Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2025/3/ ... inals.aspxChattanooga Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/chattanooga/men/2025.html
Record: 27-9 (15-3, 1st in Southern MBB)
Coach: Dan Earl
PS/G: 79.6 (44th of 364)
PA/G: 72.6 (203rd of 364)
SRS: 1.89 (123rd of 364)
SOS: -3.49 (215th of 364)
ORtg: 115.8 (26th of 364)
DRtg: 105.7 (206th of 364)
NIT Semifinals – Chattanooga Mocs (27-9, 15-3) vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (25-11, 12-6) – 8:30pm CST Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Loyola Chicago is back in the NIT Semifinals for the first time since 1962 and will take on the Southern Conference regular season champion, the Chattanooga Mocs. Tipoff for this late-night nationally televised ESPN2 matchup is at 8:30 p.m. Winner advances to the NIT Championship game to face the winner of game-1 between UC Irvine and North Texas.
How we got here – Loyola defeated Kent State in the Quarterfinal last Wednesday, 72-62, as 5-point favorites, earning a program record 17th home victory on the season and reaching this semifinal game. Miles Rubin led all scorers with 18 points and 9 rebounds, going 8-9 from the field, Jayden Dawson scored 13, and Edwards Jr. added 12. Despite shooting a respectable 46% from the field they only hit 29% of their 3-pointers and went 9 of 16 from FT’s.
Chattanooga (27-9) is making its first-ever appearance in the NIT Final Four as the program continues its longest postseason run in its history. To get here, the Mocs, also unseeded, defeated 4th seed MTSU, 1 seed Dayton and 3 seed Bradley. In that game, Chattanooga, down 16 at one point, rallied late to win 67-65 at Bradley. After trailing 38-25 at the half, they outscored Bradley in the second half, 42-27.
It has been a memorable year for the Chattanooga Mocs who hold a 27-9 record and finished 1st in the Southern Conference. From January 23rd to the present they have lost only one single game, an overtime upset to Furman in the SoCon Tournament Semifinal, 80-77. This loss kept the league’s best team out of March Madness.
Chattanooga puts up a lot of points, averaging 79.6 per game while allowing 72.6. They come into this game with the 49th ranked offense coupled with the 228th ranked defense that allows 109.6 points per 100 possessions. Their lineup features three double-digit scorers, excluding forward Frank Champion, who has been injured since the beginning of March. Champion remains a game time decision, as coach Dan Earl has labeled him for each game in March. The Mocs shoot 48.1% from the field and 36.2% from deep, while hitting 77% of their FT’s. Comparative to the Ramblers, Chattanooga shares the ball very well, averaging 17 assists per game. Impressively, they will take care of the ball too, playing a slower paced game that turns over only 10.1 times per game.
Chattanooga is led by 5-10 speedster guard, Honor Huff, who leads them in scoring with 15.3ppg. He's scored double-figures in the last 14 of 15 games, including six games with 20 or more. Huff had 26 against Dayton and 21 at Bradley. Expect Huff to take upwards of 8 or more three-point attempts in this one, his game average. The Mocs are also led by guards, Trey Bonham, 14.2ppg, and Bash Weiland 14.1ppg. These three are relied on heavily and score more than half their team's points.
Though they like to slow the tempo down, Loyola-Chicago is much faster paced and will force the Mocs into a quicker rate of play. Despite playing shorthanded without starting F/G Kymany Houinsou, the Ramblers have continued the assist machine, scoring easily into the mid-70’s all tournament, anchored by excellent guard play, Miles Rubin’s inside presence and finishing, and excellent bench contributions from Jalen DeLoach, Francis Nwaokorie, and Daniil Glazkov. JQ has filled in adequately for the injured Houinsou as starting PG.
According to KenPom, this Semifinal should be close as Loyola Chicago is +5.37 while Chattanooga is +6.53. The books agree and have put a tight 2.5 on the game. On paper, the Mocs look like they’re the stronger offensive squad, shooting for better rates, and can weaponize any opponent from the free throw line (77%). However, the Ramblers are deeper and more defensive-minded, which would then give them the advantage. The Ramblers must stay out of foul trouble in this one, especially the guards and whoever is tasked to shadow Honor Huff. For each game in the NIT, Chattanooga has been the victorious underdog, while the Ramblers have been favored in each game they’ve also won.
We’ll see a battle of two teams playing at their absolute best on the season. Loyola Chicago has now won 13 of its last 16 games since February 1st, and Chattanooga has won 15 of its last 16 since January 23rd.
The winner advances to the NIT Championship Thursday night!
Chattanooga Probable Starters – 6-0 G Trey Bohnam, 5-10 G Honor Huff, 6-7 F Garrison Keeslar, 6-10 F Collin Mulholland, 6-6 G Bash Wieland
Loyola Probable Starters – Watson, Dawson, Edwards Jr., Quinn, Rubin
LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADSMocs: 9-1, averaging 82.7 points, 29.9 rebounds, 17.2 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.6 points per game.
Ramblers: 8-2, averaging 72.5 points, 33.2 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 5.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.4 points.
Watch / Listen – Tuesday night’s game is nationally televised on ESPN2 with Mike Corey and Fran Fraschilla on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.
Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X:
https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21Odds: Loyola -2.5
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