IL
    January 15, 2022
    6:00 p.m., CBSSN
    at Indiana State W 64–56  13–2
    (4–0)
    Hulman Center (3,614)
    Terre Haute, IN
    January 18, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC+
    No. 22 at Evansville W 77–48  14–2
    (5–0)
    Ford Center (3,190)
    Evansville, IN
    January 22, 2022
    2:30 p.m., CBSSN
    No. 22 Missouri State L 69–79  14–3
    (5–1)
    Gentile Arena (4,105)
    Chicago, IL
    January 25, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    Southern Illinois W 59–47  15–3
    (6–1)
    Gentile Arena (2,941)
    Chicago, IL
    January 27, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    at Southern Illinois W 44–39  16–3
    (7–1)
    Banterra Center (4,315)
    Carbondale, IL
    January 30, 2022
    1:00 p.m., ESPN2
    at Drake L 68–77  16–4
    (7–2)
    Knapp Center (3,994)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 2, 2022
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+
    Illinois State W 78–64  17–4
    (8–2)
    Gentile Arena (3,097)
    Chicago, IL
    February 6, 2022
    1:00 p.m., ESPN2
    at Missouri State W 71–62  18–4
    (9–2)
    JQH Arena (6,117)
    Springfield, MO
    February 9, 2022
    8:00 p.m., CBSSN
    at Bradley L 61–68  18–5
    (9–3)
    Peoria Civic Center (4,450)
    Peoria, IL
    February 13, 2022
    3:00 p.m., ESPN2
    Northern Iowa W 85–58  19–5
    (10–3)
    Gentile Arena (4,019)
    Chicago, IL
    February 16, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC+
    at Valparaiso W 71–69  20–5
    (11–3)
    Athletics–Recreation Center (2,208)
    Valparaiso, IN
    February 19, 2022
    5:00 p.m., ESPN2
    Drake L 76–83  20–6
    (11–4)
    Gentile Arena (4,557)
    Chicago, IL
    February 21, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    at Illinois State
    Rescheduled from January 5
    W 59–50  21–6
    (12–4)
    Redbird Arena (3,354)
    Normal, IL
    February 23, 2022
    7:00 p.m., NBCSC
    Evansville W 82–31  22–6
    (13–4)
    Gentile Arena (3,843)
    Chicago, IL
    February 26, 2022
    5:00 p.m., ESPNU
    at Northern Iowa L 96–102 OT 22–7
    (13–5)
    McLeod Center (6,497)
    Cedar Falls, IA
    MVC Tournament
    March 4, 2022
    2:30 pm, MVC TV
    (4) vs. (5) Bradley
    Quarterfinals
    W 66–50  23–7
    Enterprise Center (5,394)
    St. Louis, MO
    March 5, 2022
    2:30 pm, CBSSN
    (4) vs. (1) Northern Iowa
    Semifinals
    W 66–43  24–7
    Enterprise Center 
    St. Louis, MO
    March 6, 2022
    1:00 pm, CBS
    (4) vs. (3) Drake
    Championship
    W 64–58  25–7
    Enterprise Center (5,164)
    St. Louis, MO
    NCAA Tournament
    March 18, 2022
    11:15 am, CBS
    (10 S) vs. (7 S) Ohio State
    First Round
    L 41–54  25–8
    PPG Paints Arena 
    Pittsburgh, PA
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    — = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
    Week
    PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
    APRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV22RVRVRVRVRVNot released
    CoachesRVRV^RVRVRVRVRVRVRV24RVRVRVRVRV

    *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
    ^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

    References

    1. "Loyola Athletics To Join Atlantic 10 Conference in 2022-23 Academic Year". Loyola University Chicago Athletics. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
    2. "Drake falls to No. 20 Loyola in MVC Championship". Radio Iowa. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    3. Hefferman, Todd. "MVC Basketball | Drake slotted in First Four, Loyola receives 8 seed". The Southern. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    4. "Georgia Tech vs. Loyola Chicago - Game Recap - March 19, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    5. Lauren M. Johnson and Homero De la Fuente. "No. 8 Loyola Chicago stuns No. 1 seed Illinois to advance to the Sweet 16". CNN. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    6. "Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago - Game Recap - March 27, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    7. "Oklahoma hires Loyola Chicago's Porter Moser to replace Lon Kruger as Sooners coach". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    8. "Drew Valentine Hired as Loyola-Chicago's Head Coach, Replacing Porter Moser". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
    9. "Loyola Announces Men's Basketball Staff". Loyola University Chicago Athletics. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
    10. "After losing conference games to COVID, San Francisco and Loyola Chicago agree to play game Thursday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
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