Loyola's average opponent RPI is appreciably better than last year's mainly by adding a buy game at Michigan State. Other than that game, the schedule is pretty similar to last year's. (No specific teams, just a statement). There's not much difference between playing an RPI 270 team or an RPI 320 team. The 270 team will be a little better for your RPI and bump your SoS a bit, but it just isn't going to matter.
As to who would we rather add than Loyola? How about NOBODY! Why the big rush to add another team? My thought was that if Loyola was the best there was at that time, maybe wait until a better time to add a team. Valley teams are struggling to get at-large bids and can probably schedule 2 OOC games that will be better on their at-large resume than playing Loyola twice. WSU has hit a point where they're playing for seeding, and the same thing applies. Playing Loyola twice instead of 2 OOC games could make a difference in seeding.
I appreciate Loyola's commitment to athletics and basketball in particular. I think there's light at the end of the tunnel, but it's looking like a very long tunnel.
P.S. 20 years ago, there really wasn't anything more than maybe the flicker of a candle down WSU's tunnel.