Loyola vs. Valparaiso Game Notes

Feb. 18, 2008

Loyola (9-16, 5-10) vs. Valparaiso (15-11, 6-8)
Date: February 20, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Arena: Gentile Center (5,200) - Chicago, Ill.
Series: Loyola leads 30-8
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 plays its final regular-season home game of the 2007-08 campaign when it plays host to Valparaiso Wednesday night. The Ramblers are looking to halt a three-game losing skid in which they have limited the opposition to 57.0 ppg, but have averaged only 53.0 ppg themselves. Valparaiso has dropped five of its last six games but comes into Wednesday night's showdown as the top-scoring team in the Horizon League at 70.7 ppg.

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 62-55 (.530) 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 340-249 (.577) mark, is 1-0 versus Valparaiso as Loyola's head coach.

Loyola - Valparaiso - The Series: The nearby rivals are meeting for the 39th time in a series that dates back to 1922 and since dropping the first four games of the series, the Ramblers have won 30 of the last 34 encounters. The last time the teams met, Loyola emerged with a 65-63 victory as junior guard J.R. Blount went over the 1,000-career-point mark by hitting a lay-up with four seconds left in regulation on Jan. 26 in Valparaiso, Ind. Loyola has claimed 12 of the last 13 meetings with Valpo, including each of the last 10, and over that span, has won five straight games at home. Not since a 69-60 setback on Feb. 3, 1975 have the Ramblers fallen to the Crusaders in Chicago.

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 55.2 ppg in their losses this season.

Three-Mendous: For all of its struggles shooting the three-pointer this season, Loyola did knock down a season-best 50 percent (7 for 14) of its triple tries in last month's win at Valparaiso. In fact, the Ramblers, who hit all seven treys in the first half, also equaled a season-high with seven total three-point field goals. Six Ramblers connected from long range in the game and Loyola built a 41-34 halftime lead on the strength of 7 of 11 shooting (64 percent) from triple territory.

All's Van Weelden That Starts Van Weelden: Making his first career start, sophomore guard Aric Van Weelden contributed a career-high nine points and added a pair of rebounds and an assist in Saturday's loss at Detroit. The walk-on had three points and a steal in last month's meeting at Valparaiso and over his last seven appearances is averaging 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg and 0.7 spg, while shooting 58 percent (7 for 12) from the field and 50 percent (5 for 10) from three-point range.

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 100-38 (.725) 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 17.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.8 apg, while shooting 45 percent (22 for 49) from the field, in four games versus teams from the state of Indiana this year. Blount has scored in double digits in 12 of the last 13 games at the Gentile Center and had 19 points in last month's meeting with Valparaiso. 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 14 of the last 16 regular-season League tilts. Blount is averaging 14.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.3 apg in his last six appearances at home. Over the last three games, Blount, who has misfired on his last 13 attempts from long distance, has been limited to 7.7 ppg and 29 percent (10 for 34) shooting, but is adding 4.0 rpg and 2.0 apg.

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 9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.8 apg in the Ramblers' last eight home outings. One of only two Ramblers to have started every game this season, Polka registered his third double-double of the season, and the fourth of his career, by posting 11 points and 11 rebounds, one shy of his career high, at Detroit on Feb. 16. The Ramblers are 10-7 in Polka's career when he scores in double digits. Polka, who is the leading rebounder among Horizon League sophomores with 6.6 rpg, is on pace to finish as one of the top 10 rebounders in Loyola history. Last month, he accounted for 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals in a win at Valparaiso. In three League games versus teams from Indiana this season, the sophomore is tallying 12.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 1.7 apg, while shooting 52 percent (13 for 25) from the field. Over the last five contests, he owns a 2.17 assist-to-turnover ratio (13 assists, 6 turnovers).

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 14.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.3 spg in the last four home games. The senior, who is averaging 13.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 bpg and 1.0 spg in home League contests, has handed out 12 assists to only seven turnovers in the last five games.

Only The Young Can Say: One of the top free-throw shooters in the Horizon League with a career .809 (271 for 335) accuracy rate from the charity stripe, Leon Young has buried 45 of his last 49 (.918) attempts, including 14 of the last 15 (.933). Young, who has already dealt a career-best 18 assists this season, needs 41 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 has led the team in scoring despite coming off the bench in each of the last three games, averaging 12.0 ppg, while shooting 73 percent (11 for 15) from the field. In his last five appearances at the Gentile Center, Young is accounting for 15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 1.8 apg. For the season, he is draining 55 percent (36 for 65) of his shots from the field, while putting up 12.9 ppg and 6.2 rpg at home.

Getting It Done With Defense: Stingy defense has been the main reason Loyola has won seven of its last 11 games in the month of February dating back to last season. In those 11 February outings, the Ramblers have yielded only 56.0 ppg and allowed 70 or more points just once. Loyola has limited its last four foes to 56.0 ppg and held its last nine opponents to fewer than 70 points.

Flourishing In February: One thing Loyola has been known for over the last three seasons has been a strong finish. In three-plus years at Loyola, Whitesell's clubs have posted a remarkable 18-8 (.692) 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 25 games, Blount leads the Ramblers with 14.7 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. Through games of Feb. 16, Blount ranked tied for fifth 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 61 consecutive contests.

Helping Hands: Loyola is 6-3 this season when it has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Over the last two seasons, the Ramblers are 16-4 (.889) when recording more assists than turnovers, with three of those losses coming in each of the last three games. This is the first time Loyola has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in three straight outings since Feb. 18-25, 2006.

Maybe It Is How You Start: Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has amassed a 44-9 (.846) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Care Takers: Over the last eight contests, Loyola has averaged only 10.4 turnovers per game, including a mere 8.7 in the last three games, all losses. A six-turnover effort versus UIC on Feb. 9 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: Now healthy, Darrin "Boomer" Williams has developed into a threat in the post and is contributing 7.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.0 bpg in the last three home games. In Horizon League action, the junior forward is tallying 4.7 ppg and 2.8 rpg, while sinking 60 percent (31 for 52) of his shots from the field. Williams, who had four points at Valpo on Jan. 26, is contributing 5.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.0 bpg in the last five 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 six current Horizon League players with over 1,000 points - A.J. Graves of Butler (1,704), Mike Schachtner of Green Bay (1,222), Jon Goode of Detroit (1,216), J'Nathan Bullock of Cleveland State (1,141) and Josh Mayo of UIC (1,114). Blount currently ranks 30th on Loyola's all-time scoring chart with 1,052 points.

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".

Double-Digit Delight: With one more victory, Loyola would reach the 10-win plateau for the fourth straight campaign. The last time the Ramblers posted 10 or more wins in four consecutive seasons was a 16-year stretch from 1974-89, when Loyola averaged 15 wins per year.

Successful Seniors: Loyola's senior class of Cortney Horton, Tom Levin, Tracy Robinson, Dave Telander and Darrin Williams, has notched 62 victories since the start of the 2004-05 season, tying the 2007 class as the most successful in terms of wins, since the Class of 1988 piled up 69 wins in its career. Prior to tip-off, the Ramblers will honor those five seniors, along with manager Alex Waz, for their contributions to the program.

Not Without A Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 888 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 414 Rambler victories. In his 31st year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2006.

Bracket Busting Up Next: Loyola plays its final non-league game of the regular-season when it travels to William & Mary on Saturday afternoon for a O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters contest.

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.).