Loyola looks to bounce back after rough debut in Atlantic 10
Loyola University is going to be better this season.
Moving to the Atlantic 10 last year after leaving the Missouri Valley Conference, there's no where to go to go but up after the Ramblers finished last in their new league with a 4-14 record.
Overall, Loyola was 10-21.
"The way that I've kind of looked at it and framed it to our players is as a year of growth, and I think we were able to grow, get better," coach Drew Valentine told the Loyola Phoenix.
Picked to finish eighth in the A-10's preseason poll, the Ramblers will lean on Philip Alston. A newcomer last year after transferring from Division II California University of Pennsylvania, Alston led Loyola in scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (5.6).
Local products Ben Schwieger (Waubonsie Valley High School) and Tom Welch (Naperville North) return after combining to average over 16 points and 8 rebounds a game.
Freshman big man Miles Rubin, a big-time recruit out of Simeon H.S., and guard Greg Dolan, a Cornell transfer, are the notable additions.
The Ramblers have a tough opener, facing 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena. FAU was the toast of March Madness last year, making it to the Final Four and losing to San Diego State at the buzzer in the semifinals.
DePaul
Tony Stubblefield did little to improve the Blue Demons in his first two years as coach and this season sets up to be even worse.
DePaul is a consensus pick to finish last in the Big East after losing four of its top five scorers.
Senior forward Da'Sean Nelson will have to carry a heavy load after averaging 10 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2022-23.
The Blue Demons open Tuesday against Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Illinois-Chicago
The Flames joined the Missouri Valley Conference last season and had a rough go, finishing 4-16 in the conference and 12-20 overall.
Coach Luke Yaklich welcomes back starters Toby Okani (11 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Filip Skobalj (7.7 ppg, 61 3-pointers), while Marquise Kennedy is one of six transfers UIC brought in.
Kennedy, who played four years at Loyola, will be a starting guard when UIC starts the season Monday at Cincinnati.
Bradley
Picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, the Braves are going to miss Rienk Mast, their leading scorer and rebounder last year.
Mast transferred to Nebraska, so Bradley will turn to returnees Malevy Leons and Duke Deen, who combined to average 21 points a game last season.
The Braves' first game is Monday at Alabama-Birmingham.
Illinois State
The Redbirds return plenty of firepower from last year's team, which finished 11-21 (6-14 in the MVC).
Guards Darius Buford and Malachi Poindexter are back, as is leading rebounder Kendall Lewis.
ISU tips off against Lourdes University on Monday.
Southern Illinois
Picked to finish ninth in the MVC, the Salukis are led by guard Xavier Johnson, a defensive whiz. Scottie Ebube out of Mundelein High School is a 6-foot-10 center slated for a bigger role as a sophomore.
SIU opens the season Monday vs. Kentucky State.
Western Illinois
The Leathernecks are in a new league (Ohio Valley Conference) and they have a new coach as Chad Boudreau takes over for Rob Jeter.
Top scorers Trenton Massner, Alec Rosner and Vuk Stevnic have moved on, so senior guard Quinlan Bennett will lead WIU, which opens with a Monday game at Texas-San Antonio.
Eastern Illinois
Picked to finish last in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Panthers are led by senior guard Caleb Donaldson.
EIU travels to Illinois for a Monday season opener.