CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago is one of four teams playing in the 2023-24 Hall of Fame Classic this week at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Ramblers open tournament action with No. 8 Creighton on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Loyola will either play Colorado State or Boston College on Thursday.

The tournament's game can be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Ben Richardson (Analyst). Listen on the Go Ramblers App, Varsity Network App or LoyolaRamblers.com with pregame coverage starting 20 minutes prior to tip-off.

Quick Hits
• Loyola finished its three-game home stand at 2-1 following a win over New Orleans last weekend. The Ramblers escaped with a 73-70 win over the Privateers behind a double-double (22 pts, 11 rebs) from Dame Adelekun.
• It was Adelekun's seventh career double-double, the fifth time in his career with a 20+ point performance, and 10th career game with double-digit boards.
• Des Watson extended his double-figure scoring streak to three straight games with 19 against UNO. He was 7-of-13 from the field with two three-pointers and 3-of-3 at the line.
• Watson sparked his streak with a career-high 24 points against Eastern Illinois in the home opener. He followed up with 13 points to lead Loyola against UIC.
• Watson leads the Rambler offense with 15.8 points per game. He's shooting 50 percent from the field, 47.4 percent from deep, and 83.3 percent at the line. Watson ranks 15th in the A10 in scoring and 13th in three-point percentage.
• After his season-high night vs. UNO, Adelekun is shooting 70 percent from the field, which ranks third in the league.
• Through the four games, Braden Norris is averaging 4.8 assists per game, tying fifth in the A10. Norris dished out three in the opener vs. FAU before tallying a season-high seven vs. Eastern Illinois. He added another five vs. UIC and four vs. UNO.
• The Ramblers have had success at the line this season and is shooting 76.5 percent for fourth best in the A10.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 37-31 overall career record.

Scouting Creighton
The Bluejays are 4-0 after taking wins over Florida A&M, North Dakota State, Iowa, and Texas Southern in the first two weeks of play. Creighton ranks 14th in the NCAA in scoring (92.0 ppg), 12th in field goal percentage (53.7%), and 25th in three-point percentage (40.0%). The Bluejays dropped 105 points in the season opener vs. the Rattlers.

Trey Alexander leads the Creighton offense with 21.0 ppg and ranks 21st nationally in scoring. He's scored at least 20 points in all four games this year, including a season-high 23 points vs. Iowa. He made it a double-double with 11 rebounds.

Greg McDermott is in his 14th season with the Bluejays and holds a 304-150. His career spans 30 seasons and five schools posting a record of 584-345.

Scouting Colorado State
The Rams are 4-0 with early wins against Louisiana Tech, Wright State, Northern Colorado, and Kansas City. Colorado State is averaging 88.3 points per game and scored 105 against Wright State. As a squad, CSU is shooting 55.2 percent from the field, ranking fourth nationally. Their scoring average sits 32nd in the NCAA.

Four Rams are averaging over 10 ppg. Joel Scott scored 20 at Northern Colorado, while Isaiah Stevens poured in 22 and 24-point performances in back-to-back games. They both lead the Rams with 16.8 ppg.

Niko Medved is in his sixth year leading the Rams with a 96-64 record. It's his 11th overall season as having coached at three schools with a career record of 175-151.

Scouting Boston College
To open the season, the Eagles have four consecutive wins vs. Fairfield, The Citadel, Richmond, and Harvard. Boston College dominated its season-opener, 89-70, over Fairfield draining 11 three-pointers. The Eagles are a threat at the line shooting 79.7 percent, which sites 17th in the country.

Quentin Post is averaging a double-double with 19.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg. He's shooting over 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Post opened the year with a 31-point, 11 rebound double-double vs. Fairfield. He tallied 17 points and 10 boards vs. Richmond and followed up with 20 points and 19 rebounds against Harvard.

Earl Grant is in his third year coaching the Eagles. He has a 33-37 record at the helm. It's his 10th overall season after spending seven years with the College of Charleston. His career record is 160-126.

Series History
Loyola leads the all-time series vs. Creighton, 12-7. The teams last met in the 2018-19 NIT, and the Bluejays came away with a 70-61 win.

Colorado State leads the series, 2-1. The Rams edged the Ramblers 61-60 back in November 2019. Tom Welch logged 15 minutes in the meeting.

Boston College has won the only meeting with Loyola back in 2018, 78-66.