Loyola Chicago Basketball: What to Expect in 2020
Contents
- Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Roster
- Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Schedule
- Loyola Chicago’s 2020 basketball coaching Staff
- Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Outlook
- Loyola Chicago’s Keys to Success in 2020
- What Loyola Chicago Needs to Improve in 2020
- X-Factors for Loyola Chicago in 2020
- Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Predictions
- How Far Can Loyola Chicago Go in 2020?
- Conclusion
Loyola Chicago’s basketball team is expected to have another great season in 2020. Here’s what you can expect from the team.
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Roster
As Loyola Chicago prepares for the 2020 Basketball season Ramblers fans can be excited about the team’s young core of talent.
Headlining the roster is sophomore center Cameron Krutwig who was named Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Freshman of the Year and to the All-MVC First Team last season. The 6’9″ big man from Algonquin, Illinois averaged 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a freshman, and will look to build on those numbers in his second season with the team.
Joining Krutwig in the frontcourt is junior Luke Froling, who transferred to Loyola Chicago from Marquette last offseason. The 6’11” forward from Brisbane, Australia appeared in 32 games for the Golden Eagles as a freshman in 2018-19, averaging 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest. He will have to sit out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be eligible to play beginning in 2020-21.
In the backcourt, the Ramblers will be led by senior guard Marques Townes, who was named First Team All-MVC last season after averaging 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game Townes will be joined by sophomore guard Cooper Kaifes, who made 27 starts as a freshman and averaged 7.1 points per contest; and junior guard Braden Norris, who averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 assists per game while coming off the bench in all 33 games last season.
Rounding out the roster are sophomores Isaiah Bujdoso (guard) and Franklin Agunanne (forward), who each saw limited action as freshmen; junior transfer operator Andy Mazurek (Marquette); senior walk-on forward Pete Rongos; junior walk-on guard Ty Gerhardt; sophomore walk-on forward Nate Hanlen; and freshman walk-on guard Matt Maloney
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Schedule
The Loyola Chicago men’s Basketball team is scheduled to compete in the 2020 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament The Ramblers will enter the tournament as the eleventh seed in the Midwest Region. They will face off against sixth-seeded Arkansas in the first round on Friday, March 20th.
Loyola Chicago finished the 2019-20 season with a record of 24-8 (15-5 in conference play). The Ramblers won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and then went on to win the conference tournament They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament.
In 2020, Loyola Chicago is expected to be led by senior guard Marques Townes. Townes averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game last season and was named First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference He will be joined by fellow senior guard Clayton Custer, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season and was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Loyola Chicago has a relatively easy first round matchup against Arkansas, but if they win, they will most likely face third-seeded Houston in the second round. Houston is one of the best teams in the country and is coming off a 28-3 (17-1 in conference play) season where they won both the American Athletic Conference regular season title and conference tournament title. The Cougars are led by junior guard Corey Davis Jr., who averaged 17.0 points per game last season.
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 basketball coaching Staff
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Coaching Staff will look different than in years past.
Head Coach Porter Moser will be joined by new assistant coaches Anthony Barcello and Aminu Timberlake.
Last season, the Ramblers finished with a record of 21-13, good for fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference
This year, they will look to build on that success with a new-look Coaching Staff
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Outlook
It’s no secret that Loyola Chicago’s basketball team exceeded expectations last season. The young team went on a Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament ultimately losing in the Final Four to Michigan.
This season, the Ramblers will be looking to build on that success. Although they lost some Key Players from last year’s squad, they return a core group of experienced players and have added some talented newcomers.
Here’s a look at what to expect from Loyola Chicago’s Basketball team in 2020:
– The Ramblers will once again be led by senior guard Clayton Custer. Custer was one of the best players in the country last season, averaging over 16 points and four assists per game. He’ll be counted on to carry the offensive load for Loyola Chicago again this season.
– Senior forward Donte Ingram will also be a key player for the Ramblers. Ingram is a versatile player who can score inside and out. He averaged nearly 13 points and six rebounds per game last season and will be looked upon to provide leadership for this year’s team.
– Junior center Cameron Krutwig had a breakout sophomore campaign, averaging nearly 11 points and six rebounds per game Krutwig is an excellent low-post scorer and should continue to be a force on both ends of the court for Loyola Chicago.
– Sophomore guard Marques Townes is another player to keep an eye on for the Ramblers. Townes is an electrifying guard who can score in bunches. He showed flashes of his potential last season and will be looking to take his game to the next level this year.
With a mix of veteran experience and youthful exuberance, Loyola Chicago should be one of the most fun Teams to Watch in college basketball this season.
Loyola Chicago’s Keys to Success in 2020
Loyola Chicago’s Keys to Success in 2020
1. A healthy and deep rotation
Loyola will need to stay healthy in order to have success this season. They have a lot of talent and depth, and they will need all of it if they want to make a run in the NCAA tournament
2. A balanced attack
The Ramblers have a lot of weapons on offense, and they will need to use all of them if they want to be successful. They have shooters, slashers, and big men who can score inside. They will need to use all of their strengths in order to be successful.
3. Lockdown defense
Loyola’s defense was one of the best in the country last season, and they will need to be even better this season. They need to be able to stop opponents’ best players and make them work for every basket.
What Loyola Chicago Needs to Improve in 2020
After a bit of a rebuilding year in 2019, Loyola Chicago figures to be back in the mix for the Missouri Valley Conference title in 2020. The Ramblers have a solid core of returning players, led by All-MVC point guard Cameron Krutwig, and will look to make a push for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018.
Loyola Chicago will need to improve on a few things if they want to make a return to the Big Dance, most notably their shooting. The Ramblers were just middle-of-the-pack in both effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage last season, and they’ll need to be better in both areas if they want to take the next step.
In addition, Loyola Chicago will need to take better care of the ball in 2020. The Ramblers coughed up possession too often last season, ranking near the bottom of the MVC in turnover percentage. If they can cut down on their mistakes, they’ll give themselves a much better chance to win games.
With a few key improvements, Loyola Chicago has all the pieces in place for a return to the NCAA tournament in 2020.
X-Factors for Loyola Chicago in 2020
As Loyola Chicago looks to follow up its magical 18-19 season with another deep NCAA Tournament run, there are a few key questions that need to be answered. Who will step up and replace the production of Marques Townes, Donte Ingram, and Aundre Jackson? Can the Ramblers stay healthy after battling the injury bug last season? Will they be able to find consistent perimeter shooting? Let’s take a look at a few potential x-factors for Loyola Chicago in 2020.
One player who could have a breakout year for the Ramblers is sophomore forward Lukefrogregory Sneed. Sneed saw limited action as a freshman, but he has the potential to be a real difference-maker on both ends of the floor. At 6’8″, he has good size and length for a wing player and he is an excellent athlete. He is also a very good defender, which should endear him to head coach Porter Moser. On offense, Sneed is still developing his outside shot, but he has shown flashes of being a real threat from three-point range If he can develop into a consistent shooter, Sneed has the potential to be a real key piece for Loyola Chicago in 2020.
Another player who could have a big impact is junior center Cameron Krutwig. Krutwig was excellent as a freshman and followed it up with an even better sophomore campaign, earning Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. He is one of the best low-post scorers in college basketball and he is also an outstanding rebounder. Krutwig does not block a ton of shots, but he is very good at altering shots and making life difficult for opposing big men On offense, he is extremely efficient around the basket and has developed into an excellent passing big man. Krutwig will need to continue to develop his outside shot in order to reach his full potential, but he already looks like one of the best centers in College Basketball
If Loyola Chicago is going to make another deep NCAA Tournament run in 2020, it will need contributions from players like Lukefrogregory Sneed and Cameron Krutwig. These two players have the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor and they will be critical pieces for the Ramblers this season.
Loyola Chicago’s 2020 Basketball Predictions
After a historic 2018-2019 season that saw the Loyola Chicago Ramblers make a Cinderella run to the Final Four, expectations are high for the team in 2020.
Loyola Chicago is predicted to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference behind conference favorite Bradley. The Ramblers are also predicted to make the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.
The Ramblers will be led by senior guard Marques Townes, who was named to the preseason All-MVC team. Townes will be joined by fellow seniors Clayton Custer and Ben Richardson in the backcourt. Up front, Loyola Chicago will rely on junior Cameron Krutwig and sophomore Luke Froling.
If the Ramblers can live up to these predictions, it will be another successful season in Chicago.
How Far Can Loyola Chicago Go in 2020?
After a Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2018, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in NCAA Basketball Returning key players from that team, along with some new talent, Loyola Chicago is poised for another strong season in 2020.
In the 2019 season, the Ramblers finished 28-5 overall and 16-2 in conference play They won both the Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season and tournament titles, but fell just short of a return to the NCAA Tournament losing in the semifinal round of the NIT.
Looking ahead to 2020, Loyola Chicago will once again be led by senior guard Clayton Custer. Custer was unanimously named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year last season and is currently on the watch list for both the Naismith Award and John R. Wooden Award, given annually to college basketball’s player of the year. He’ll be joined by fellow senior Marques Townes, who was also named to the preseason all-conference team.
With experienced leaders and a talented supporting cast, Loyola Chicago has everything it takes to make another deep tournament run in 2020. Just how far they can go remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – they’ll be a team to watch this season.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2020 Loyola Chicago basketball team is expected to be very competitive. They have a lot of experience and talent, and should be able to make a run at the conference title If everything goes according to plan, this could be one of the best teams in school history.