Busting Brackets
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Loyola Chicago Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Ramblers

By Harry Schroeder

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Lucas Williamson #1 of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers celebrates a play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Lucas Williamson #1 of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers celebrates a play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Iconic coach Porter Moser has left Loyola Chicago Basketball for Oklahoma (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Iconic coach Porter Moser has left Loyola Chicago Basketball for Oklahoma (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Loyola Chicago basketball is on an unprecedented run of basketball prosperity. The Ramblers’ historic run has catapulted them into the national spotlight, but now has also cost them their iconic coach and author of this fairy-tale ride.

LUC’s has won 99 games and dropped just 36 over the past four seasons. They’ve won three league titles and have worn the NCAA Tournament’s ‘Cinderella Slipper’ twice in the past four seasons. The Ramblers were a surprise Final Four participant in 2018 and reached the March Madness Sweet Sixteen last season.

How they respond to Porter Moser’s departure to Oklahoma and star center Cameron Krutwig’s graduation will be this season’s story for the defending Missouri Valley Conference champions.

New coach Drew Valentine is Division 1’s youngest head coach and was Moser’s right-hand man the past three seasons. He is primed for this job and wants to continue the Rambler ‘built by culture’ mantra and pattern of success.

Every significant player from last year’s team besides Krutwig returns. Loyola is loaded with talented, experienced, and unified players. If ever a first-year coach had a great foundation to build with, it is Drew Valentine.

He has a completely new coaching staff, but Sister Jean is still praying for the team and the senior-laden squad knows how to win, play defense and the players know their roles. Rambler fans don’t expect any drop-off without Moser or Krutwig.

Valentine is relentless in saying that the program is ‘built on culture’ and held on to Moser’s ‘Culture Wall’ which contains dozens of phrases to remind the players what to do and why to do it.