5 Shocking Truths About The Loyola Maryland Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Season Under New Coach Josh Loeffler

The Loyola Maryland Men's Basketball team is navigating a pivotal period, entering the 2024–2025 season with a completely new direction. As of this current date, December 16, 2025, the Greyhounds are firmly in the early stages of a significant program rebuild under new leadership, aiming to transform their standing within the highly competitive Patriot League. This deep dive uncovers the new coach's strategy, the key players driving the offense, and the harsh realities of their conference outlook for this year.

The transition marks a fresh start for the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds, who are looking to establish a new identity at Reitz Arena. With a focus on a high-efficiency offense and a renewed commitment to defensive intensity, the 2024-2025 campaign is less about immediate championships and more about laying a solid foundation for future success in NCAA Division I basketball.

The New Era: Head Coach Josh Loeffler and Coaching Staff Profile

The most significant change for the Greyhounds program is the arrival of their 22nd head coach, Josh Loeffler, who is helming the team for his inaugural season in 2024–2025. Loeffler brings a reputation for winning, having achieved an impressive 80 percent winning percentage during his time at two previous NCAA institutions.

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Josh Loeffler Biography and Coaching Philosophy

• Full Name: Josh Loeffler
• Current Role: Head Men's Basketball Coach, Loyola University Maryland (First Year)
• Previous Experience: Known for a high winning percentage at two prior NCAA programs.
• Loyola Tenure Start: 2024–2025 season.
• Coaching Style: Typically emphasizes efficiency, player development, and a disciplined approach, which he is now implementing at the Patriot League level.
• Goal at Loyola: To elevate the Greyhounds from the bottom of the Patriot League standings and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2024–2025 Coaching Staff

Loeffler's vision is supported by a dedicated staff focused on integrating his system:

• Assistant Coach: Matt Blue
• Assistant Coach: Kevin Farrell
• The staff's immediate task is to develop the existing roster and successfully recruit talent that fits Loeffler’s specific system.

The 4-8 Start: Decoding the 2024–2025 Season Performance

The current season has been a mixed bag of early challenges and promising flashes for the Greyhounds. They are competing in the Patriot League, a conference known for its rigorous non-conference scheduling to prepare teams for the league grind. As of the latest reports, the team holds an early-season record of 4-8.

Key Statistical Insights

The numbers reveal a team struggling with scoring consistency but staying competitive in certain areas. Their cumulative statistics highlight a razor-thin margin in performance:

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• Points Per Game (PPG): Approximately 75.5
• Opponent Points Per Game (OPPG): Approximately 76.3
• Scoring Margin: A negative margin of -0.8, indicating most games are closely contested but often result in narrow losses.
• Previous Game Result: A recent loss to the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (73-81) demonstrates the challenge of closing out non-conference matchups.

The team’s overall scoring average is a slight improvement over previous seasons, suggesting Loeffler's offensive system is beginning to take hold. However, defensive lapses and a struggle to control the pace of play remain areas for urgent improvement as they prepare for the Patriot League slate.

The Roster's Engine: Top Players and Emerging Talent

While the Greyhounds are a team in transition, several key players have stepped up to lead the charge, particularly in the backcourt. The offense is currently driven by a core group of guards who handle the bulk of the scoring and playmaking responsibilities.

The Scoring Leaders

The primary offensive threats for the 2024–2025 campaign are:

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• Tyson Commander (Guard): Commander has emerged as the team's most consistent scoring threat, averaging near 17.8 points per game in a key statistical metric. His ability to score from multiple levels makes him the focal point of opposing defenses.
• Troy Cicero Jr. (Guard): A crucial backcourt partner, Cicero Jr. provides secondary scoring and playmaking, with his average hovering around 13.1 points. His performance is vital for relieving pressure on Commander.
• Jordan Stiemke (Guard): Stiemke is another guard who contributes significantly, often providing a spark off the bench or in a starting role with an emphasis on efficiency and perimeter shooting.

The team’s success in the Patriot League will heavily rely on the sustained production of this guard trio. Loeffler’s system demands high-IQ play, and these veterans are tasked with executing the new offensive sets under pressure.

The Importance of Frontcourt Depth

The development of frontcourt players like Jonas Sirtautas is equally critical. Sirtautas, a forward, is essential for securing rebounds and providing interior defense, balancing the team’s guard-heavy attack. The Greyhounds need consistent production from their big men to compete against the more physically dominant teams in the conference.

The Patriot League Gauntlet: Challenges and Outlook

The ultimate measure of the Loyola Maryland program is its performance within the Patriot League. The conference is a difficult landscape, featuring perennial contenders and rising programs like Colgate, Boston University, and Lehigh.

Pre-Season Projections and Reality

The 2024–2025 season was widely viewed as a rebuilding year for the Greyhounds. Pre-season polls and expert analysis placed Loyola near the bottom of the conference standings, with one projection placing them as low as 10th in the Patriot League.

This low projection stems from a combination of factors:

• Coaching Transition: Implementing a new system under first-year coach Josh Loeffler takes time, often leading to inconsistency in the early months.
• Historical Performance: Loyola has struggled in recent years, with a previous season record of 12-19 overall and 6-12 in conference play, placing them 8th in the Patriot MBB standings.
• Scoring Defense: The team’s negative scoring margin suggests that while the offense can be effective, the defense needs to be more reliable to win close games consistently.

The Path to a Patriot League Tournament Upset

Despite the projections, the Greyhounds have a clear path to exceeding expectations. The Patriot League Tournament is notorious for upsets, and a few key factors could propel Loyola:

1. Reitz Arena Advantage: Securing wins at home in Baltimore, MD, particularly against mid-to-lower-tier Patriot League opponents, will be crucial for seeding.
2. Guard Play Consistency: If Tyson Commander and Troy Cicero Jr. maintain their high scoring output and reduce turnovers, the Greyhounds can stay in any game.
3. System Maturity: As the season progresses, the team will become more comfortable with Loeffler's offensive and defensive sets, leading to better execution in late-game situations.

5 Key Takeaways for the Loyola Greyhounds Fan Base

The 2024–2025 Loyola Maryland Men's Basketball season is a study in transition, hope, and the hard work of a rebuild. Here are the five most important takeaways for fans and analysts:

1. The Loeffler Era is a Long-Term Project: Expect growing pains. Coach Josh Loeffler is building a foundation, and success will be measured by competitive conference play and player development, not just win totals this year.
2. The Backcourt is Elite for the Patriot League: Tyson Commander and Troy Cicero Jr. are high-level scorers. The team's identity is centered on their ability to create and convert scoring opportunities.
3. Defense is the Deciding Factor: The small negative scoring margin (-0.8) shows a few stops per game are the difference between a win and a loss. Defensive consistency must improve for Patriot League wins.
4. The Schedule is Front-Loaded: Early games in November and December, including those at Reitz Arena, are crucial for building confidence before the conference schedule begins in earnest.
5. Topical Authority and Future Recruiting: Loeffler’s track record of success will be a major selling point in recruiting, which is the key to sustained competitiveness against the top teams in the NCAA Division I landscape. The development of this young roster will determine the program's direction for the next five years.

The Loyola Greyhounds are on a journey. While the 2024–2025 season presents significant challenges, the fresh leadership and emerging talent provide a compelling narrative for fans to follow. The focus remains on steady improvement, system mastery, and a push toward a competitive showing in the Patriot League Tournament.