Note: This game will be on Bally Sports Midwest (formerly FOX Sports Midwest), NBC Sports Chicago, and ESPN+ outside the network footprint)
SIU begins a home and home back to back against the league's best in Chicago on Tuesday.
The Ramblers were ranked in the AP Top 25 last week but lost to Missouri State on Saturday. Loyola has wins over #31 San Francisco and #89 Vanderbilt.
Meet the Ramblers:
Despite losing Head Coach Porter Moser to Oklahoma and Larry Bird Award winner Cameron Krutwig to Belgium, Loyola returned basically their entire team from last year and have been just as strong as ever. The Ramblers are 37th in the country in experience (average 2.46 years) and 54th in the country in minutes continuity from last season (67.9%).
On the offensive side, the Ramblers have been one of the best shooting teams in college basketball. Loyola is 4th in the country in effective field goal % (57.8%), 12th in the country in 3 point % (38.5%), and 7th in the country in 2 point % (57.9%). The Ramblers take and make a lot of 3's as they're 39th in the country in 3 point attempts per field goal attempts (44.7) and they have 37.1% of their total points coming from 3 pointers which is 45th in the country. The Ramblers have also been extremely good at taking care of the ball. They're 82nd in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (17.4%) and 72nd in the country in steal % (8.2%). If there's a weakness to Loyola on offense, they get blocked a lot and they aren't great at offensive rebounding. Loyola is 333rd in the country in block % on the offensive end (11.9%) and 273rd in the country in offensive rebounding % (25.1%).
Last season, the Ramblers were 2nd in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency but have taken a bit of a step back this year coming in at 65th (97.2). Loyola has been one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country as they're 28th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (23.6%). They're also really good at creating turnovers as they're 94th in the country in turnover % on the defensive end (20.2%). Loyola is also 39th in the country in free throw attempts per field goal attempts on the defensive end (23.9%) so teams have struggled to get to the free throw line against them. Teams against Loyola are getting 14.8% of their total points from the free throw line which is 306th in the country.
The Ramblers' leading scorer is 6'4 5th year Senior Lucas Williamson averaging 12.4 points per game. Williamson has been around since Loyola's Final Four season 5 years ago and has started 94 games in his collegiate career and played 128 games overall. Williamson has turned into one of the best defensive players in the country winning Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year last year and showed that on a national stage when he helped shut down Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu in the Ramblers' second round win. Williamson tested the NBA waters this offseason but decided to return for his final year. Williamson has held his own on the offensive end this season as he's 167th in the country in 3 point % (38-91, 41.8%), 122nd in the country in effective field goal % (59.4%), and 126th in the country in true shooting % (62.0%). Williamson has also been Loyola's leading rebounder this season with 5.1 rebounds per game and leading stealer with 1.2 steals per game. Williamson was named to the preseason Missouri Valley Conference 2nd team this offseason.
The Missouri Valley's co-leader in assists is 6'0 Junior Braden Norris averaging 4.4 assists per game tied with Bradley's Terry Roberts. Norris started his collegiate career at Oakland University where he averaged 8.4 points per game and 5.2 assists per game his Freshman season and was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman team. After his Freshman season, Norris transferred to Loyola where he's been a key player for them. Norris is a gritty defender but has also turned into a good offensive player. Norris is 61st in the country in 3 point % (37-80, 46.3%), 73rd in the country in effective field goal % (61.7%), and 54th in the country in true shooting % (64.8%). Norris is also 203rd in the country in assist rate (24.4%). Norris was Loyola's best player in their road win over Vanderbilt scoring 18 points on 6-8 shooting (all 3's) and threw in 9 assists. Norris was named to the preseason Missouri Valley Conference 3rd team this offseason.
Another key player for Loyola is 6'7 5th year Senior Aher Uguak. Uguak is from Edmonton, Alberta and started his collegiate career at New Mexico where he played sparingly and transferred to Loyola after his Freshman season. At Loyola, Uguak has turned into one of Loyola's best defensive players and has started nearly every game with them since he transferred over. Last season, Uguak was named to the Missouri Valley Conference third team, MVC All-Defensive team, and Missouri Valley most-improved team. This season, Uguak has continued to improve on the offensive end. Uguak is 65th in the country in 2 point field goal % (40-61, 65.6%), 84th in the country in effective field goal % (61.0%), and 80th in the country in true shooting % (63.6%). He's also been really good at getting to the free throw line as he's 227th in the country in free throw rate (42.1%).
One of Loyola's new players this season and leader in possessions and shots is 6'7 Senior Ryan Schwieger. Schwieger started his collegiate career at Princeton where he played for 3 seasons. Because of the cancelation of the Ivy League season due to COVID last season, Schwieger transferred out to Loyola. This season, Schwieger is averaging 10.7 points per game and has been getting the bulk of the shots and possessions when he's on the floor. Schwieger is 223rd in the country in % of possessions when he's on the floor (26.5%) and 72nd in the country in % of shots when he's on the floor (30.8%). Schwieger was off to a good start at the beginning of the season from 3 but has really struggled in Missouri Valley play. He's just 4-24 from 3 in conference games (16.7%).
Previous Loyola-Chicago/SIU games on YouTube:
2018:
1/17 Loyola-Chicago 79 SIU 65 (Road)
2020:
1/29 SIU 68 Loyola-Chicago 63 (Home)
2021:
2/26 Loyola-Chicago 60 SIU 52 (Road)
2/27 Loyola-Chicago 65 SIU 58 (OT) (Road)
3/5 Loyola-Chicago 73 SIU 49 (MVC Tournament Quarterfinals)
Links:
Bryan Mullins MVC Teleconference 1/24
Mike Reis interview with Will Keller
Saluki Radio Flashback: 2002 NCAA Tournament win vs Texas Tech
+ 12.5.
+ 12.5.
Think SIU has a shot at home because of the back to back but I'd take the -12.5 for Loyola here after a loss
+ 12.5.
Pound SIU and the points if that is truly the line. We'll likely lose, but will keep it within 12.
Edit: Whoops, I thought this one was the home game. Nevermind, I probably wouldn't touch that line.
Are Saluki Insider's web servers ready for back to back SIU wins over Loyola?
Note: This game will be on Bally Sports Midwest (formerly FOX Sports Midwest), NBC Sports Chicago, and ESPN+ outside the network footprint)
SIU begins a home and home back to back against the league's best in Chicago on Tuesday.
The Ramblers were ranked in the AP Top 25 last week but lost to Missouri State on Saturday. Loyola has wins over #31 San Francisco and #89 Vanderbilt.
Meet the Ramblers:
Despite losing Head Coach Porter Moser to Oklahoma and Larry Bird Award winner Cameron Krutwig to Belgium, Loyola returned basically their entire team from last year and have been just as strong as ever. The Ramblers are 37th in the country in experience (average 2.46 years) and 54th in the country in minutes continuity from last season (67.9%).
On the offensive side, the Ramblers have been one of the best shooting teams in college basketball. Loyola is 4th in the country in effective field goal % (57.8%), 12th in the country in 3 point % (38.5%), and 7th in the country in 2 point % (57.9%). The Ramblers take and make a lot of 3's as they're 39th in the country in 3 point attempts per field goal attempts (44.7) and they have 37.1% of their total points coming from 3 pointers which is 45th in the country. The Ramblers have also been extremely good at taking care of the ball. They're 82nd in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (17.4%) and 72nd in the country in steal % (8.2%). If there's a weakness to Loyola on offense, they get blocked a lot and they aren't great at offensive rebounding. Loyola is 333rd in the country in block % on the offensive end (11.9%) and 273rd in the country in offensive rebounding % (25.1%).
Last season, the Ramblers were 2nd in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency but have taken a bit of a step back this year coming in at 65th (97.2). Loyola has been one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country as they're 28th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (23.6%). They're also really good at creating turnovers as they're 94th in the country in turnover % on the defensive end (20.2%). Loyola is also 39th in the country in free throw attempts per field goal attempts on the defensive end (23.9%) so teams have struggled to get to the free throw line against them. Teams against Loyola are getting 14.8% of their total points from the free throw line which is 306th in the country.
The Ramblers' leading scorer is 6'4 5th year Senior Lucas Williamson averaging 12.4 points per game. Williamson has been around since Loyola's Final Four season 5 years ago and has started 94 games in his collegiate career and played 128 games overall. Williamson has turned into one of the best defensive players in the country winning Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year last year and showed that on a national stage when he helped shut down Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu in the Ramblers' second round win. Williamson tested the NBA waters this offseason but decided to return for his final year. Williamson has held his own on the offensive end this season as he's 167th in the country in 3 point % (38-91, 41.8%), 122nd in the country in effective field goal % (59.4%), and 126th in the country in true shooting % (62.0%). Williamson has also been Loyola's leading rebounder this season with 5.1 rebounds per game and leading stealer with 1.2 steals per game. Williamson was named to the preseason Missouri Valley Conference 2nd team this offseason.
The Missouri Valley's co-leader in assists is 6'0 Junior Braden Norris averaging 4.4 assists per game tied with Bradley's Terry Roberts. Norris started his collegiate career at Oakland University where he averaged 8.4 points per game and 5.2 assists per game his Freshman season and was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman team. After his Freshman season, Norris transferred to Loyola where he's been a key player for them. Norris is a gritty defender but has also turned into a good offensive player. Norris is 61st in the country in 3 point % (37-80, 46.3%), 73rd in the country in effective field goal % (61.7%), and 54th in the country in true shooting % (64.8%). Norris is also 203rd in the country in assist rate (24.4%). Norris was Loyola's best player in their road win over Vanderbilt scoring 18 points on 6-8 shooting (all 3's) and threw in 9 assists. Norris was named to the preseason Missouri Valley Conference 3rd team this offseason.
Another key player for Loyola is 6'7 5th year Senior Aher Uguak. Uguak is from Edmonton, Alberta and started his collegiate career at New Mexico where he played sparingly and transferred to Loyola after his Freshman season. At Loyola, Uguak has turned into one of Loyola's best defensive players and has started nearly every game with them since he transferred over. Last season, Uguak was named to the Missouri Valley Conference third team, MVC All-Defensive team, and Missouri Valley most-improved team. This season, Uguak has continued to improve on the offensive end. Uguak is 65th in the country in 2 point field goal % (40-61, 65.6%), 84th in the country in effective field goal % (61.0%), and 80th in the country in true shooting % (63.6%). He's also been really good at getting to the free throw line as he's 227th in the country in free throw rate (42.1%).
One of Loyola's new players this season and leader in possessions and shots is 6'7 Senior Ryan Schwieger. Schwieger started his collegiate career at Princeton where he played for 3 seasons. Because of the cancelation of the Ivy League season due to COVID last season, Schwieger transferred out to Loyola. This season, Schwieger is averaging 10.7 points per game and has been getting the bulk of the shots and possessions when he's on the floor. Schwieger is 223rd in the country in % of possessions when he's on the floor (26.5%) and 72nd in the country in % of shots when he's on the floor (30.8%). Schwieger was off to a good start at the beginning of the season from 3 but has really struggled in Missouri Valley play. He's just 4-24 from 3 in conference games (16.7%).
Previous Loyola-Chicago/SIU games on YouTube:
2018:
1/17 Loyola-Chicago 79 SIU 65 (Road)
2020:
1/29 SIU 68 Loyola-Chicago 63 (Home)
2021:
2/26 Loyola-Chicago 60 SIU 52 (Road)
2/27 Loyola-Chicago 65 SIU 58 (OT) (Road)
3/5 Loyola-Chicago 73 SIU 49 (MVC Tournament Quarterfinals)
Links:
Dang, won’t be able to watch it. Have Dish, they are still at odds with the former FSM.
Are Saluki Insider's web servers ready for back to back SIU wins over Loyola?
Only times we ever crashed was when it quit and when Bryan was hired
See you Chicago-area alums at the game! Myself and a few alums will be in the front row of the upper bowl behind the Saluki bench. (I couldn't believe it but the entire lower bowl was already sold out by the time single game tix went on sale!)
If you're gonna reply to me in the forums, please quote what I wrote that you're replying to so I have a clue...thanks! 😀
https://twitter.com/salukiradio/status/1485791276083687427
For those looking for a bit of a pick-me-up in a rough stretch for the Dawgs, this interview with Rodney Watson has some thoughts on a few doable things Southern can do to get over the hump in some of these close games (I really liked his notion that Southern has to be more physical with other teams' studs the way opponents have been with Domask and Jones), as well as some good things to say about the two redshirts.
@zippadeedoodawgs I will be at the game with my wife and 3 of our grandkids. Go Dawgs!
We almost beat them there twice last year. Jones from Evanston just up the road will be pumped!
I don't think there would be a bigger confidence booster for this team than if they beat Loyola on the road; tonight could change the trajectory of this team for the rest of this year and next if they play like they're capable of playing.
Bryan Mullins pregame:
