Loyola vs. Cleveland State Game Notes

Feb. 1, 2008

Loyola (8-13, 4-7) vs. Cleveland State (14-8, 7-3)
Date: February 2, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Arena: Gentile Center (5,200) - Chicago, Ill.
Series: Loyola leads 21-10
Radio: WYLL (AM 1160) - John Fitzgerald (play-by-play); Dave Klusendorf (expert analyst)
TV: Lakeshore Public Television - Joe Arredondo (play-by-play); Todd Medland (color analyst)

Tonight's Game: Loyola enters Saturday night's game versus Cleveland State on a two-game winning streak and both of those victories came in the closing seconds of each contest. The Ramblers slipped past Youngstown State, 69-68, on Thursday night. After starting the Horizon League slate with seven straight wins, Cleveland State has dropped three consecutive games, including a 74-68 decision at UIC on Thursday.

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 61-52 (.540) 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 339-246 (.579) mark, is 6-1 versus Cleveland State as Loyola's head coach.

Loyola - Cleveland State - The Series: Loyola had an 11-game winning streak against Cleveland State snapped last month when the Vikings picked up a 63-55 victory at the Wolstein Center. This is the 32nd all-time meeting between the teams, and the Ramblers own a 21-10 advantage in the series that dates back to 1974. The Ramblers have notched seven consecutive wins over the Vikings at the Gentile Center since suffering an 80-77 setback on Feb. 3, 2001, and are 11-2 all-time against CSU at home. In last month's meeting, Darrin Williams posted a career-best 21 points in just his second career start, but it wasn't enough as the Ramblers shot only 37 percent from the field. Kevin Francis tallied a team-high 14 points off the bench to lead Cleveland State.

Deja Vu All Over Again: Three years ago, in Jim Whitesell's first season at Loyola in 2004-05, Loyola dropped lost at Butler to fall to 6-15 overall, but bounced back to pick up a big win at Wright State in their next outing. That win over Wright State kick-started a 7-2 finish to the season and set the foundation for a 19-win campaign in 2005-06. Could the same type of finish be on the horizon for the Ramblers in 2007-08? Last week, Loyola came up on the wrong end of a 63-50 decision at No. 15 Butler, but showed its resiliency by coming out two nights later to earn a 65-63 win at Valparaiso, then followed that up with a 69-68 victory over Youngstown State Thursday night.

Three-mendous: After shooting only 25 percent (59 for 237) from three-point range in the first 15 games of the year, Loyola has found its touch, hitting 34 percent (39 for 114) from triple territory in the last seven contests. In three of the last five games, the Ramblers have matched a season high with seven trifectas.

Close Encounters: If you throw out a 63-50 loss at No. 15 Butler on Jan. 24, Loyola's last three games have been decided by a combined four points and the winning basket was hit in the final 22 seconds of each game.

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 99-35 (.739) record over the last four seasons and is the 37th player in Loyola history to score 1,000 points. 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 averaging 17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.0 apg, while shooting 50 percent (13 for 26) from the field, including 43 percent (3 for 7) from long distance, in the last two outings. Blount has fared well against Cleveland State in his career, putting up 17.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.3 rpg, while connecting on 50 percent (20 for 40) of his shots from the field and 60 percent (6 for 10) from long range. Loyola is 17-6 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 12 straight, and 15 of the last 17, home games dating back to last season. Blount is averaging 17.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.0 apg in home League games this season.

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 five of Loyola's last 10 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 is accounting for 10.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 2.0 apg in the last four contests. The Ramblers are 10-6 in Polka's career when he scores in double digits. Polka, who is accounting for 10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.7 apg in the last six home games, is on pace to finish as one of the top 10 rebounders in Loyola history. A threat from three-point range, Polka has buried 7 of his last 17 (42 percent) tries from beyond the arc, and is shooting 50 percent (39 for 78) from the field in the last 10 games. Although he attempted only one three-point field goal a year ago, Polka leads the Ramblers with a 36 percent accuracy rate (9 for 25) from long range this season.

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 hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Loyola to a 69-68 victory over Youngstown State Thursday night. Robinson is notching 12.2 ppg and is shooting 50 percent (28 for 56) from the field in home League games. In the Ramblers' last two games at the Gentile Center, the senior is contributing 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.5 spg.

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, and has missed the last three contests, is contributing 16.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg in his last four home games. His 19-point performance off the bench versus Detroit was the best by a Rambler reserve since Young himself poured in 23 points off 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 eight of his first 12 games of the season. Cerasoli, who has hit 6 of his last 12 tries (50 percent) from three-point range, is shooting 48 percent (14 for 29) from the field in Loyola's wins, compared to 38 percent (40 for 105) in its defeats. A high school teammate of current Illinois star Shaun Pruitt, the 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 11.5 ppg and shooting 44 percent (4 for 9) from long distance in the last two home outings.

Flourishing In February: 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.

Ten Spot: Whitesell needs two more wins to become the first Loyola bench boss since Gene Sullivan in the early 1980s to win 10 or more games in each of his first four seasons on the Lake Shore Campus.

Blount's Count: Through 21 games, Blount leads the Ramblers with 15.9 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. Blount enters tonight's game ranked fourth in the Horizon League in scoring.

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. The Ramblers' last two victories, however, have come when the team has scored 65 and 69 points, respectively, for the first two wins this year when tallying fewer than 70 points.

Start Him Up: Blount enters tonight's game having been a member of Loyola's starting five in 57 consecutive contests.

Helping Hands: Loyola is 6-0 this season when it has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Over the last two seasons, the Ramblers are 16-1 (.941) 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 43-7 (.860) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Offense Back On Track: Despite playing without second-leading scorer Leon Young, Loyola's offense has gotten back on track the last pair of games. In addition to averaging 67.0 ppg, which is 4.5 ppg higher than their season average, the Ramblers are shooting 45 percent (51 for 113) from the field, including 34 percent (12 for 35) from triple territory.

Here Comes The Boom: Darrin "Boomer" Williams came off the bench to record 10 points, three rebounds, a pair of assists and a blocked shot in Thursday night's win versus Youngstown State. The 6-foot-8 forward tallied a career-best 21 points, his only other double-figure scoring effort, in just his second career start, at Cleveland State last month. After averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.1 rpg in the first 11 games of the season, Williams has registered 5.2 ppg and 3.7 rpg over the last 10 contests.

Thousand Island: Blount became the 37th player in Loyola history to score 1,000 points when he scored the game-winning basket with four seconds left to help his squad to a 65-63 victory at Valparaiso on Jan. 26. The 6-foot-1 guard is the third Rambler in as many seasons to achieve the feat, joining former teammates Blake Schilb (2004-05) and Majak Kou (2006-07), and he is also one of five current Horizon League players with over 1,000 points - A.J. Graves of Butler (1,627), Mike Schachtner of Green Bay (1,138), Jon Goode of Detroit (1,096) and J'Nathan Bullock of Cleveland State (1,021). Blount currently ranks 36th on Loyola's all-time scoring chart with 1,017 points and needs only one point to tie Ed Earle (1946-50) for 35th place. Blount is the 123rd player in Horizon League annals to score 1,000 points.

Smith Passes Away: Loyola is mourning the passing of former men's basketball player Anthony Smith (2002-05), who passed away on Monday after a courageous bout with leukemia. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged career bests of 5.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg as a senior in 2004-05. For the remainder of the season, the Ramblers will wear black patches featuring Smith's number "50".

Forman's Grilling Up Points: Over the last three games, Ross Forman has contributed 5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.0 apg, while shooting 55 percent (6 for 11) from the field and 50 percent (2 for 4) from triple territory. He had managed only six points in his previous five appearances before combining for 12 points in games at Butler and Valparaiso last week.

Not Without A Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 884 consecutive Loyola men's basketball 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 412 Rambler victories. In his 31st year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2006.

All's Well That Ends Van Weelden: Over the last three outings, sophomore walk-on Aric Van Weelden is contributing 3.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg, while not committing a turnover in 33 minutes of action. The 6-foot-2 guard matched a career high with five points in Thursday's victory over Youngstown State and is shooting 60 percent (3 for 5) from the field and 75 percent (3 for 4) from three-point distance in his last three appearances. Loyola is 7-1 in his career when he scores at least one point.

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.).