There doesn\u2019t look like a drive on the court I\u2019ve seen in the past years. Only a select few players seem like they have the passion to play basketball, which isn\u2019t enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the Colorado State game<\/a>, where the Ramblers lost 80-67 to pick up their fourth straight loss, I looked to former Loyola Phoenix Sports Editor Nick Schultz, who now works for On3Sports. We walked up to the press conference together and sat in silence waiting for Valentine to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was a while before he came up to the media room, still saying hi to us, but looking defeated.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many fans online, specifically on X, think the problem is the coaching staff. Plenty unofficial Atlantic 10 conference accounts and even more Loyola fans are calling for Valentine to be fired. One fan specifically went on a night-long rant following the Wichita State loss<\/a>, which they apologized for in the morning after receiving messages from family members of the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a response to the original post, another fan claimed it was the players, specifically the ones picked up in the transfer portal<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCommitment to the program shows, and our freshmen guys have it,\u201d the user said. \u201cThe portal guys have yet to show the effort.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The original poster responded almost immediately, saying they believe it\u2019s \u201cdefinitely more coaching than players,\u201d and it\u2019s time for a reset at Loyola.\u00a0<\/p>\n As I said, this isn\u2019t the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n Valentine said the team isn\u2019t \u201cplaying the most inspired basketball right now,\u201d claiming there are some players who say they want to be on a winning team but don\u2019t show it on the court.\u00a0<\/p>\n In preparation for the Nov. 16 game, Valentine said the team had great practices and film review. The team was cohesive and had their best spirit, and Valentine and his staff had a stand-up coaching plan to tackle a team who hadn\u2019t scored under 90 points in a game this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n We didn\u2019t see that preparation on the court. Valentine said during the post game press conference nothing translated on the court, despite knowing the team very well.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe got to keep that and continue to grow that, but have that translate to the court and just look like a group that truly, and frankly, cares more,\u201d Valentine said.\u00a0<\/p>\n A basketball coach can only do so much from the bench. It\u2019s the players who have the ability to execute the game plan to whatever extent they want to. Valentine isn\u2019t the one on the court, it\u2019s the players.\u00a0<\/p>\n Multiple fans claim the team has no energy and is only playing for the money. Valentine agreed and said it\u2019s hurting the team.<\/p>\n After calling out former Ramblers who have made it to professional leagues, Valentine said there\u2019s a big difference between when they were playing in college and now.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThose guys didn\u2019t have the financial things that these guys have now,\u201d Valentine said. \u201cBut, if you love basketball, you\u2019ll change. That\u2019s the message.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The transfer portal era of college basketball was ruined because of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation<\/a>. Players are going to schools which give them the most money and are more focused on deals they can sign rather than playing the sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Valentine, the Ramblers are playing the same offensive system played in previous years, just with different players in the mix. With little adjustments, there\u2019s basically no difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s proven, and it\u2019s been done before at a really high level,\u201d Valentine said. \u201cIf you give yourself up, and you trust in that, you\u2019re going to have team success.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Valentine said some players need to step up and remember their love of basketball. He said they need to prove to him they actually care about the game. If it\u2019s not proven to him, they\u2019ll lose playing time.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShow me that you love and you care about basketball,\u201d Valentine said. \u201cIf you only just care about yourself, I\u2019m gonna keep rotating through and find guys who want to buy into that, and don\u2019t be mad if you\u2019re not bought in and you\u2019re not playing.\u201d<\/p>\n Sure, this could be taken harshly, but when you have the desire to be the best \u2014 which Valentine does \u2014 you\u2019ll do whatever it takes to be the best. Unfortunately, this starts with having committed players.\u00a0<\/p>\n The energy on the court is abysmal. The Ramblers have lost their commitment to the culture, and it\u2019s not because of Valentine\u2019s coaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my job to find the guys out there that compete and play,\u201d Valentine said. \u201cBuy in or don\u2019t be upset with whatever playing time or success that you have.\u201d<\/p>\n Andi Revesz is a fourth-year student, studying Multimedia Journalism and Sport Management. Andi is originally from Trenton, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. This is her third year on staff, second as Sports Editor. When not writing or editing, Andi enjoys playing solitaire on her iPad and watching medical dramas.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Andi-headshot1-scaled.jpg\")
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