Kleizaster wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:27 am
you're right they hit on a couple players in the 2017-2018 classes. Bur Relax77 is also right. i had Loyola as a loser in 2025 recruiting. For all the progress they've made on the field, they havn't translated it to recruiting compared to programs like Dartmouth, Denver, JMU, Hopkins, etc. They have good coaching and a good system in place but that won't be enough if they want to take a step forward
^^This is very smart^^. I am not sure that Loyola can break out/in. Elite 8 seems to be their ceiling. In many ways, the Patriot League keeps Loyola from advancing. Sure, they win it all the time, but after the initial OOC slate, there is no toughness or challenge in their opponents (except Navy/Army).
Recruits see that they dont play BC, UNC, MD, NU, SBU, Denver, etc. on any regular basis. To get to the blue blood level, they have to get really lucky and win all their OOCs while getting somewhere in the NCAAs, EVERY YEAR. Best recent finishes were Quarters/Elite 8 against BC and against NU. Did that help recruiting? Probably not...
I cant figure out exactly why the other schools you mention out-recruit Loyola. I think each of those offer something Loyola doesn't, but the Hounds should be competing with those and others for those fringe top 20-40 recruits.