Valentine was really high on Saint Thomas, and in preseason and early season interviews seemed to indicate Thomas would be one of their main go-to guys.
Then in their summer overseas exhibitions and all their early season exhibitions and early games, Saint Thomas not only started but played heavy, mid-season minutes (~30 mpg), even getting the nod over well established, Porter Moser-recruited studs & top All-MVC honoree-transfers such as Marquise Kennedy and Sheldon Edwards. But as the season wore on and Loyola suffered disappointing losses, Thomas' playing time shrunk and he apparently kinda got the blame. Finally he was playing single digit minutes, and now he's AWOL... so go figure. Surprised he isn't already in the portal.