MENOMONIE (October 25, 2021) - Could players and staff of the UW-Stout men's basketball team get a chance to meet Sister Jean, the beloved now 102-year-old nun who became a media sensation - dare we say media darling - when the Loyola University-Chicago Ramblers made a run at the NCAA Division I men's basketball title, advancing to the Final Four in 2018?
The Blue Devils play at Loyola University-Chicago in an exhibition game Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Gentile Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Stout last played an NCAA Division I program during the 2019-20 season when they played at UW-Green Bay.
While the Blue Devils played a pandemic-shortened season of nine games last season, the Ramblers went 25-6 last season and advanced to the 2021 Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to Oregon State.
Loyola has been picked to finish second in the 2021-22 Missouri Valley Conference race, according to the annual preseason poll of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media.
First-year head coach Drew Valentine, who had been an assistant coach at Loyola for the previous four seasons and helped the Ramblers to three MVC regular-season championships, three postseason berths, 99 wins, a NCAA Final Four and a NCAA Sweet 16, welcomes back four starters from last year's squad that established a program record with 16 conference victories.
Two of those returning starters were selected to the Preseason All-MVC teams – guards Lucas Williamson and Braden Norris. A second team All-MVC and MVC Defensive Player of the Year honoree a season ago, Williamson has been tabbed Preseason Second Team All-MVC for 2021-22. Last season, the three-year starter, who enters this season with 68 consecutive starts, averaged 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The graduate student finished the season with a flourish, scoring in double figures six times in the final seven contests and producing 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.3 apg during the team's NCAA Tournament run.
Meanwhile, Norris was exceptional as the team's floor general in his first season of eligibility at Loyola after transferring from Oakland University. The 6-foot point guard picked up MVC All-Newcomer Team designation in 2020-21 after contributing 8.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 3.2 assists, while sporting a .20 assist-to-turnover ratio. A career 43.4 percent (131-for-302) shooter from three-point range, the junior tallied 10 or more points in eight of the final 12 outings of the season, chipping in 11.6 ppg and 3.4 apg over that stretch.
The Blue Devils return 13 players from last year's squad and return four starters.
Armani Tinsley led Stout in their nine-game season last year, averaging 16.2 points per contest.
Lovell Williams was the WIAC newcomer of the year last season and finished with 12.0 points per contest.
Luke Geiger begins his fifth year with the Blue Devils and averaged 10.9 points per season and matched
TYreese Alexander in rebounds, with each pulling down 4.9 boards. Alexander averaged 8.8 points.
Jon Ciriacks also begins his fifth year for Stout and last season played in only four games due to injury. During those four games, Ciriacks averaged 13.8 points. and 4.5 rebounds.
The Blue Devils are coached by
Jim Lake, who is in his fourth year as the head coach.
The WIAC preseason poll has not yet been released. The Blue Devils will will have a quick turnaround when they open their 2021-22 campaign by traveling to St. Olaf College, Friday, Nov. 5 for a 7 p.m. contest. Stout opens at home Tuesday, Nov. 16 by hosting Lakeland University 7 p.m. on Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse.
