Loyola’s men’s basketball team does more than just win games and conference championships. Win with fresh sneakers and signature style. The Ramblers’ focus on fashion and culture allows you to play with confidence and connect with young, fashion-obsessed students on campus.
Loyola’s head coach, Drew Valentine, strives to represent the program faithfully by ensuring that all players and coaches are always wearing new shoes. He said he went his own way in assembling the team.
“We try to be transparent and stay who we are,” said Valentine. And we’re ex-players, we bring energy and it shows our swag.”
While making sure his team is well-dressed, Valentine said he’s amassed a personal collection of shoes that will impress any shoe lover. Senior guard Brayden Norris said Valentine always stands out in the Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Travis Scott x Fragment’ shoes.
Despite his sheer number of shoes, Valentine insists his team wear the Nike Dunks, a low-top basketball shoe that stands apart from regular high-top sneakers. Valentine said the dunk is comfortable to wear on the court and that its color matches Loyola’s uniform.
“The first one we wore last year made the statement that this is a new era for the Drew Valentine brand,” said Valentine. “We set the bar high and let everyone know what we have in store for this year.”
Reflecting the program’s vibrant culture, Norris said Valentine would bring energy to all team events and stay true to his energetic personality. We treat everyone the same regardless of whether or not they are part of the team, and try to encourage our players at every opportunity.
In response to Norris’ praise, sophomore guard St. Thomas said Valentine has created a team culture built on brotherhood and hopes to create a welcoming environment in which players can thrive. Said there was
“Drew comes in and says every day that he wants us to be the same people every day,” Thomas said. “He’s so passionate about the game that he keeps us together at the end of the day.”
To foster team camaraderie, Loyola embarked on a 10-day trip to France and Valentine welcomed newcomers to his programme. Valentine said the trip demonstrates his program’s commitment to playing basketball and focusing on school, as his players were able to bond without interrupting their studies.
“That overseas tour allowed us to push our men further,” Valentine said. “I think they’re already great kids and came here for the right reasons. Just going abroad and playing those games helped speed up that process.”
The Rambler’s trip to France also helped them get closer by indulging in sneakers together. As he delved deeper into basketball shoe culture, he learned why players prefer certain shoes.
Loyola’s unique culture was highlighted when Valentine met four other men’s basketball coaches at the Chicagoland Media Tip-Off Luncheon on October 6. from others.
“I think younger generations relate to that and think we look professional, but shoes are a statement,” Valentine said.
Valentine said he’s excited about a new Arizona State-themed dunk that hasn’t been released yet, and hinted at other pairs his team might wear this season. Dokubo, his London director of men’s basketball operations, checks Nike’s website twice a week to see if any dunks have dropped, Valentine said.
Loyola will begin the 2022-2023 season at home to host Fairleigh Dickinson College on November 7. The hint is scheduled for 7 p.m. and no broadcast information has been announced yet.
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