The Loyola Greyhounds men's basketball team represents Loyola University Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It became a member of the Patriot League along with the university's other intercollegiate athletic programs on July 1, 2013. Home games are played at Reitz Arena. Loyola has appeared twice in the NCAA tournament, most recently in 2012.
History The program participated in the first interracial American basketball game played south of the Mason–Dixon line at Hurt Gymnasium on February 12, 1952, a 65–63 win over Morgan State.Henneman, Jim. "Loyola-Morgan 1952 Basketball Game Made Memories And History," PressBox (Baltimore), March 2017.
Upon moving up from Division II in 1981, Loyola was an original member of the ECAC Metro Conference which changed its name to the Northeast Conference (NEC) on August 1, 1988.Official press release issued Tuesday, August 2, 1988 (Announcement of name change from ECAC-Metro Conference to Northeast Conference). During its eight seasons in the circuit, the Greyhounds never won the championship and had no appearances in either the NCAA or National Invitation Tournaments. The only player in the program's Division I history to have reached the National Basketball Association (NBA) is Mike Morrison, a four-year letterman from 1985 to 1989. An All-Conference First Team as a junior and senior, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round (51st overall) of the 1989 NBA draft. He was eventually named to the NEC 25th Anniversary All-Time Team in January 2006. Mark Amatucci was also honored as the circuit's Jim Phelan Coach of the Year in 1983–84.Northeast Conference 2012–13 Men's Basketball Record Book.
Loyola was a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) from 1989 to 2013. The Greyhounds won the MAAC Championship to earn the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament twice. The first time was in 1993–94 with an 80–75 win over Manhattan at Knickerbocker Arena and Tracy Bergan earning conference tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. This was also Skip Prosser's only campaign as the program's head coach. The Greyhounds' next conference title came 18 years later in 2012 with MVP Erik Etherly spearheading a 48–44 victory over Fairfield at MassMutual Center.Men's Basketball Championship History – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Jimmy Patsos was the MAAC Coach of the Year that season.Men's Basketball All-Time All-MAAC Honors – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The MAAC era at Loyola ended with Patsos' departure to Siena on April 2, 2013.Markus, Don. "Jimmy Patsos leaving Loyola to take men's basketball job at Siena" The Baltimore Sun, Wednesday, April 3, 2013
G.G. Smith, an assistant coach under Patsos for six seasons, was promoted to lead the Greyhounds into the Patriot League on April 12, 2013."G.G. Smith Named Next Head Coach Of Loyola Men's Basketball", Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Friday, April 12, 2013 He announced his resignation on March 8, 2018 after five seasons in which the team posted 56–98 and 35–55 records overall and in the conference respectively.Harris, Mike. "End of an Era: Men's Basketball Head Coach GG Smith to Resign," The Greyhound (Loyola University Maryland student newspaper), March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018
Tavaras Hardy, an assistant coach on Josh Pastner's staff at Georgia Tech for two years, was appointed as Smith's successor 20 days later on March 28."Tavaras Hardy Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at Loyola University Maryland," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018 His third campaign at Loyola ended with the Greyhounds advancing to its first Patriot League Championship Game in an 85–72 loss at Colgate on March 14, 2021 despite entering the tournament as the No. 9 seed."Navy Hosts Men's Basketball Saturday In Patriot League Quarterfinals," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Friday, March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021"Men's Basketball Season Closes Sunday In Patriot League Title Game At Colgate," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Sunday, March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021
NCAA Division I seasons
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Patriot League for the 2020–21 season was temporarily divided into three regional mini-conferences based on geography. Each team played a 16-game regular-season schedule which included four matches against each regional opponent."Patriot League Plan on 2021 Basketball Season Starting in January," Patriot League, Monday, November 9, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020 As usual, listed standings position reflected by conference tournament seed.2021 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship, March 3–14, 2021 – Patriot League. Retrieved March 21, 2020
Sources: Loyola University Maryland Men's Basketball Year-By-Year Records; Northeast Conference 2012–13 Men's Basketball Record Book; Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Basketball All-Time Standings.
Postseason tournaments
NCAA Division I Tournament results The Greyhounds have made two appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Their combined record is 0–2.University of Arizona 2012–13 Men's Basketball Media Guide."Ohio State Gets Past Men's Basketball In NCAA Tournament", Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Friday, March 16, 2012 1994 #15 Round of 64 #2 Arizona L 55–81 2012 #15 Round of 64 #2 Ohio State L 59–78
CBI results The Greyhounds have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 1–1. 2017 First roundQuarterfinals George Mason Coastal Carolina W 73–58L 63–72
CIT results The Greyhounds have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 2–1.
2013 First roundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Boston UniversityKent StateEast Carolina W 70–63W 73–59L 58–70
NCAA Division II tournament results The Greyhounds have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament one time. Their record is 1–2.
1973 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game BiscayneRoanokeFayetteville State W 82–79 OTL 63–84L 66–81
NAIA tournament results The Greyhounds have appeared in the NAIA tournament four times. Their combined record is 2–4.
1947 First round Hastings L 44–53 1948 First round Emporia State L 57–65 1949 First roundSecond Round CedarvilleIndiana State W 79–67L 58–79 1953 First roundSecond Round PortlandMississippi Southern W 66–64L 72–106
References
External links