2025-2026 Men’s Basketball Season Preview: ‘Championship Level Team’ Strikes Again for Loyola

The Loyola men’s basketball team will launch into the 2025-2026 season Nov. 3 with a game against Cleveland State University, marking their fourth season in the Atlantic 10 (A10) conference. 

The Ramblers won their first post-season game since joining the A10 last year, defeating Saint Louis University in the quarterfinal round of the A10 tournament. After falling to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in the semifinal round, the team was selected for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and made it to the semifinal game before losing to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, ending their season in early April. 

In the A10 Preseason Poll, the Ramblers slotted in fifth place — 289 points — out of 14 teams and received two first place votes. Third-year center Miles Rubin tabbed both preseason first team and all-defensive team honors. 

Many star players for the Ramblers either graduated — including Des Watson and Sheldon Edwards Jr. — or have entered the transfer portal — like Jayden Dawson, who left for the University of Kansas and Jalen Quinn, who opted to return to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) at Drake University. 

With a new slate of players and competition ahead of them, the Ramblers are striving to remain “a championship level team,” as emphasized by head coach Drew Valentine. 

The New Additions

Third-year guard Deywilk Tavarez transferred to Loyola from College of Charleston. During his time in Charleston, Tavarez started in 23 games, averaging 12.9 points per game. The Pennsauken, N.J. native met the Ramblers during the Diamondhead Classic this past season, where he dropped 30 points in the 77-68 Loyola loss. 

Tavarez transferred to Charleston from Delaware State, where he was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season. 

Joshua Ola-Joseph comes to Loyola as a fourth-year forward, joining his third school in four years. Ola-Joseph, originally from Brooklyn Park, Minn., started his career at the University of Minnesota before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley for his third year. 

Ola-Joseph played in 60 games at the University of Minnesota and 24 at the University of California, Berkeley. He scored a career high 21 points last season against Cornell University. 

Second-year guard Kayde Dotson joined the Ramblers after a year stint at the University of New Mexico. The Beaumont, Texas native played in 32 games, shooting 41.7% from the field. In New Mexico’s game against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Dotson scored a career-high 18 points. 

Dominick Harris, a graduate guard, joins the Ramblers for his fourth school during his collegiate career. He started at Gonzaga University before transferring to Loyola Marymount University in his third-year. Most recently, Harris played for the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) before transferring to Loyola. 

Harris has played in 73 games over the span of his career. At Gonzaga, the Murrieta, Calif.. native shot 41.1% from the field. At Loyola Marymount, Harris led the team with an average of 14.3 points per game, tabbing him eighth in the West Coast Conference. His time at UCLA was insignificant, playing in only 11 games and averaging 1.1 points per game. 

First-year guard Nic Anderson comes to Loyola from Olathe, Kan.. Anderson was a three-star recruit coming out of Olathe South High School, according to 247Sports, where he averaged 18.5 points per game. Both of Anderson’s parents played collegiate basketball, with his dad at Robert Morris University and his mom at New Mexico Highlands University. 

Alexander Richardson, a fourth-year center, decided to spend his first collegiate experience at Loyola. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Richardson played two seasons for ART Giants Düsseldorf, a professional basketball club in Germany. During his time in Germany, Richardson averaged 10.6 points per game and was voted Youngster of the Year last season — an achievement earned by the best player under 22 years old in the league. 

Chuck Love III makes the trip to Chicago from Lincoln, Neb. The first-year guard was a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Love III averaged 14 points per game and set a record at La Lumiere High School in La Porte, Ind. for most points scored in a game. 

Fourth-year forward Xavier Amos returns to his hometown to complete his collegiate career. Amos started his journey at Northern Illinois University before transferring to the University of Wisconsin for his third year. 

At Wisconsin, Amos and the Badgers made it to March Madness as the No. 3 seed, falling to Brigham Young University in the second round of the tournament. Amos played in all 37 games last season, scoring his season-high 12 points against the University of Washington Feb. 25. 

Games to Look Out For

The men’s basketball team plays an exhibition match against Red Line Rival DePaul University Oct. 19 at Wintrust Arena. This is the first matchup between the two programs since 2022, where the Blue Demons defeated the Ramblers 78-72 in overtime, The Phoenix reported. 

Loyola opens up the regular season at home against Cleveland State University Nov. 3 before returning to former MVC foe Wichita State University Nov. 13. The Ramblers will start a home-and-home series with Colorado State University, with the first game taking place in Gentile Arena Nov. 16. 

Over Thanksgiving Break, Loyola will travel to Palm Springs, Calif. to play in the Acrisure Series, facing off against the University of Northern Iowa and either San Jose State University or the University of Tulsa. 

After another brief trip to California, the Ramblers begin A10 conference play against the University of Rhode Island Dec. 31. Loyola faces the University of Dayton for their first A10 home game Jan 3. 

The A10 men’s basketball conference tournament will be held at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh March 11-18, 2026. 

Atlantic 10 Opponents

VCU took the top spot in the preseason poll, receiving 342 points and 11 first place votes. Fourth-year forward Barry Evans, redshirt fourth-year guard Jadrian Tracey and third-year guard Tyrell Ward were all called to the preseason second team while second-year guards Ahmad Nowell and Brandon Jennings received third team and all-defensive team posts.

The Rams enter the season without their key player from last season, Max Shulga, who dominated against the Ramblers in their semifinal elimination game in the A10 tournament, dropping 14 points in the matchup. Shulga was named the A10’s Player of the Year last season. 

Saint Louis University was just shy of a first place tie, receiving 341 points in the preseason poll. Fourth-year center Robbie Avila was the only Billiken named to a preseason team in the final first team spot. 

The Billikens and the Ramblers faced off three times last season, with the Ramblers coming out victorious twice. It was the Billikens in the fifth seed, who the Ramblers defeated in their first post-season win since entering the A10 conference. 

The University of Dayton took the third place spot in the preseason poll with 321 points. Fourth-year guard Javon Bennett snagged a spot on the preseason first team and all-defensive team while second-year forward Amael L’Etang and graduate forward Keonte Jones slotted in the second and third teams, respectively. 

In their matchups last season, the Flyers and the Ramblers split, with the game on Dayton’s turf resulting in an overtime win for the Flyers, while the Ramblers won at home. 

George Washington University took the fourth place spot, totalling 296 points. Fourth-year forward Rafael Castro, graduate guard Trey Dinkens III, third-year guard Trey Autry and redshirt second-year guard Christian Jones all received preseason accolades. 

The Revolutionaries and the Ramblers faced off once this past season, with the Ramblers coming out victorious in a 77-57 win. Castro dropped a team-leading 18 points in the matchup while no other Revolutionary reached double digits. 

George Mason University followed Loyola in the preseason poll with 254 points. Fourth-year guard Brayden O’Connor was the only Patriot on the preseason teams, with a first team shout. 

In their singular matchup this past season, the Patriots buried the Ramblers in a 58-53 overtime win. Neither leading scorer for either team remains on the roster. 

Saint Joseph’s University claimed the seventh place spot, with a total of 195 points. Second-year guard Deuce Jones II and graduate center Justice Ajogbor received preseason accolades, making first team and all-defensive team, respectively. 

The Hawks met the Ramblers twice this past season, smoking Loyola in a 93-57 win in January, followed by a 58-55 win for the Ramblers in February. The loss of key players in Xzayvier Brown and Erik Reynolds II will prove a challenge for the Hawks. 

St. Bonaventure University grabbed 185 points in the preseason poll — good enough for eighth in the conference. Fourth-year guard Dasonte Bowen was the only team member on a preseason team, taking a spot in the preseason second team. The Ramblers defeated the Bonnies in their lone matchup last year with a 77-53 win. 

Duquesne University placed in ninth, receiving 155 points. None of their players were named to any preseason team. In their singular game last season, the Dukes defeated the Ramblers in a 69-56 win. 

The University of Richmond follows Duquesne in 10th place with 142 points. The Spiders and Ramblers faced each other once this past season, with the Ramblers coming out with a 87-80 overtime win. Fourth-year center Mike Walz was the lone Spider in the preseason team listing, tabbing a third team accolade. 

Davidson College, with 107 points, took the 11th place spot in the preseason poll, due to the loss of Reed Bailey — the A10’s leading scorer last season. While losing to the Ramblers twice, Bailey proved to be a key player, dropping 19 points at home and away. 

The University of Rhode Island finished 12th in the preseason poll with 102 points. None of their players received preseason accolades. Playing in one game against the Ramblers — resulting in an 81-77 loss for the Rams — leading scorer Sebastian Thomas dropped 20 points but is no longer on the Rams’ roster. 

La Salle University earned 56 points, putting them in 13th place in the preseason poll with no players receiving preseason accolades. The Ramblers defeated the Explorers in the one game they played last season, 79-68. 

Rounding out the poll in last place is Fordham University, receiving 53 total points. Graduate guard Dejour Reaves squeezed out a preseason third team placement. During last season’s Jesuit Jam against the Rams, Loyola added a 70-66 win to their overall record. 

Drew’s Views

Valentine enters his fifth year at the helm and ninth overall with the men’s basketball program. In his five years leading the Ramblers, only once has Valentine had a losing season. 

During A10 media day, Valentine repeated a sentiment he’s said every year, saying the Ramblers are a “championship level team.” 

Loyola has three key starters returning to the team in Rubin, redshirt third-year guard Justin Moore and fourth-year guard Kymany Houinsou. Valentine said these three have set the tone for the program and have become leaders for the new players. 

Moore and Houinsou were both plagued with injuries throughout last season — Moore with a season-ending ACL tear against the University of San Francisco and Houinsou with on-and-off injuries to his shin and ankle. Valentine said both players are healthy and ready for this season, calling Moore “the best point guard in the league.” 

Valentine said the team is in a good spot roster-wise, with good depth and defensive identity. He said the program will continue their offensive strategies seen in previous seasons while maintaining more than one key player. Valentine said, in the past, each night had a different player pull through for the team. This year will be no different, he said. 

The portal moves of Loyola were intense this year, gaining five transfers. Valentine said Tavarez — who transferred from Charleston and defeated Loyola last season — will be a key player and has a vision for playmaking. 

The Revesz Review 

Last season for the Ramblers was one for the books. Since joining the A10, Loyola had yet to win a postseason game until their defeat of Saint Louis University in the tournament. 

I feel like every year I’ve previewed the Ramblers’ upcoming season, I’ve always quoted Valentine saying each team is a “championship level team,” but I think that might be the case this year. 

Loyola Athletics hosted an open practice before the school year started in August. I was able to go and scout the team extremely early.

The team as a whole looked comfortable together, which is saying a lot since a good chunk of them transferred in. If they looked that good together in August, I’m excited to see how their chemistry has increased. 

Dotson and Tavarez stood out to me as players who could easily step into the roles of graduated Watson and Edwards Jr.. Dotson attempted a lot of shots from deep into the field, proving to be a sharp-shooter like Edwards Jr.

Second-year guard Daniil Glazkov has upped his game since last season. He’s become a stronger communicator on the court and made tough shots against Loyola alumni in the open practice. 

A lot of the non-starting players will need more experience before they’ll be able to successfully take the spots of their starting counterparts. Redshirt first-year forward Brayden Young has the potential to be as good as Rubin, but will need a lot more experience and confidence on the floor. 

Since the last time I saw the team, I hope they’ve grown. The Ramblers have the chance to make history again, and for the students’ sake, I hope they do.