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Loyola Basketball History

By John C. Thomas

Loyola began playing intercollegiate basketball in 1913. Not much is known about those early Loyola teams except the record. We don’t know the names of the players, the coach, or where they played-- all we know is the record, the score, and who they played. The first known Loyola coach was Percy Moore, who piloted the 1915-1916 Ramblers (God knows what they were called in those days-- the nickname "Ramblers" wasn’t established until the early 1930s).

Beginning with the 1923-1924 season, Lenny Sachs was the coach of the Ramblers. From 1923 to 1942, Sachs coached the Ramblers to a record of 223-129 (.629), including an undefeated season in 1928-1929 and an NIT second place finish and a record of 21-1 in 1938-1939. Appreciative alumni built Alumni Gym to house the Sachs-led Ramblers in 1923, and in 1961 Lenny Sachs was enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

As during World War I, Loyola suspended its basketball program during the later years of World War II. After the war, Loyola rebuilt its basketball program and lost in the NIT final in 1949 under ex-DePaul coach Tom Haggerty.

In 1951, George Ireland took over the Loyola program and helped to change the way the game was played. Employing a fast break and a high speed style, Ireland not only changed basketball with his playing philosophy, but his recruiting philosophy as well. In the early 1960s, Ireland put together a team composed of four African-American starters at a time when many schools would not play a team with a black player.

Ireland led Loyola to the National Championship in 1962-1963 (click here to listen), beating two-time defending champ Cincinnati 60-58 in overtime. Ireland coached into the mid-1970’s, leading Loyola to a record of 321-255 (.577), with one NIT semifinals appearance and four appearances in the NCAA tournament. Famous for his relationship with his players and his innovative style, Ireland is truly one of the game’s great pioneers. He should be Loyola’s second representative in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the 1970’s, Loyola again rebuilt its program, but had some great individual players. In 1972, Loyola’s all-time rebounder LaRue Martin was the #1 pick in the NBA draft. By the 1979-1980 season, Loyola was again a national basketball powerhouse, but bowed to Illinois in the opening round of the 1980 NIT.

The Loyola teams of the 1980s gave fans some great excitement. From 1981-1985, Alfrederick Hughes was one of the most prolific scorers in the NCAA, averaging 24.2 points per game for his entire four-year college career. The all-time leading scorer in points at Loyola with 2914 (not to mention his 984 rebounds-- tied for third in school history), Hughes still ranks ninth in total points in the entire history of NCAA Division I basketball.

Hughes’ Loyola career culminated in a NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 1985. After compiling the nation’s longest consecutive winning streak at 19 games, Loyola lost to defending champion Georgetown 65-53 in a game that was much closer than the final score.

Although Loyola has not appeared in the tournament since 1985, there have been many memorable moments and several great players representing Loyola. From 1988-1991 Keith Gailes was a prolific scorer, tallying 2026 points in only three years-- ranking in the top ten in NCAA scoring each year and ranking #2 in all-time points at Loyola. Keir Rogers put up some big numbers for Loyola from 1987-1992, and later coached the Loyola women’s basketball team. And in 1991-1992 a 13-16 Loyola team defeated powerful Purdue at the Rosemont Horizon.

In 2001-2002, the Loyola men's basketball team made a spirited run in the Horizon League Tournament, reaching the final for a chance to end the 17-year NCAA Tournament drought. The Ramblers came up one basket short in overtime.

Also of Interest:

1962-63 Season Game by Game