Loyola at Wright State Game Notes

Feb. 12, 2008

Loyola (9-14, 5-8) at Wright State (17-6, 9-4)
Date: February 14, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Arena: Ervin J. Nutter Center (10,449) - Dayton, Ohio
Series: Tied 14-14
Radio: WYLL (AM 1160) - John Fitzgerald (play-by-play)
TV: www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv

Tonight's Game: Loyola takes to the road in search of its fourth win in the last five outings when it visits Wright State Thursday night. The Ramblers close out the regular season by playing five of their final six contests away from the Gentile Center. Wright State is the hottest team in the Horizon League as it enters Thursday's game on an eight-game winning streak. Twelve of the Raiders' 17 wins this season have come by six points or less.

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 62-53 (.539) 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 340-247 (.579) mark, is 3-4 versus Wright State as Loyola's head coach.

Loyola - Wright State - The Series: With a 53-52 victory at the Gentile Center last month, Wright State evened the all-time series with Loyola at 14-14. The Ramblers have dropped their last two games against the Raiders at the Nutter Center, but had claimed three of the previous four games there prior to the current losing skid. Loyola, which stumbled 81-55 at the Nutter Center last season, is 4-9 all-time against Wright State in Dayton, Ohio. Each of the last five games between the teams in the Gem City has been decided by 10 or more points. On Jan. 19, Vaughn Duggins, who scored a team-high 14 points, hit a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to propel the Raiders to a 53-52 decision in Chicago. Justin Cerasoli came off the bench to pump in 16 points for Loyola in that contest. In last season's meeting at the Nutter Center, Wright State got 32 points from DaShaun Wood and shot 56 percent from the field as a team en route to the win, while Majak Kou scored 15 points to lead the Ramblers.

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 its 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? On Jan. 24, Loyola came up on the short end of a 63-50 decision at No. 15 Butler, but showed its resiliency by winning three straight games before dropping a 60-55 decision to UIC last Saturday evening.

The More We Score...: When Loyola's offense is productive, good things follow as the team is averaging 72.6 ppg in its nine victories. On the flip side, the Ramblers are mustering only 55.6 ppg in their losses this season.

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 100-36 (.735) 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 19.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.7 apg, while shooting 49 percent (22 for 45) from the field, including 47 percent (7 for 15) from long distance, in the last three road outings. Blount has averaged 11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.2 apg in five career meetings with Wright State and in his last game at the Nutter Center, tallied 15 points in a heartbreaking 67-66 loss to Butler in the Horizon League semifinals last March. Loyola is 18-6 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 13 of the last 14 regular-season League tilts. Blount is averaging 17.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 2.4 apg in League road games this season and has scored in double figures in five consecutive games away from home. After opening the year by draining only 9 of his first 50 (18 percent) tries from beyond the arc, Blount has connected on 13 of his last 39 (33 percent) from triple territory.

Polka Mania: Bruising 6-foot-7 forward Andy Polka has not succumbed to the proverbial sophomore jinx after establishing himself as one of the premier rebounders in the Horizon League a year ago. The 2006 Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin, Polka is contributing 12.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.0 spg in the Ramblers' last two road outings. One of only two Ramblers to have started every game this season, Polka is accounting for 9.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg in League road affairs. The Ramblers are 10-6 in Polka's career when he scores in double digits. Polka, who is the leading rebounder among Horizon League sophomores with 6.5 rpg, is on pace to finish as one of the top 10 rebounders in Loyola history. Although he attempted only one three-point field goal a year ago, Polka has hit 4 of his last 10 (40 percent) tries from long range on the road. Last month, he accounted for seven points and matched a season high with 10 rebounds in a heartbreaking 53-52 loss to Wright State.

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 also hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Loyola to a 69-68 victory over Youngstown State on Jan. 31. Robinson is putting up 16.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.3 spg, while shooting 54 percent (15 for 28) from the field, 46 percent (5 for 11) from triple territory, and 77 percent (13 for 17) from the foul line in the last three outings. The senior, who has hit a three-pointer in four consecutive contests, is averaging 14.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.2 bpg in five games this season versus opponents from the state of Ohio.

Only The Young Can Say: One of the top free-throw shooters in the Horizon League with a career .806 (261 for 324) accuracy rate from the charity stripe, Leon Young has buried 35 of his last 38 (.921) attempts and earlier this season drained 19 straight freebies. Young, who has already dealt a career-best 17 assists this season, needs 48 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 a team-high 12 points last Saturday against UIC in his first appearance since a Jan. 19 contest versus Wright State. Young, who has missed eight games this season, is contributing 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in his last three appearances. Over his last three appearances, the junior forward has dished out six assists while committing only one turnover.

Getting It Done With Defense: Stingy defense has been the main reason Loyola has won seven of its last nine games in the month of February dating back to last season. In those nine outings, the Ramblers have yielded only 56.1 ppg.

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 18-6 (.750) 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 one more win 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 23 games, Blount leads the Ramblers with 15.3 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. Through games of Feb. 11, Blount 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. Each of the Ramblers' last three victories, however, has come when the team has scored fewer than 70 points.

Start Him Up: Blount enters tonight's game having been a member of Loyola's starting five in 59 consecutive contests.

Helping Hands: Loyola is 6-1 this season when it has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Over the last two seasons, the Ramblers are 16-2 (.889) when recording more assists than turnovers, with the only losses coming to Butler last year and to UIC last Saturday.

Maybe It Is How You Start: Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has amassed a 44-7 (.863) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Care Takers: Over the last half dozen contests, Loyola has averaged only 10.5 turnovers per game, including a mere six in last Saturday's loss to UIC. That six-turnover effort was the program's lowest since the Ramblers committed only four miscues in a victory over Lake Forest on Dec. 17, 2005. In the first 17 games of the season, Loyola averaged 13.6 turnovers per outing.

Here Comes The Boom: Darrin "Boomer" Williams has re-emerged as an offensive weapon the last three games, contributing 7.7 ppg to go with 4.3 rpg and 1.0 bpg. In Horizon League action, the junior forward is tallying 4.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg, while sinking 64 percent (28 for 44) of his shots from the field. After averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.1 rpg in the first 11 games of the season, Williams has registered 5.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg over the last 12 contests. On the road in League play, Williams is chipping in 7.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.0 bpg, and connecting on 68 percent (15 for 22) of his shots from the field.

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 six current Horizon League players with over 1,000 points - A.J. Graves of Butler (1,663), Mike Schachtner of Green Bay (1,213), Jon Goode of Detroit (1,171), J'Nathan Bullock of Cleveland State (1,111) and Josh Mayo of UIC (1,087). Blount currently ranks 33rd on Loyola's all-time scoring chart with 1,036 points and needs four points to tie Wade Fuller (1967-70) for 32nd place.

Smith Passes Away: Loyola is mourning the passing of former men's basketball player Anthony Smith (2002-05), who passed away on Jan. 28 at the age of 24, 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".

Gotta Get Back In Time: Friday marks the 50th anniversary of a landmark moment in Loyola basketball history. On Feb. 15, 1958, Art McZier hit a shot at the buzzer to lift Loyola to a 57-56 victory over 12th-ranked University of Kentucky at the Chicago Stadium. McZier finished the game with 13 points. Kentucky went on to win the NCAA title later that season.

Not Without A Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 886 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 413 Rambler victories. In his 31st year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2006.

Road Warriors: Under Whitesell's guidance, the Ramblers have posted a very impressive 10-3 (.769) record in road contests in the month of February. In 2004-05, Loyola went 4-1 in February road tilts, and was a perfect 4-0 a season ago. Loyola ventures into tonight's game at Wright State on a five-game road winning streak in the month of February.

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.).