Tuesday, November 9, 2021 7:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Loyola men's basketball returns to Gentile Arena with fans for the first time since February 25, 2020 on Tuesday night. Coppin State kicks off the 2021-22 regular season and the Drew Valentine era of Loyola men's basketball. Fans in attendance will be required to wear a mask and show proof of a recent negative Covid 19 test or a vaccination.
If Coppin State sounds familiar, it's probably because the Eagles shocked the Ramblers at Gentile Arena 76-72 the last time the two teams met in November 2019. Head coach Juan Dixon -- who led Maryland to the 2002 National Championship as a player-- is entering his 5th season as coach. CSU claimed a share of the MEAC regular season title last year in an abbreviated conference season, despite a 9-13 overall record.
The Eagles are doing some rebuilding this season, looking to replace their top three scorers. Nevertheless, CSU was picked to finish fourth in the league. Two CSU players ranked on the MEAC preseason teams-- 6'4" sophomore guard Nendah Tarke made the first team, and 6'2" redshirt sophomore Kyle Cardaci was named to the league's second team.
Only three players remain on this year's roster who saw playing time at CSU last season. Two of CSU's top three scorers lost from last season were also their top playmakers, so a newcomer will probably be relied upon to run the offense. Mike Hood, a 6'2" guard who played last season at Montana State, or 6'3" juco guard Jesse Zarzuela might fill that role.
Some newcomers who add height to the CSU roster are 6'8" Sita Conteh (an Austin Peay transfer), 6'9" juco Remy Lemovou, 6'8" Bryant transfer Nathaniel Stokes, 6'7" Alcorn State transfer Tyree Corbett, and 6'8" sophomore juco Daniel Titus.
As for the Ramblers, the biggest question is how will team adjust to the absence of a four-time all league player (er, legend?) who had such a powerful impact on both offense and defense. Cameron Krutwig had rare passing ability, court vision, leadership, and organizing skills that went far beyond his exceptional scoring and defending. Fortunately, this season the Ramblers have enough experience at almost every position to direct the offensive and defensive flow, but the intangibles of Krutwig's leadership are probably going to become a factor at times this season.
Loyola's new coach, Drew Valentine, may be the youngest head coach in Division I right now, but his familiarity with his players and the system built up during the past four-plus years will help him transition to the top job. It will be fun to see how he puts his imprint on the team's approach to the system.
The Ramblers were picked to finish second in the MVC Preseason Poll on the basis of four returning starters, along with several exceptional and experienced bench players. The newcomers include Saint Thomas, TY Johnson, Ryan Schwieger, Chris Knight, Will Smythe, and Ben Schwieger. That's a really impressive group with enough talent, athleticism and potential that if they were a team by themselves they could probably avoid an opening night slot in St. Louis.
In last Wednesday's exhibition, Loyola defeated UW-Stout 93-41. Braden Norris' 17 points led four players in double figures, and sophomore Jacob Hutson was the starter in place of Krutwig.
Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... 1_9_21.pdfCoppin State game notes: https://coppinstatesports.com/news/2021 ... epaul.aspxTV/Streaming video: NBC Sports Chicago +
https://www.nbcsports.com/chicagoRadio/Streaming audio: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=81&type=LiveLive stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=369438Vegas odds: 31.5