West Georgia vs Loyola Chicago prediction: Loyola's 14 newcomers debut against West Georgia's up-tempo Wolves

A roster built from scratch

Loyola finished 9-24 last season and answered by clearing the shelves. Only Xavier Amos and Nic Anderson return as letterwinners. The 14 newcomers are 12 transfers, one true freshman and international Guillaume Grotzinger. Drew Valentine is still the coach, but almost everyone he coaches is new.

That makes last season's Loyola numbers a weak guide. By adjusted efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents), the Ramblers ended last season with a net rating of -10.2, 274th nationally. The players who produced that number are mostly gone. Miles Rubin left for Tennessee, and Justin Moore and Deywilk Tavarez left for Hofstra.

The new faces include Donald Hand Jr., a four-year transfer from Boston College, Dayan Nassah from Cleveland State and Sterling Knox, who came from Creighton by way of Independence CC. Hand's status is unconfirmed: his offseason knee recovery was last described as ongoing, with no newer word. Preseason expectations vary widely. One A-10 poll put Loyola fifth, another eighth of 14.

The three-point question

Last season's Loyola offense was built on volume from deep. The Ramblers took 47.7% of their shots from three, 28th in the country, but made only 31.7%, which ranked 307th. Their defense was just as exposed on the perimeter: opponents shot 36.8% from three, 350th of 365.

West Georgia played the other way. The Wolves rarely shot threes, but they protected the rim. Their block rate of 13.0% ranked 27th, which makes them a tough team to finish against inside. If Loyola's new guards bring better shooting, the Ramblers can play over that rim protection. If they don't, those blocked shots become fast breaks the other way.

Tempo and loose balls

West Georgia wanted to run last season, at 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes (61st). Loyola crawled at 65.2, 298th. A new Loyola backcourt will set its own pace, but the Wolves will try to speed things up.

Ball security was Loyola's other weak spot last season. The Ramblers turned it over on 19.9% of possessions, 342nd nationally, and forced turnovers at a 13.1% rate that ranked 360th. West Georgia didn't apply much pressure either, with a forced turnover rate of 14.9% (319th). Neither defense is likely to create many extra possessions, so this should come down to shooting.

A Chicago swing for the Wolves

This is the back half of a Chicago-area trip for West Georgia, which plays at DePaul on Nov 2 before coming to Gentile Arena. Dave Moore's group went 15-17 last season and finished 303rd in adjusted net efficiency at -12.9. The Wolves aren't eligible for the NCAA tournament or the NIT until 2028-29, so every game this season is about building the program.

West Georgia's offseason changes include Vermont transfer David Simon and new assistants Chase Crawford and Andell Cumberbatch. Tip time hasn't been announced.