Frustration, naturally, has mounted, but it’s evolved into a frustration with being frustrated. Loyola has framed losses as lessons, yet similar errors continue the next time out. “We need to learn from our mistakes and still get wins, you know what I mean?” Custer says. “We have to stop having to take a loss in order to, like, try to get better. Even when we don’t play well, figure out a way to win the game and then continue to learn from those things.”

Finals week has arrived. Moser planned to let his team get away from basketball a bit during this period, no matter the on-court results, and a break certainly couldn’t hurt. All possible solutions are on the table, and the staff needs time to sort through them, and the players need fresher, clearer minds to embrace whatever corrective measures come next.