Loyola Ramblers Game Preview - https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2024/12 ... aukee.aspx

San Francisco Intel and Stats - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2025.html


On Sunday, Loyola Chicago travels 1hr-32min north to Milwaukee’s beautiful Fiserv Forum to play San Francisco University in a battle of two quality mid-major teams in the MKE Tip-Off at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Ramblers (8-0) and Dons (8-2) have some friendly history together, last meeting up in a High School gymnasium in Utah for an impromptu match during the 2021-22 season.

Year-3 with head coach, Chris Gerlufsen, has the Dons on an upward trajectory in the WCC and as tournament qualifying contenders.

SanFran relies heavily on its guard play and their production. The Dons feature a highly skilled and dynamic group of guards, who could be a handful for us (but me thinks our team defense will answer the task). Senior Malik Thomas leads USF with 17ppg, while fellow senior Marcus Williams contributes 12.1ppg. Freshman Tyrone Riley IV provides USF a third scoring option, averaging 11.5ppg. Sophomore guard Ryan Beasley, last season’s WCC Freshman of the Year, provides valuable minutes off the bench. As these three go, the Dons go.

Currently, SanFran has the 18th best scoring defense in the nation, allowing only a meager 61.6ppg. Loyola, meanwhile, is very similar with team defense philosophies, allowing its opponents only 63.6. Given these numbers, in addition to a neutral-court site, would it shock any of us if this is a low-scoring game in the 50s/60s ? BUT, with SF putting up 77 per game, and Loyola countering with its guards and a top-50 scoring average of 82.4ppg, maybe we see some offense between the two potentially also.

With Jayden Dawson’s ankle injury, Drew will be redistributing minutes to JQ (last few games a stud!) and Kymany. Expect Daniil to earn some extra spot minutes as well. Next man up…..

Loyola is one of 7 remaining undefeated teams in the nation (not counting any of Saturday’s results yet). Can the streak continue?

Can’t make it north for Sunday? Tune in to our friends Sudikoff and CT on the Rambler Sports Network and the App. Game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well with Bernfield and Stephond Robinson on that call.

SEEYA TOMORROW !!!!

Odds: Loyola +4 (as of 730pm 12/14)

Would be an absolutely MASSIVE win not only for our at large hopes but also for the A10 after the great conference day yesterday. Not sure how I feel with no JD and our lack of shooting without him, but a win would be incredible

As fans of a mid-major program, we have dealt with some bad broadcasts. This one is the absolute worst. By far. The constant replays were one thing. Now the camera is mirrored and it's impossible to tell what's happening. This is such bush league stuff. Embarrassing

Almost as embarrassing as our 3-point and free throws shooting.

100% right, I haven’t had a normal espn+ broadcast all year, it’s incredible frustrating.

On a game note, we stink at free throws, we would be winning with a normal free throw rate but can’t hit the broadside of a barn. In addition to our lack of 3 point shooting, we chuck a lot of shots but just aren’t good at them.

Also what is up with all the technicals this year? We seem to get called a lot, is the team jawing too much? Or any insight on why we seem to get at least one a game?

Tough game
Didn't feel too good about us winning around the time when Moore went down to injury.

Downside
FT 15-32 47% to SF 74%
37% FG
8-22 layups
3pts 7-24 for 29%
4 players with 4 fouls, and JQ and DeLoach included techs , well, at least no one fouled out.


Upside
Good D first half
Rubin 5 blks and only 2 fouls
Nwaokorie 2-4 from 3

The broadcast was just the in-house video board feed. The ESPN+ stream was an afterthought. What you saw was exactly what we saw on the jumbotron.

Moore probably out for the season I’m guessing. Hit less than half our free throws?? Broadcast directed like a Pink Floyd video??? Just a horrid debacle by all involved

Gross game. Free throw shooting was atrocious, almost laughable.

Might be the way USF guarded, but need to get the big guys involved more. Don’t understand why we can’t sprinkle in a few simple high PnRs for Miles

Going to miss Moore. Our defensive floor is so high we’ll still be in most games, such as tonight

WE ARE AWFUL AT FREE THROW SHOOTING

Not only this, but it’s also always that 5’10” guy who goes off for 35 on us and then buries us.

51 fouls for the game.

Interesting exchange between one of our fans seated courtside with the one official. Got himself ejected. He had a post on Xtwitter of what was yelled. Funny.

Not sure if anyone came early for Northwestern/Tech game but it was a solid zebra crew for that game and we got gifted with this trio of $hit. NW has a very good team, FYI.

One thing about this match - Our guys have got to relax and not allow whistles and bad calls to affect them mentally, which then really screws us on the next defensive possession. Saw this from Kymany, Houinsou, and DeLoach frequently tonight. DeLoach’s actions kinda hurt us negatively too. Des meanwhile, two quick phantom fouls, forced to sit out much of the first half and had a nice, quality, professional second half. That’s a leader.

Tonight’s outcome is not what we wanted, but at 8-1 we are in line with expectations and where we should be. Can’t win them all. I’ll take 2/3 in Hawaii at minimum. SanFran is going to give Gonzaga a fit in the WCC.

Disappointment also with the attendance of this event. Wasn’t promoted well, or enough, or was nonexistent. Between NU game and our game we should have filled that lower level much much more. Not a far ride.