Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2025/11 ... night.aspx

Northern Illinois Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html

Record: 2-3 (MAC MBB)
Coach: Rashon Burno
PS/G: 81.4 (153rd of 365)
PA/G: 79.8 (284th of 365)
SRS: -6.34 (228th of 365)
SOS: 5.41 (78th of 365)
ORtg: 112.8 (152nd of 365)
DRtg: 110.5 (293rd of 365)


Northern Illinois Huskies (2-3) at Loyola Chicago Ramblers (1-4) – 7:00pm Gentile Arena, Chicago, IL

After nearly a full week off from play since taking a beating to Colorado State at home, the Ramblers return to action Friday night to host the Northern Illinois Huskies.

Last Sunday evening, the Ramblers got blitzed at home, 80-67, in what was one of the worst home court performances of the past decade – maybe longer. Loyola’s losing streak extended to four games, and with the 4 losses in 5 games the Ramblers now have the 355th worst defensive rating in the nation (out of 365 teams) giving up 80 per game.

Against Colorado State the Ramblers were down by 12 points at halftime and didn’t get any closer in an 80-67 result. Justin Moore had 13 points, and Chuck Love also reached double-figures on 10 and three rebounds in 26 minutes of action. With less than 4-minutes left in the game shots were firing and hitting at will from beyond the arc, but by then too little too late. The play was gruesome.

"We're not playing the most inspired basketball right now," said head coach Drew Valentine. "The positive is, we can control our effort, energy, and spirit. We can change all three of those things and have it translate on the court. We've got to continue to grow, and we still have plenty of time to win more games."

Sparing us all the gory details and observations from that one, let’s talk a bit about the NIU Huskies, of DeKalb, IL – They are 2-3 on the season, and interestingly of note the Huskies are hot from three-point range, shooting 41.7 percent from the arc this season. They rank 17th in the country in this statistic that’s been absolutely killing the Ramblers every single game.

Northern Illinois enters this contest with a win-loss mark of 2-3 on the campaign. Their opener was against LA-Monroe and ended up being a 102-82 win. Gustav Winther (18 points; 10 rebounds) and Gianni Cobb (14 points; 10 assists) had double-doubles in the victory. In their second outing of the year, Northern Illinois faced Wisconsin. That one was a rough road loss 97-72. JJ Taylor was the team leader with 17 points, and Jao Ituka had 13 points with five rebounds. The Huskies fell once again in their third game versus Grand Canyon by a score of 88-59. Leading the team this time was Daemar Kelly with 12 points and three assists. As for game four, NIU played Benedictine and rolled to a 117-62 blowout victory. Topping the team in that one was Daemar Kelly with 18 points. Makhai Valentine added 17 points with seven rebounds in the win as well. This past Tuesday night at Northern Iowa, the Huskies were within three points at halftime then got outscored 38-28 the rest of the way in a 70-57 loss. Dylan Ducommun led the team with 12 points and seven assists in the defeat. Daemar Kelly added 10 points and two rebounds.

Four NIU players average at least 10 points per game. Dylan Cucommun made his season debut last week and leads the team with a 12.0 ppg average. He also added seven assists. Daemar Kelly is scoring 11.2 ppg, Jao Ituka 11.0 ppg, and Makhai Valentine 10.8 ppg. Ituka has a team-leading 11 threes made, shooting 47.7 percent from deep.

Neither LUC and NIU bring any numbers into this one offensively or defensively, so this matchup with NIU would be a good opportunity for the Ramblers to play inspired ball for the first time this season before hitting the road next week for the Acrisure Series in Palm Springs, CA.


NIU Probable Starters – 6-5 F Daemar Kelly, 6-3 G Makhai Valentine, 6-10 C Gustav Winther, 6-8 F Hassan Washington, 6-4 G Dylan Ducommun

Loyola Probable Starters – Rubin, Ola-Joseph, Love III, Moore, Tavarez

LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS
N/A


Watch / Listen – Friday night’s game is regionally broadcast on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield and Nick DiNardi 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=21


Odds: Loyola -13.5 (as of 9:30pm 11/20)

More Nic Anderson less Deywilk Tavarez please. The 2022-23 season sucked but at least we developed core players who became a part of successful seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. What is the point of giving minutes to guys who won’t do the little things and also won’t be here in the near future? This is brutal. Kymany and Justin Moore seem like the only upperclassmen with any urgency.

This team is missing the guy who can just make a play when things start to go awry. Last year, we had Sheldon, Des, and Dawson who could create and make a shot when we needed it. I think we really miss Dawson. That role is hard to immediately fill in the portal if you're not at the power conference level. It usually takes a year or two to develop that. Chuck Love can get there, but it's not going to happen at the start of his freshman year.

Beyond embarrassing

Saw Rubin shouting out to a couple of the players after a couple of missed rebounds and this was one of the few good things in tonight's loss.

Otherwise, just plain ugly tonight, and we also played another team with all new players


NIU to Loyola

FT - 80% to 57%
Reb 39 to 27
OffReb 17 to 7
2nd Ch Pts 14 to 6
Steals 11 to 2
Lead Time 33min to 4min

Dominated again

On to the Northern Iowa game

No words

Drew is a goner for sure

Wish you could withhold NIL payments. Seems these guys got their NIL money and then checked the hell out. No pride. No effort. There's a few videos floating around on Twitter right now that show an absolutely disgusting effort going for rebounds. Just standing there watching NIU grab offensive boards. Legitimately looks like they are throwing the game with the lack of effort and some turnovers that look like we are trying to give opposing teams the ball.

Embarrassing. Depressing. Pathetic. We are a bottom 25 team in the country. Looking forward to losing at home December 14 to Chicago State.

I was so happy Miles stayed, but I wish he was playing for a team that cared right now. He deserves to be surrounded by better players. And a competent coaching staff.

I think I am officially in Fire Drew mode. I don't know what else to think anymore. This is one of the worst Loyola teams I have seen...and I have seen some BAD Loyola teams.

If any of you were in attendance tonight, what was Steve Watson’s body language and observation like on all of this? Couldn’t have been good seeing empty arena, no students, and the on court product.

This is not good.

NIL and Transfer Portal has poisoned the roster. “Created by Culture” … our fabric, our motto, our magic is officially dead.

The old days felt worse because there was no-damn-body in the gym, but this might be the worst Loyola team I've ever seen. Seems like Drew really lost his way on the recruiting front. I guess you take your chances when you have so much turnover, but how you end up with so many guys who look like they don't give a fuck is really hard to understand.

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