Broncos vs. Loyola Chicago: Styles Make Fights
When & Where: Saturday, Dec. 20th – 2:00 p.m.
Kaiser Permanente Arena (Santa Cruz)
TV / Stream: BallerTV
Line / Expectation: -4.5 Loyola-Chicago
Santa Clara Broncos (9-3)
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (3-9)
Santa Clara closes non-conference play with a matchup that feels bigger than the records suggest. On one side: a Loyola Chicago team that thrives on chaos, physicality, and second chances. On the other: a Santa Clara group still winning games, but searching for rhythm, health, and continuity.
This isn’t just Broncos vs. Ramblers; it’s spacing vs. strength, flow vs. force, and a fascinating litmus test for where SCU really is heading into conference play.
What Loyola Brings to the Floor: Grit, Glass, and Grind
Loyola Chicago comes in at 3–9, but don’t let that fool you. The Ramblers have spent December quietly forging an identity that travels: pound the paint, crash the glass, and make you earn everything.
They don’t rely on pretty offense. They rely on effort. Missed shots quickly turn into new possessions, and new possessions turn into fouls, free throws, and frustration. Second-chance points are the Ramblers’ lifeblood, and they’re relentless about it.
The downside? Consistency. Slow starts have been a recurring issue, and shaky perimeter defense has allowed opponents to create separation with timely runs. But lately, Loyola has shown more fight. They’re responding better when punched, staying engaged deeper into games, and leaning into their physical identity.
If you’re building a Loyola scouting report, it starts with:
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Xavier Amos – their most reliable scorer and foul-drawer
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Justin Moore – the offensive engine and late-clock option
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Miles Rubin – the tone-setter inside who rebounds, blocks shots, and makes games feel heavy
This is a team that wants to turn the night into a grind.
Where Santa Clara Stands: Winning, But Not Whole
At 9–3, Santa Clara is in a good place, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride getting there.
Since Jake Ensminger went down, the Broncos haven’t quite looked the same. The offense has functioned, but the flow has been inconsistent, and the margin for error has narrowed. Brenton Knapper hasn’t looked like himself all year. He flashes but the team could benefit from his leadership and playmaking ability.
Then there’s the frontcourt. The Broncos desperately need another impactful post and are reeling from the absence of Tadjo’s presence. Although he hasn’t, he could use some extra physicality, rebounding, and ability to absorb contact. The post has struggled to stay on the floor, which could loom large against a Loyola team that lives on offensive rebounds.
And yet, there’s real optimism bubbling beneath the surface.
Christian Hammond is playing at an elite level, providing shot-making, leadership, and late-game calm. Elijah Mahi remains a steady scoring outlet, and Bukky Oboye brings energy that can swing stretches. Most intriguing of all: the anticipation surrounding the potential debut of Gehrig Norman, who many hope can stabilize the perimeter offense, ease ball-handling pressure, and add another confident shooter to the mix.
If Norman can contribute early, it changes the conversation.
Matchup Keys for the Broncos
If Santa Clara wants to control this game, a few things must hold:
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Protect the ball. Turnovers fuel Loyola’s fire.
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Defend without fouling. Free throws keep the Ramblers alive.
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Win the arc. This is where SCU has the clearest advantage; spacing and shooting can pull Loyola out of its comfort zone.
Bottom Line: A Conversation Starter Game
This is a game Santa Clara should win — but it’s also the kind they can make unnecessarily difficult.
If the Broncos play clean, move the ball, and knock down shots, their guard play and half-court defense give them the edge. But if the game devolves into a rebound-heavy, whistle-filled slugfest, Loyola will happily drag SCU into deep water.
More than anything, this one feels like a temperature check. Can Santa Clara impose its style despite injuries and rotation questions? Or does Loyola succeed in turning the night into a grind that exposes SCU’s current vulnerabilities?
This is a Broncos get-right game; expect them to come out sharp:
Santa Clara Broncos 76
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers 63
