In May 2019 — two months after accepting his first head coaching job at Southern Illinois University (SIU) — former Loyola associate men’s basketball head coach Bryan Mullins told The Phoenix he was already excited about returning to Gentile Arena for the first time.
“Hopefully it’ll be competitive,” Mullins joked at the time. “It’ll be awesome, though. The people at Loyola are amazing. … I have tons of relationships there, so to be able to see everyone again, it’ll be a special game.”
Fast-forward eight months. That day has come.
Mullins’ Salukis are set to take on Porter Moser’s Ramblers Jan. 16 at Gentile — marking the first time he’ll ever be on the visiting sideline in Rogers Park. It’ll also be the first time he goes up against Moser, who gave Mullins his first coaching opportunity back in 2013.
“It’s a big part of my life, those six years I spent [at Loyola],” Mullins said on a conference call with Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) coaches and media. “I’ve been looking forward to coming back. Once the game starts, it’ll just be another basketball game.”
Mullins originally joined Moser as director of basketball operations after a professional career in France. He remained on the Loyola bench for six years, rising to assistant coach and eventually to associate head coach in 2018-19.
Before his time with the Ramblers — even before he went to France — Mullins was SIU’s star point guard.
In his four years as a Saluki from 2005-09, Mullins averaged 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. But it was his defense that defined his career.
He was a four-time MVC All-Defense Team nominee and two-time MVC Defensive Player of the Year — meaning it’s no surprise the Salukis currently have the top-ranked defense in the league, allowing just 60.6 points per game.
“There ain’t no fluffy reunion party going on. I love him to death, [but] I know he’s coming here to win and we’re going to compete to win, as well.”
Porter Moser, Loyola head coach
Even though they’re 8-9 overall and 2-2 in MVC play, Mullins said he’s applying what he learned from Moser as he builds the program. SIU has 10 new players on its roster this year, and he knew it would take time to get the program on track.
“[Moser] did an unbelievable job [building Loyola’s program],” Mullins said. “The biggest thing is you can’t rush it. You’ve got to to do it the right way, and that’s what we’re trying to do here at SIU.”
Moser has repeatedly said he’s happy Mullins got the opportunity to go back to Carbondale and lead a program where he rose to stardom as a point guard. But when asked if he’s looking forward to seeing Mullins again, Moser was all business.
“There ain’t no fluffy reunion party going on,” Moser said after Loyola defeated the University of Evansville Jan. 11. “I love him to death, [but] I know he’s coming here to win and we’re going to compete to win, as well.”
As far as game-planning for the matchup against Mullins, Moser joked he’s had to adjust his scheme because of how well Mullins knows the Ramblers’ offense.
“I’ve had to change the whole playbook because he knows every damn call that we have,” Moser said. “You never like playing extremely close friends. … It isn’t about him and I. It’s about two teams fighting in this race. We’re both right in there, we’re both playing [well]. That’s what it’s about.”
Tip-off between Loyola and SIU is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 16 and the game is set to be broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago.
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