Loyola – Obsessed With Getting Better

Vandy Win Makes it Five Straight

(St. Louis, MO) – ‘We’re obsessed with to getting better’, says Loyola head coach Porter Moser. After Wednesday’s win over Vanderbilt (78-70) the Ramblers (8-4) have won five straight. They seem to be finding the rotation that is working well.

The Ramblers handed out 22 assists, including ten by center Cameron Krutwig. The Missouri Valley’s preseason ‘Player of the Year’ collected his first ever triple-double by adding 22 points and ten rebounds to his assist total. The 6’9 junior quickly answered one of my Christmas wishes.

Moser says his team is improving and the win over Vanderbilt helps this season’s team grow in confidence.

 

 

After a bumpy start the Ramblers have found their way. They’ve won five straight games and haven’t allowed more than 70 points over their last nine contests. The Ramblers are 4-0 when transfer Keith Clemons plays. His ‘double-ocho’ (eight points and eight rebounds) Wednesday were an indication of his play. Moser says the Vincennes University transfer makes winning plays.

 

 

Krutwig is growing as a leader. He and guard Lucas Williamson have taken the Rambler leadership reins, and Moser says Krutwig’s ‘outcome based’ view is rubbing off on his teammates. The Algonquin, Illinois native is helping his fellow Ramblers understand the grind of college basketball and the joy of its successes.

 

 

Williamson Heating Up

Williamson started the season putting too much pressure on himself. Knowing he and Krutwig were the designated leaders was something of a distraction.

And his shots weren’t falling. After shooting better than 41% from deep during his first two seasons, the 6’6 junior was struggling with his stroke. Through eight games he was converting just 27% from deep, but has made 12 of 21 long distance shots in the last four contests.

Moser brags about Williamson’s defense and says he’s glad to see some of his shots starting to fall.

 

 

New Faces Obsessed with Getting Better

The surprise of the Loyola season has been the play of Division 2 transfer Tate Hall. He is second to Krutwig in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounds (4.5) and assists (2.6). Most observers, including yours truly, didn’t see this kind of impact on the horizon from the former University of Indianapolis guard.

Moser could see it coming.

 

 

Guards Marquise Kennedy and Jalon Pipkins are showing flashes of their great potential. Moser says they are two of the quickest players he has coached. Kennedy is averaging 8.6 points per game and Moser says he has an elite ‘first step’,

While those two continue to grow into their respective games, the Ramblers have one last non-conference game. Sunday, the Ramblers host a good Davidson team. The Wildcats (5-5) were a preseason top 25 team and head coach Bob McKillop has won 583 collegiate games.

Moser says his guards are growing and Davidson will be a difficult team to beat.

 

 

Obsessed With Getting Better

Moser is now tied for third on Loyola’s all-time wins list with 149. During his eight and a half seasons, Loyola has reached the 20-win plateau three times (including the last two seasons) and has played postseason basketball three times. The high-water mark of reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four (2018) is now the Rambler standard.

One win over a Southeastern Conference team doesn’t define their season, but it does remind us what Loyola and the MVC can and have been. This year’s Valley teams have won five of 13 games with ‘power six’ conference programs. Loyola has averaged 20 wins over the past three seasons and has won or shared the last two Misssouri Valley regular season titles.

Moser and his squad are obsessed with getting better.

Do Good

 

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