2021–22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team

During a season affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ramblers finished the 2020–21 season with a 26–5 overall record and a 16–2 mark in MVC play, securing the regular season championship. In the MVC tournament, they defeated Southern Illinois, Illinois State, and Drake to claim the conference tournament title.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-07|title=Drake falls to No. 20 Loyola in MVC Championship|url=https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/07/drake-falls-to-no-20-loyola-in-mvc-championship/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Radio Iowa|language=en-US}} As a result, they earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region.{{Cite web|last=Hefferman|first=Todd|title=MVC Basketball {{!}} Drake slotted in First Four, Loyola receives 8 seed|url=https://thesouthern.com/sports/college/salukimania/mvc-basketball-drake-slotted-in-first-four-loyola-receives-8-seed/article_53cc2735-2fd6-543d-9afb-70ff7afa255d.html|access-date=2021-04-07|website=The Southern|language=en}}

In the first round, they defeated No. 9-seeded Georgia Tech.{{Cite web|title=Georgia Tech vs. Loyola Chicago - Game Recap - March 19, 2021 - ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310903|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ESPN.com|language=en}} In the second round, they upset No. 1-seeded Illinois to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.{{Cite web|author=Lauren M. Johnson and Homero De la Fuente|title=No. 8 Loyola Chicago stuns No. 1 seed Illinois to advance to the Sweet 16|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/21/us/loyola-chicago-basketball-sweet-16-trnd/index.html|access-date=2021-04-07|website=CNN}} However, their tournament run ended in the Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to Oregon State.{{Cite web|title=Oregon State vs. Loyola Chicago - Game Recap - March 27, 2021 - ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401310877|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}

On April 3, 2021, head coach Porter Moser left Loyola to accept the head coaching position at Oklahoma.{{Cite web|title=Oklahoma hires Loyola Chicago's Porter Moser to replace Lon Kruger as Sooners coach|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/oklahoma-hires-loyola-chicagos-porter-moser-to-replace-lon-kruger-as-sooners-coach/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}} Shortly after, Loyola announced that assistant coach Drew Valentine would be promoted to head coach.{{Cite web|title=Drew Valentine Hired as Loyola-Chicago's Head Coach, Replacing Porter Moser|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/drew-valentine-hired-as-loyola-chicagos-head-coach-replacing-porter-moser/2479049/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=NBC Chicago|language=en-US}}

On April 20, Drew Valentine announced the hiring of assistant coaches Amorrow Morgan, Sean Dwyer, and Patrick Wallace.{{Cite web|title=Loyola Announces Men’s Basketball Staff|url=https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2021/4/20/mens-basketball-loyola-announces-mens-basketball-staff.aspx|access-date=2021-07-29|website=Loyola University Chicago Athletics|language=en}} Former Oakland associate head coach Dan Hipsher was also named special assistant to the head coach.

Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA did not count the 2020–21 season against the eligibility of any basketball player, meaning that all seniors in that season could choose to return for 2021–22.

{{College athlete recruit start|40=|year=2021}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Ty Johnson

| position = G

| hometown = Chicago, IL

| highschool = DePaul College Prep (IL)

| feet = 6

| inches = 3

| weight = 180

| 40 =

| scout stars =

| rivals stars =

| 247 stars =

| espn stars =

| espn grade =

| commitdate = November 11, 2020

}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Ben Schwieger

| position = G / F

| hometown = Aurora, IL

| highschool = Waubonsie Valley (IL)

| feet = 6

| inches = 6

| weight = 185

| 40 =

| scout stars =

| rivals stars =

| 247 stars =

| espn stars =

| espn grade =

| commitdate = November 11, 2020

}}

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Saint Thomas

| position = F

| hometown = Omaha, NE

| highschool = Millard North (NE)

| feet = 6

| inches = 7

| weight = 200

| 40 =

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 3

| 247 stars = N/A

| espn stars = N/A

| espn grade = N/R

| commitdate = April 13, 2021

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 =

| year = 2021

| rivals ref title =

| scout ref title =

| espn ref title = 2021 Loyola Ramblers Recruiting Class

| rivals school =

| scout s =

| espn schoolid = 2350

| scout overall =

| rivals overall =

| 247 overall = 132

| espn overall =

| accessdate = October 24, 2021

| bball = yes

}}

{{CBB roster/Header|year=2021|team=Loyola Ramblers|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Saint|last=Thomas|link=y|dab=basketball|num=0|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=200|class=fr|rs=|home=Omaha, NE|high_school=Millard North}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lucas|last=Williamson|link=y|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=205|class=gs|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=Whitney Young}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ty|last=Johnson|num=2|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=fr|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=DePaul College Prep}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Braden|last=Norris|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=180|class=jr|rs=y|home=Hilliard, OH|high_school=Hilliard Bradley
Oakland}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Keith|last=Clemons|num=5|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=gs|rs=|home=Norcross, GA|high_school=Wesley Christian
Vincennes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom|last=Welch|num=10|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=220|class=jr|rs=|home=Naperville, IL|high_school=Naperville North}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Marquise|last=Kennedy|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=175|class=jr|rs=|home=Chicago, IL|high_school=Brother Rice}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ryan|last=Schwieger|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=205|class=sr|rs=|home=Matthews, NC|high_school=Wedington
Princeton}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jacob|last=Hutson|num=22|pos=C|ft=6|in=10|lbs=240|class=so|rs=|home=Edina, MN|high_school=Edina}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Chris|last=Knight|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=225|class=sr|rs=|home=Madison, WI|high_school=James Madison Memorial
Dartmouth}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tate|last=Hall|num=24|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=220|class=gs|rs=y|home=Greenfield, IN|high_school=Greenfield-Central
Indianapolis}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Aher|last=Uguak|link=y|num=30|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=225|class=gs|rs=y|home=Edmonton, AB|high_school=Harry Ainlay
New Mexico}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Will|last=Smythe|num=31|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=170|class=fr|rs=|home=Rochester Hills, MI|high_school=St. Mary's Prep|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ben|last=Schwieger|num=33|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=185|class=fr|rs=|home=Aurora, IL|high_school=Waubonsie Valley}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Damezi|last=Anderson|num=35|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=225|class=sr|rs=|home=South Bend, IN|high_school=Riley
Indiana}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Will|last=Alcock|num=45|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=sr|rs=|home=Zionsville, IN|high_school=Zionsville Community|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Drew Valentine ({{college|Oakland}})

|asst_coach=

• Amorrow Morgan ({{college|Idaho State}})
• Sean Dwyer ({{college|Michigan State}})
• Patrick Wallace ({{college|Charleston Southern}})

| roster_url=https://loyolaramblers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

|accessdate=

}}

After losing several game to cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19, Loyola and San Francisco agreed to play a game on January 6, 2022, on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.{{Cite web|title=After losing conference games to COVID, San Francisco and Loyola Chicago agree to play game Thursday|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/after-losing-conference-games-to-covid-san-francisco-and-loyola-chicago-agree-to-play-game-thursday/|access-date=2022-01-04|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}}{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2021-22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2020|tv=|record=|attend=yes}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Loyola Ramblers}}| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 3, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = UW–Stout

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| score = 93–41

| record =

| attend = 2,374

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Loyola Ramblers}}| Regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 9, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Coppin State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC+

| score = 103–45

| record = 1–0

| attend = 2,982

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 13, 2021

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN+/NBCSC

| score = 89–77

| record = 2–0

| attend = 3,277

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 16, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Chicago State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 92–56

| record = 3–0

| attend = 2,637

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 20, 2021

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = UIC

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 80–63

| record = 4–0

| attend = 3,732

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 24, 2021

| time = 11:00 a.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Imperial Arena

| site_cityst = Nassau, Bahamas

| gamename = Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals

| tv = ESPN

| score = 61–63

| record = 4–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 25, 2021

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opprank = 19

| opponent = Auburn

| site_stadium = Imperial Arena

| site_cityst = Nassau, Bahamas

| gamename = Battle 4 Atlantis consolation round

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 53–62

| record = 4–2

| attend = 804

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = November 26, 2021

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Arizona State

| site_stadium = Imperial Arena

| site_cityst = Nassau, Bahamas

| gamename = Battle 4 Atlantis 7th Place Game

| tv = ESPNews

| score = 77–59

| record = 5–2

| attend = 739

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 1, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| opponent = Indiana State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 88–76

| record = 6–2

| conference = 1–0

| attend = 2,915

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 4, 2021

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = DePaul

| site_stadium = Wintrust Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = FS1

| score = 68–64

| record = 7–2

| attend = 6,774

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 7, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Roosevelt

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 88–49

| record = 8–2

| attend = 2,379

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 10, 2021

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| site_stadium = Memorial Gymnasium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| tv = SECN+

| score = 69–58

| record = 9–2

| attend = 7,002

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 19, 2021

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Norfolk State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN3/ESPN+

| score =

| record =

| attend =

| status = c

| result_details = Canceled due to COVID-19 issues

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 22, 2021

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Davidson

| site_stadium = John M. Belk Arena

| site_cityst = Davidson, NC

| tv = ESPN+

| score =

| record =

| attend =

| status = c

| result_details = Canceled due to COVID-19 issues

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 2, 2021

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| opponent = Saint Xavier

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN3

| score =

| record =

| attend =

| status = c

| result_details = Canceled due to COVID-19 issues

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 6, 2022

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| neutral = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = San Francisco

| site_stadium = Lifetime Activities Center

| site_cityst = Salt Lake City, UT

| tv = WCC Network

| score = 79–74

| record = 10–2

| attend = 112

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 8, 2022

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| opponent = Bradley

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 78–71

| overtime = OT

| record = 11–2

| conference = 2–0

| attend = 3,092

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 11, 2022

| time = 8:00 p.m.

| opponent = Valparaiso

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 81–74

| overtime = 2OT

| record = 12–2

| conference = 3–0

| attend = 2,193

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 15, 2022

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Indiana State

| site_stadium = Hulman Center

| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 64–56

| record = 13–2

| conference = 4–0

| attend = 3,614

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 18, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| rank = 22

| away = yes

| opponent = Evansville

| site_stadium = Ford Center

| site_cityst = Evansville, IN

| tv = NBCSC+

| score = 77–48

| record = 14–2

| conference = 5–0

| attend = 3,190

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 22, 2022

| time = 2:30 p.m.

| rank = 22

| opponent = Missouri State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 69–79

| record = 14–3

| conference = 5–1

| attend = 4,105

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 25, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 59–47

| record = 15–3

| conference = 6–1

| attend = 2,941

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 27, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| site_stadium = Banterra Center

| site_cityst = Carbondale, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 44–39

| record = 16–3

| conference = 7–1

| attend = 4,315

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 30, 2022

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Knapp Center

| site_cityst = Des Moines, IA

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 68–77

| record = 16–4

| conference = 7–2

| attend = 3,994

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 2, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| opponent = Illinois State

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 78–64

| record = 17–4

| conference = 8–2

| attend = 3,097

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 6, 2022

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Missouri State

| site_stadium = JQH Arena

| site_cityst = Springfield, MO

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 71–62

| record = 18–4

| conference = 9–2

| attend = 6,117

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 9, 2022

| time = 8:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Bradley

| site_stadium = Peoria Civic Center

| site_cityst = Peoria, IL

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 61–68

| record = 18–5

| conference = 9–3

| attend = 4,450

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 13, 2022

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 85–58

| record = 19–5

| conference = 10–3

| attend = 4,019

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 16, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Valparaiso

| site_stadium = Athletics–Recreation Center

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = NBCSC+

| score = 71–69

| record = 20–5

| conference = 11–3

| attend = 2,208

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 19, 2022

| time = 5:00 p.m.

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 76–83

| record = 20–6

| conference = 11–4

| attend = 4,557

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 21, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Illinois State

| site_stadium = Redbird Arena

| site_cityst = Normal, IL

| gamename = Rescheduled from January 5

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 59–50

| record = 21–6

| conference = 12–4

| attend = 3,354

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 23, 2022

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| opponent = Evansville

| site_stadium = Gentile Arena

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv = NBCSC

| score = 82–31

| record = 22–6

| conference = 13–4

| attend = 3,843

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 26, 2022

| time = 5:00 p.m.

| away = yes

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| site_stadium = McLeod Center

| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 96–102

| record = 22–7

| conference = 13–5

| attend = 6,497

| overtime = OT

}}

|-

!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Loyola Ramblers}}| 2022 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 4, 2022

| time = 2:30 pm

| opponent = Bradley

| oppseed = 5

| seed = 4

| rank =

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Enterprise Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = Quarterfinals

| tv = MVC TV

| score = 66–50

| attend = 5,394

| record = 23–7

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 5, 2022

| time = 2:30 pm

| opponent = Northern Iowa

| oppseed = 1

| seed = 4

| rank =

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Enterprise Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = Semifinals

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 66–43

| attend =

| record = 24–7

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 6, 2022

| time = 1:00 pm

| opponent = Drake

| oppseed = 3

| seed = 4

| rank =

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Enterprise Center

| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO

| gamename = Championship

| tv = CBS

| score = 64–58

| attend = 5,164

| record = 25–7

}}

|-

!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Loyola Ramblers}}| 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 18, 2022

| time = 11:15 am

| opponent = Ohio State

| oppseed = 7 S

| seed = 10 S

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = PPG Paints Arena

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = First Round

| tv = CBS

| score = 41–54

| attend =

| record = 25–8

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank =

| poll = AP Poll

| timezone = Central Time

}}

{{See also|2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 18

| poll1_0= NR

| poll1_1= RV

| poll1_2= RV

| poll1_3= RV

| poll1_4= RV

| poll1_5= RV

| poll1_6= RV

| poll1_7= RV

| poll1_8= RV

| poll1_9= RV

| poll1_10= 22

| poll1_11= RV

| poll1_12= RV

| poll1_13= RV

| poll1_14= NR

| poll1_15= NR

| poll1_16= NR

| poll1_17= RV

| poll1_18=RV

| poll1_19=

| poll1_20=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek = 0

| poll2lastweek =19

| poll2_0= RV

| poll2_1= RV^

| poll2_2= RV

| poll2_3= NR

| poll2_4= RV

| poll2_5= RV

| poll2_6= RV

| poll2_7= RV

| poll2_8= RV

| poll2_9= RV

| poll2_10= 24

| poll2_11= RV

| poll2_12= NR

| poll2_13= RV

| poll2_14= RV

| poll2_15= NR

| poll2_16= NR

| poll2_17= RV

| poll2_18=RV

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

{{Reflist}}

{{Loyola Ramblers men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team}}

Loyola

Category:Loyola Ramblers men's basketball seasons

Loyola Ramblers men

Loyola Ramblers men

Category:2022 in Chicago

Category:2021 in Chicago

Loyola