CBB Rank 2025: No. 90, Loyola Chicago Basketball

Coming off a 25-win season, Loyola Chicago basketball looks to return to the tournament and dominate the A10.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Loyola Chicago basketball.

Any college basketball fan is familiar with Loyola Chicago basketball thanks to the 2018 run to the final four. Since then, things have changed, with Porter Moser heading to Oklahoma and Drew Valentine taking over. That era hasn’t been too bad, with three 23+ win seasons and back-to-back NIT appearances. They’re looking for more, though, and are positioned to do so with this year’s roster.

They lose their top three scorers from last season, but replace them with several key transfers. The Atlantic 10 is always very competitive at the top, and Loyola Chicago will be positioned around there all season.

Head coach: Drew Valentine (4th season overall, all at Loyola Chicago)

2024-25 record: 25-12 (12-6)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Chattanooga in the NIT Semifinals

Notable departures: 

• Jayden Dawson (13.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.9 APG)
• Des Watson (12.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.6 APG)
• Sheldon Edwards Jr. (11.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG)
• Jalen Quinn (7.1 PPG, 2.3 APG, 1.9 RPG)
• Jalen DeLoach (6.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• N/A

Projected Rotation

PG: Justin Moore (6-3, 185, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2.1 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 9 GP

SG: Dominick Harris (6-3, 190, Gr.-Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 1.1 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.1 APG, 11 GP (UCLA)

SF: Joshua Ola-Joseph (6-7, 215, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 45.2 FG%, 36.5 3P% (Cal)

SF: Kymany Houinsou (6-7, 205, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 5.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 52.9 FG%

C: Miles Rubin (6-10, 210, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 9.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.3 BPG, 71.4 FG%

6: Deywilk Tavarez (6-2, 190, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 12.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41.5 3P% (Charleston)

7: Xavier Amos (6-8, 220, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 3.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 70.4 FT% (Wisconsin)

8: Chuck Love III (6-7, 195,  Fr.)

2025 247Sports #151 ranked recruit

9: Kayde Dotson (6-1, 190, So.)

2024-25 stats: 2.3 PPG, 0.8 APG, 0.4 RPG, 6.7 MPG (New Mexico)

10: Daniil Glazkov (6-6, 205, So.)

2024-25 stats: 1.4 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 6.5 MPG

Loyola Chicago Basketball Team MVP: Miles Rubin

There are a couple of options for Team MVP, but Rubin’s defense puts him over the top. He averaged 2.3 a game, and had 85 total, seventh most in the country. He led the team in rebounds last year and is the leading returning scorer on this team. As a junior, he can continue to take a leap on both ends of the floor and be one of the best players in the conference.

Valentine sets Rubin up for success on the offensive end. Rubin shot 71.4% from the field, and on Loyola Chicago’s run to the NIT semifinal, he shot 89%. Rubin doesn’t need to average 20 a game for them to succeed, but if he can raise that 9.6 to 13 a game, and still rebound and block shots at a high rate, this Loyola Chicago basketball team can be dangerous.

Loyola Chicago Basketball make-or-break player: Dominick Harris

Harris really struggled at UCLA last year. He played just 11 games, and when he did get playing time, he didn’t do much with it. He shot 15% from the field and 11% from three. After January 30th, he didn’t see the floor again. Harris saw a similar lack of success at Gonzaga his first two years, but when he transferred into a program where he would be more of a focal point, he was great at LMU. Harris averaged 14.3 PPG that season and shot the ball well for the season.

With Loyola Chicago’s top three scorers all gone and no immediate answers coming in to replace that scoring load, Harris could be the answer. He is a very talented scorer, but he needs the ball in his hands to succeed. Defense will always be this team’s bread and butter, but if Harris can add the offensive aspect, this team can really elevate its chances for success.

Key analytic: % of points from free throws

They may be free, but Loyola Chicago basketball doesn’t get too many of them from there. They finished last season 297th in points from free throws, with 16.9%. They shot just 66.3% from the line last season, and while Miles Rubin is a great player, he shoots under 50% from the line.

They didn’t necessarily bring in guys who get to line, or really make them when they do, so when you’re watching Loyola Chicago next season, don’t expect too many stoppages to shoot free throws. They score a good amount from three, so expect more of that this year.

Loyola Chicago Basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 4th in the A10

Projected postseason ceiling: NIT Appearance