Ramblin Ray is just pissed off because his wife won't let him go out and play in the cold with the other boys.

Or maybe he's mad because he got his car stuck in the snow...

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Cigarboy sucks!

OK, Ramblin' Ray, I'll take a shot at talking you off the ledge. You do have a point. Loyola's tournament drought is one of the longest (around the 15th longest, last I checked) among teams that have been to the tournament before. Of course, a lot of teams haven't been to the tournament ever, like Northwestern, and a couple dozen of the newer teams in D1. But yeah, it's damn frustrating, and every once in a while even the most eternally optimistic among us let out some frantic or pained expression of exasperation, or need to take a break and walk away for a month or eight or twenty.

The one time that we came close to making it to the tournament (I assume Ray's referring to 2002), we were picked dead last in the preseason poll. We broke a 25-game road losing streak (at St. Mary's) early in the non-con season. That year we started out looking unexpectedly good in the conference season, even gaining sole possession of first place five games into conference play. But as we got into the middle of the league schedule we faded badly, and looked like we weren't going to do much in the league tournament. That year's team came within a basket in regulation, and a point in overtime, and a last shot at the buzzer from going to the tournament. I can't figure out if Ray is saying that the majority of fans shouldn't have followed the team that year at all, or if they should have given up when the team got a couple of conference losses into the season, or what.

Following that year, the HL changed the rules to help to keep something like that from happening again. Nevertheless, we came within a missed basket in 2007 from knocking Butler out of the conference tournament and going to the HL tournament title game. Had we sunk that basket and beaten Butler in that game-- even if we'd gone on to lose in the final-- we quite likely would have made the NIT, since we had 20+ wins, a winning conference record, an RPI in the top 100, and were on the NIT bubble.

Right now it looks likely that we're not going to do as well in overall or league won-loss record as we did last season, which was pretty lousy. But we are in a better run, more esteemed, more competitive conference, and one in which the conference tournament is not nearly as stilted to favor elites-- which opens wider the possibility of a tournament run if we can get our act together. Many encouraging building blocks are in place-- in terms of recruiting better athletic talent, institutional commitment to athletics (both financial and administrative), facilities, and getting a little more attention in a crowded sports marketplace. We haven't really yet seen what these new factors can do in terms of making us a more attractive program for recruits, for fans, and for better out of conference scheduling. We also haven't yet been in a position where a better league might make the difference for a post-season tournament bubble like we had in 2007-- last year, Northern Iowa and Evansville reached the CIT semifinals; Bradley made the CIT quarterfinals; Indiana State made the first round of the NIT; and Creighton and Wichita State both got single-digit seeds in the NCAA, making 6 out of 10 MVC teams postseason participants. Sure, the CIT and NIT aren't the big time, but Wichita State helped build their program to its current level with some deep runs in non-NCAA postseason tournaments.

So Ray, I'll put it to you that there ARE some tangible things that really ARE much better than where we were last year, and the building blocks for very near-term advancement ARE falling in place, even if improvement seems unlikely in this year's won-loss columns. But part of erasing the last generation of sub-mediocrity is having passionate fans like you on board to help usher in a new era, keeping the administration's committments to achieving these goals, and helping nurse other frustrated longtime fans through the rough spots on the way.

Yes, count me frustrated--but also add angry---One of our "building blocks' has acted like a child. Wonderful. If ever a team had to keep their nose to the grindstone, this team was it--IF and it is a big IF, we do have the "building blocks"..I think we do--BUT guys like Ramblin, I am past that. Way past that.
I havebeen a fan of LUC since Kerris--1947--with time out to help Longshot raise our kids. Saw us win the Nat'l Championship--Not literally althogh I was at the smis when we blasted DUKE--Was in Tulsa to see Sullys boys win the MCC tourney and get to the SIXTEEN--At NO time did I ever witness or hear of what has transpired just when it looked as if 63s comment was correct

You're darn right I am frustrated but still loyal to LUC and its Hoops. We shall see if this bunch rallies together this evening or reverts back to PM's "Deer in the Headlights" mode.

For the record--I have said we shall win 78-70--

The team Twitter feed had a photo from today's shoot around and Toe-Leary was dressed. Hopefully he plays.

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MBB Scholarship Chart

63-It is more than the fact that we haven't been to the tourney since 85.It is the fact that we haven't been in the upper half of conference standings during this period.At least my favorite baseball team,the Cubs have been in contention a few times during their 106 year World Champ drought.

Yes,I am glad that we are in a more prestige conference now.However,let's face it-it will be embarrassing just about every home game when visiting Valley teams have more or close to more fans than us.It will also be embarrassing when some of us head to Arch Madness and see the miniscule crowd of Loyola fans that will be there.

I see no more than 3 wins in conference this year.I hope the team proves me wrong.Maybe next year-but Loyola fans have been saying " maybe next year" far too often over the years.

Gosh,I want to see a winning team.Yes I want to see more fans following this team.Will both of these things happen?I sure hope so but based on things over the past 25 or so years,I don't see it happening.Prove me wrong administration,coaches,players and loyal Rambler Maniacs!!!!!

Go Ramblers!!!!!!!!

I totally agree with Ray. With everybody from the president to the AD to the coach and players working hard to turn things around, there ought to be some results. It's almost three seasons ago that we changed the culture. Maybe there is something good down the road, but there is nothing that counts to show for it now. There is constant roster instability. There is a significant decline in W/L. Attendance is down. It should make all loyal supporters angry. We should not assume that, in the face of all evidence, things are getting better. We know it takes time, especially to win honestly and with academic integrity. 29 years should be enough. But don't mistake anger for giving up. GO RAMBLERS!