Miles Rubin was one of the Atlantic 10’s defensive fixtures almost from the moment he stepped into Gentile Arena for the first time as a player at Loyola Chicago.
The Ramblers junior is poised to bring his offensive to a high level as well as he enters the second half of his college career.
Rubin averaged 9.6 points on 71.4 percent from the floor, obliterating Loyola Chicago’s school record for single-season shooting percentage in a season. Efficiency is not remotely an issue, so it’s not hard to see why coach Drew Valentine is eager to see the Chicago native increase his role in the offense beyond about six shots per game.
“There’s going to be a concerted effort to get him more touches,” Valentine said. “I think he’s really improved as a driver on the perimeter. Within our five out, some people will back the big off and play him in drop coverage. I think he’s improved in that area.”
Rubin had a busy offseason. Physically, he worked to add 15 pounds of muscle to his previously wiry frame, ensuring he is better able to handle interior physicality at both ends of the court. He also spent time with a shooting coach to make his offensive game more dynamic.
That will complement an already polished defensive game. Rubin has made the Atlantic 10’s all-defensive team in his first two seasons, and he begins this year as a preseason all-defensive and first team all-conference selection.
Rubin has 161 blocks, just 15 shy of the school record set by Andre Moore from 1984-87, though there’s more to his work on defense than stuffing shots.
“His rim protection gets talked about, but what I think makes Miles a pro and what makes him so unique is not only can you sit him back that way, but he’s rangy, he’s fast enough, he’s got quick feet to where he can switch and keep guards in front of him,” Valentine said. “Not that that’s our primary thing that we want to do defensively. We want to keep him at the rim as much as possible because he is elite.”
A look at the Ramblers
Coach: Drew Valentine, fifth season at Loyola Chicago, 83-51 with the Ramblers and overall.
Last year: The Ramblers were propelled to a 25-12 finish on the strength of a pair of five-week stretches. Loyola opened the year 8-0, and it won eight of nine prior to an Atlantic 10 semifinal loss to VCU. The Ramblers were also the most successful postseason team in the A-10, winning three NIT games (two on the road) before a loss to Chattanooga in the semifinals. Loyola’s 12-6 conference record marked the third time in four years since joining that it won a dozen A-10 games.
They’ll miss: The three guys who averaged double figures last season. Jayden Dawson (13.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Des Watson (13.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Sheldon Edwards Jr. (11.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg) all depart, and along with them a combined 252 made 3-pointers. Dawson was a second team all-Atlantic 10 selection.
Impact returners: Miles Rubin is the obvious headliner, but the Ramblers have two other key pieces they’ll rely on again this season.
Senior wing Kymany Houinsou (6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg) started 24 games last season and possesses a nifty all-around skillset. Loyola Chicago also gets Justin Moore back from a knee injury that ended his season last year after nine games.
Moore handled a heavy workload in the Ramblers’ 92-90 overtime exhibition loss at DePaul on Oct. 19, scoring 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting in 42 minutes.
“I might be crazy to say, but I think he’s the best point guard in the league,” Valentine said. “I think the way he touches the paint, takes care of the ball, [how he’s] improved as a shooter, he can score in the midrange, he can get his own shot.”
Newcomers of note: A pair of transfers started Loyola Chicago’s exhibition game: Senior forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (7.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg at California) and 6-1 sophomore guard Kayde Dotson (2.3 ppg at New Mexico).
Both should play substantial roles, and junior guard Deywilk Tavarez likely will, too. Tavarez was the MEAC’s rookie of the year two seasons ago at Delaware State, then jumped up to the CAA and averaged 12.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 41.5 percent at College of Charleston. He dropped 30 points on the Ramblers in the Diamond Head Classic last December.
“We saw first-hand last year what he can do and how hot he can get,” Valentine said. “His combination of ability to simply just make shots but also run off action [is excellent].”
Reasons to be optimistic: Rubin is a literally big reason, but so is the Ramblers’ outside shooting. Loyola was a middle-of-the-road 34.7 percent from the outside last season, but that ticked up to 36.7 percent in Atlantic 10 play --- the best in the conference.
Valentine believes this group will be even better.
“This is the best shooting team we’ve had since my first year as head coach when we were 18
th in the country and shot [about] 38 percent from 3,” Valentine said. “This team is on par with that.”
X factor: As ever with the Ramblers, it’s their defense.
“The summer was good, and the fall’s been outstanding,” Valentine said. “I feel like we have a lot of depth. We’re going to lean into the defensive identity that has made Loyola special. It feels like offense will be similar to what we’ve always been with the sum being greater than each individual part.”
Circle the date: One of the highlights of the home schedule is a Nov. 16 meeting with defending Mountain West tournament champion Colorado State. The Ramblers also make a West Coast swing to San Francisco (Dec. 17) and Santa Clara (Dec. 20) to close out nonconference play.
Bottom line: After a rocky debut run in the Atlantic 10, Loyola Chicago is a combined 27-9 in conference play the last two seasons --- the best record in the league in that span. The Ramblers should again be among the A-10’s best teams, and Rubin could make a run at conference player of the year honors if his offense takes the step Valentine and his staff believe it will.
Patrick Stevens is a veteran college basketball writer that has worked for The Washington Post, Syracuse Media Group and The Washington Times. He has written selected pieces for the Atlantic 10 since 2013.