Loyola moves up to No. 2 in new NAIA Top 25 poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men’s basketball team is rolling right now, and the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll reflects that by moving the Pack up to No. 2 in Wednesday’s rankings. It’s the 21st straight poll in which Loyola has appeared, and the Pack is 5-0 since the last poll was released two weeks ago.

Loyola was No. 1 for more than a month earlier this season, and they suffered their only loss of the season to Faulkner on the road to get bumped down to No. 3. Since then, Loyola has won six straight games in dominant fashion, including a 121-69 trouncing of the Eagles to avenge its lone loss.

No. 2 Talladega and No. 18 Faulkner join Loyola in the poll, and Stillman is receiving votes. Loyola is 6-1 against teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the poll, and it has four more matchups against teams in that category – Talladega and Stillman twice each.

Zach Wrightsil, who is four points away from breaking Loyola’s career points record, leads the team with 17.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds, both lead the SSAC, and he’s been named SSAC Player of the Week for three straight weeks.

Myles Burns has been dominant on both ends of the court, too, but his defensive play is making headlines across the NAIA. While scoring 13.9 points a game and pulling down 7.8 rebounds, Burns leads the NAIA with 4.5 steals per game and 100 total steals this season. In fact, he’s recorded a career-high 10 steals in back-to-back, turning in the unconventional double-double with his points and steals statistics. Burns leads the Pack with 3.9 assists, too.

As a team, Loyola ranks first in the NAIA with 15.2 steals per game, and second nationally in four other categories: points per game (92.2), field goals per game (34.5), offensive rebounds per game (16.5) and assists per game (21).

The Wolf Pack has been on a tear lately, scoring more than 100 points in their last four home games during their six-game winning streak. Loyola will host three more home games in The Den this season, starting on Thursday with a conference matchup against Dalton State at 7:30 p.m. Then, the Pack will host Talladega on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day, before one last home game on Monday against Stillman College at 6 p.m.

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.

2021-22 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll Six (February 9, 2022)
RANK, LAST WEEK, SCHOOL [1st Place Votes], RECORD, FINAL POINTS
1, 1, William Penn (Iowa) [17], 23-1, 558
2, 3, Loyola (La.) [3], 21-1, 544
3, 5, Indiana Wesleyan, 23-3, 511
4, 6, William Jessup (Calif.), 24-2, 499
5, 2, Talladega (Ala.), 21-2, 494
6, 4, Oklahoma Wesleyan, 24-2, 477
7, 8, Arizona Christian, 24-3, 453
8, 7, Thomas More (Ky.), 20-3, 432
9, 10, College of Idaho, 22-4, 389
10, 15, Science & Arts (Okla.), 20-4, 375
11, 12, Carroll (Mont.), 23-3, 369
12, 13, Georgetown (Ky.), 21-3, 360
13, 19, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 22-3, 357
14, 20, Montana Tech, 22-5, 333
15, 16, Saint Francis (Ind.), 20-6, 290
16, 9, SAGU (Texas), 17-5, 282
17, 24, Marian (Ind.), 18-4, 245
18, 21, Faulkner (Ala.), 19-5, 216
19, 18, Southeastern (Fla.), 20-5, 208
20, 22, IU South Bend (Ind.), 19-4, 193
21, 17, Hope International (Calif.), 18-6, 191
22, 25, Briar Cliff (Iowa), 17-7, 147
23, RV, Texas A&M Texarkana, 14-4, 122
24, 23, Bethel (Kan.), 20-6, 109
25, RV, IU Kokomo (Ind.), 23-3, 75
Dropped from the Top 25: Grace (Ind.), LSU Alexandria (La.)

Others Receiving Votes: Concordia (Neb.) 72, Florida College 69, LSU Shreveport (La.) 67, Indiana Tech 64, Grace (Ind.) 63, Oregon Tech 58, Stillman (Ala.) 44, Missouri Baptist 31, LSU Alexandria (La.) 27, Southwestern (Kan.) 22, Jamestown (N.D.) 17, Evangel (Mo.) 11, Xavier (La.) 7, Tennessee Southern 7, Texas Wesleyan 5, WVU Tech (W.Va.) 5, Central Methodist (Mo.) 3, Northwestern (Iowa) 3, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) 3.