Loyola at Valparaiso Game Notes

Jan. 25, 2008

Loyola (6-13, 2-7) at Valparaiso (14-6, 5-3)
Date: January 26, 2008
Time: 7:05 p.m. CST
Arena: Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Series: Loyola leads, 29-8
Radio: WYLL (AM 1160) - John Fitzgerald (play-by-play); Dave Klusendorf (expert analyst)
TV: Lakeshore Public Television

Tonight's Game: Loyola gets its first look at the newest member of the Horizon League when it travels to Valparaiso on Saturday night. The Ramblers are coming off a 63-50 loss at No. 15 Butler Thursday night and are seeking their first win this season versus a team from the neighboring state of Indiana. Following Saturday's game at Valparaiso, Loyola will play three straight home League contests before playing five of its final six regular-season games away from home.

Head Coach Jim Whitesell: Turning programs around is nothing new to Jim Whitesell and he has performed one of his best works in just three short seasons at Loyola. Now in his fourth season as the bench boss in Rogers Park, the Iowa Falls, Iowa native has guided the Ramblers to a 59-52 (.532) overall record. His 53 wins in his first three seasons at Loyola were the most by a Rambler head coach in his first three years since Tom Haggerty won 69 contests from 1945-48. Last year, Whitesell piloted Loyola to a 21-win season, its best showing since 1985. Whitesell comes from a family with numerous Hollywood ties. His brother Patrick is a high-profile agent in Hollywood, while brother, John, is a producer/director. Two other brothers, Sean and Chris, write for TV shows, including Cold Case and daytime soap operas. Whitesell, who owns a career 337-246 (.578) mark, is making his first appearance versus Valparaiso as Loyola's head coach.

Loyola - Valparaiso - The Series: Loyola and Valparaiso are meeting for the 38th time in a series that dates back to 1922 and since dropping the first four games of the series, the Ramblers have won 29 of the last 33 encounters. The last time the teams met, Loyola earned a 76-69 victory on Dec. 13, 2003, at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Loyola has claimed 11 of the last 12 meetings with Valpo, including each of the last nine, and over that span, has won five straight games in Valparaiso. Not since a 70-65 setback on Jan. 14, 1978, have the Ramblers fallen at Valpo. In its current nine-game winning streak against the Crusaders, Loyola has averaged a whopping 84.8 ppg and has not scored fewer than 69 points in a single contest.

Heaven On Seventy: Seventy points has been the benchmark for success when it comes to the Ramblers' offense this season, as they are 6-0 when scoring at least 70 points. In fact, dating back to last year, Loyola has won its last 10, and 11 of its last 12, contests when it reaches the 70-point plateau.

Not So Nifty Fifties: Through the first 19 games of the 2007-08 season, Loyola has scored fewer than 60 points on eight occasions, its highest total for a single campaign since also recording less than 60 points eight times in 1999-2000. Not since the 1998-99 season (14 times) have the Ramblers failed to post at least 60 points more than eight times in a season. Over the last two games, Loyola has mustered only 51.0 ppg.

A.P. Bulletin: This year, in two League games versus teams from Indiana (both versus Butler) Andy Polka is accounting for 13.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg, while shooting 56 percent (9 for 16) from the field, including 67 percent (2 for 3) from three-point range. At Butler on Thursday, Polka notched the third double-double of his career, and his second this season, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. After attempting only one three-point field goal a year ago, he is shooting a team-best 40 percent (8 for 20) from long distance this season and has hit a trey in three consecutive outings.

Milwaukee's Best: If you had to describe junior J.R. Blount in one word, there is no question it would be "winner". The gritty 6-foot-1 guard has compiled a staggering 97-35 (.735) record over the last four seasons and needs 18 points to become the 37th member of Loyola's 1,000-Point Club. A Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, Blount is the first Rambler since Chris Williams (1998-2000) to average double figures in both his true freshman and sophomore seasons. The Milwaukee native is putting up 18.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 1.5 apg in the last four contests. Over the Ramblers' last four games away from home, Blount has posted 16.8 ppg and shot 42 percent (25 for 60) from the field, including 39 percent (7 for 18) from triple territory, after going for 8.3 ppg on 19 percent (7 for 37) shooting from the field, including 0 for 10 from long range, in the previous three road outings. After hitting only nine triples in the first 15 games of the year, Blount has connected on 10 three-balls in the last four outings alone. Loyola is 15-6 since the start of the 2006-07 campaign when he records a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and he has scored in double digits in 11 straight home games dating back to last season. Blount has connected on 12 of his last 13 (92 percent) attempts from the foul line.

Polka Mania: Bruising 6-foot-7 forward Andy Polka has picked up where he left off last season when he established himself as one of the premier rebounders in the Horizon League. The 2006 Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin, Polka has scored in double digits in four of Loyola's last eight games, after accomplishing the feat three times in the first 11 outings of the season. One of only two Ramblers to have started every game this season, Polka has contributed 10.0 ppg and 7.3 rpg, while shooting 53 percent (31 for 59) from the field over the last eight contests. The Ramblers are 9-6 in Polka's career when he scores in double digits. Polka, who is accounting for 8.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in three League road games this year, is on pace to finish as one of the top 10 rebounders in Loyola history. A threat from three-point range, Polka has buried 6 of his last 12 (50 percent) tries from beyond the arc, and is registering 10.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg in the last pair of games.

Mister Robinson's Neighborhood: Tracy Robinson has developed a knack for coming up big late in games to lift Loyola to victories. Two years ago, he converted a pair of crucial free throws in the waning seconds to seal a win at UIC. He scored 14 of his career-best 16 points in the second half Nov. 13 to lead Loyola to a 72-65 victory at Eastern Illinois and laid in the game-tying basket just before the final buzzer to force overtime in a Dec. 8 win versus Milwaukee. A year ago, Robinson buried five free throws in the final minute to seal a 75-71 win at No. 15 Butler. The versatile 6-foot-7 forward has established a career high with 174 total points this year, surpassing his junior year total of 154 points. The senior, who poured in a career-high 19 points at Youngstown State on Jan. 5, is contributing 10.1 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 12 starting nods this season.

Only The Young Can Say: One of the top free-throw shooters in the Horizon League with a career .803 (257 for 320) accuracy rate from the charity stripe, Leon Young has buried 31 of his last 34 (.912) attempts and recently drained 19 straight freebies. Young, who has already dealt a career-best 15 assists this season, needs 50 rebounds to become the 28th member of Loyola's 500-Rebound Club. Loyola is 4-1 in Young's career when he registers 20 or more points. He came off the bench to record 19 points and eight rebounds in a Jan. 17 win versus Detroit. Young, who missed four games over the semester break while battling pneumonia, then missed Thursday's game at Butler, is contributing 12.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg in his last four road games. His 19-point performance off the bench versus Detroit was the best by a Rambler reserve since Young himself poured in 23 points of f the pine at Youngstown State on Feb. 25, 2006.

Cerasoli Contributes: Junior guard Justin Cerasoli, a transfer from the University of Mississippi, has made an immediate impact, scoring in double figures in seven of his first 10 games of the season. Cerasoli, who was held to a season-low two points at Butler on Thursday, has bounced back from each of his previous single-digit scoring outputs to score 10 or more points in his next game. A high school teammate of current Illinois star Shaun Pruitt, the 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 10.0 ppg and shooting 50 percent (5 for 10) from long distance when coming off the bench this year.

Finishing With A Flourish: One thing Loyola has been known for over the last three seasons has been a strong finish. In three years at Loyola, Whitesell's clubs have posted a remarkable 17-5 (.773) record in the month of February. Included in that run is a pair of four-game winning streaks and a six-game winning streak.

Leon's Numbers Are Getting Larger: In his last four appearances away from home, Young is putting up 12.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, while shooting 50 percent (14 for 28) from the field. The Long Beach, Calif., native has accounted for 16.4 ppg and 8.2 rpg in the Ramblers' wins this year, compared to 9.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg in their losses.

Blount's Count: Through 19 games, Blount leads the Ramblers with 15.7 ppg and is on pace to become the first Loyola player since Eric Dolezal (1990-93) to average 10 or more points in each of his first three seasons on the Lake Shore Campus. The high-scoring junior enters tonight's game at Valparaiso needing only 18 points to become the 37th player in Loyola history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Should he accomplish the feat this season, he will be the third Rambler in as many seasons to join the exclusive 1,000-Point Club as Blake Schilb (2005-06) and Majak Kou (2006-07) turned the trick in each of the last two seasons, respectively. Blount ranks fourth in the League in scoring.

Arc Madness: After shooting only 25 percent (62 for 244) from three-point land over the first 15 games of the season, Loyola has begun to find its stroke from long distance in the last four contests. In the last four games, the Ramblers have connected on 33 percent (24 for 72) of their tries from triple territory, with Blount hitting 37 percent (10 for 27) of his trey attempts and Cerasoli burying 67 percent (4 for 6) of his long-distance dial-ups.

That Under 70s Show: Loyola is 42-21 (.667) under Whitesell when allowing fewer than 70 points. Since the start of the 2005-06 campaign, the Ramblers have posted a 32-16 ledger when yielding fewer than 70 points, including a 16-4 mark a year ago, but are 5-9 this season.

Elite Company: With 40 total wins over the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, only Butler recorded more than Loyola among Horizon League institutions.

Start Him Up: Blount enters tonight's game having been a member of Loyola's starting five in 55 consecutive contests.

Helping Hands: Loyola is 5-0 this season when it has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Over the last two seasons, the Ramblers are 15-1 (.938) when recording more assists than turnovers, with the only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 14 Butler, 70-66, in overtime.

Maybe It Is How You Start: Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has amassed a 41-7 (.854) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Bench Boost: Over the last three contests, Loyola has received some major contributions off the bench, outscoring its opponents' reserves, 71-45. After getting only 21 points from its bench in the previous four games, Loyola's reserves came up big in a Jan. 17 win over Detroit, out-producing those of the Titans by a whopping 35-5 margin, with Young (19 points), Dave Telander (8 points) and Robinson (7 points) having big games. Over the first 16 games of the season, the Ramblers' bench was outscored 292-185.

Nice Work, Junior: Loyola's top three scorers - J.R. Blount, Leon Young and Justin Cerasoli - are all juniors. That trio of juniors have accounted for a collective 39.3 ppg, a total that accounts for 63 percent of the Ramblers' total offense, and 13.4 rpg. Darrin Williams, who is also a junior, is contributing 3.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg to add to those numbers. Last year's senior class of Blake Schilb, Majak Kou, Brandon Woods and Kye Pattrick averaged a combined 34.5 ppg and 12.7 rpg.

Bouncing Back After Butler: Three of the last four times Loyola has lost at Butler, it has bounced back to win its very next game.

Not Without A Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 882 consecutive Loyola men's basketball regular-season contests. Since joining the staff for the 1977-78 campaign, "Hitch", as he is affectionately known to those on campus, has not missed a single game and has witnessed 411 Rambler victories. In his 31st year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2006.

Getting A Handle On Randall: First-year assistant coach Lance Randall is a familiar face to a pair of Ramblers. Senior Tom Levin was coached by Randall's late father, Steve, at Oshkosh West High School. Randall, left his job as an assistant coach at Saint Louis to succeed his father at Oshkosh West following his untimely passing, was the head coach for two seasons for current Loyola sophomore Andy Polka. Randall guided Polka, and his 2005-06 squad, to a perfect 26-0 record and the Wisconsin Division I state title.

Ramblers Sign Four Early: In November, Loyola announced the signing of four recruits, three of whom stand 6-foot-6 or taller, during the NCAA Early Signing Period. Joining the fold for the 2008-09 season are 6-foot-9 forward John Benkoske (Oshkosh, Wis.), 6-foot-7 forward Walt Gibler (Cincinnati, Ohio), 6-foot-6 swing player Jordan Hicks (Rochester, Minn.) and 6-foot-1 guard Courtney Stanley (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Lights, Camera, Action: This season, Loyola will have 10 home games and 12 contests total, broadcast live on Lakeshore Public Television. Lakeshore Public Television, which is available on either channel 17 or 21 on most cable systems in the Chicago area, reaches 3.5 million households and is also available on channel 56 on Dish Network and DirecTV.