Loyola at Milwaukee Game Notes

Feb. 26, 2008

Loyola (11-16, 6-10) at Milwaukee (13-14, 8-8)
Date: February 28, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Arena: U.S. Cellular Arena (10,783) - Milwaukee, Wis.
Series: Milwaukee leads, 20-17
Radio: WYLL (AM 1160) - John Fitzgerald (play-by-play); Dave Klusendorf (expert analyst); Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 127)
TV: www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv

Tonight's Game: Loyola looks to match a season high by winning its third straight game as it travels north to face Milwaukee Thursday night. The Ramblers are also still in the hunt to host a first-round game in the Horizon League Tournament, which begins next Tuesday (March 4). After winning nine of ten contests from mid-December through late January, Milwaukee has dropped five of its last six games, while the Ramblers have won five of their last eight.

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 64-55 (.538) 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 342-249 (.579) mark, is 3-6 against Milwaukee as Loyola's head coach.

Loyola - Milwaukee - The Series: The League rivals are meeting for the 38th time and the Ramblers trail the series, 20-17. Loyola has prevailed in the last three meetings between the teams, and last January halted an 11-game losing skid to Milwaukee. A year ago, thanks to a 66-56 decision, Loyola toppled the Panthers for the first time in Milwaukee since 2002, putting an end to a six-game slide. When the teams last met, on Dec. 8 this season, the Ramblers were buoyed by 21 points and 14 rebounds from Leon Young en route to a 73-68 victory, in overtime, at the Gentile Center. J.R. Blount chipped in 20 points for Loyola and Tracy Robinson added 18 points, including a dramatic lay-up at the buzzer to force overtime. Loyola is 7-11 all-time against the Panthers in Milwaukee.

Heart And Cerasoli: Junior Justin Cerasoli, a transfer from the University of Mississippi, has provided a major lift off the bench in the last two outings by contributing 18.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 bpg and 2.0 spg, while shooting 46 percent (11 for 24) from the field and 75 percent (6 for 8) from three-point range. The Ramblers have posted a 3-1 ledger this season when the 6-foot-5 guard scores in double digits off the bench. Cerasoli, who has converted 9 of his last 14 (64 percent) tries from long distance, is coming off of an 18-point, four-assist performance at William and Mary. In the last seven road games, he is averaging 10.6 ppg.

Three-mendous: Loyola connected on a season-high 12 of 23 three-point field goals in a 71-66 victory at William & Mary on Feb. 23, eclipsing its previous best of seven treys. The three-point barrage was the Ramblers' best effort since hitting 13 triples versus Lake Forest on Dec. 17, 2005. That feat is even more impressive considering that Loyola had connected for only 12 three-pointers in the previous three contests. Over the last four road games, the Ramblers are shooting 38 percent (27 for 72) from long 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 102-38 (.729) 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 scored 20 points and added three rebounds, four assists and three steals against Milwaukee on Dec. 8 and is averaging 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.0 apg in 4 career games at U.S. Cellular Arena. Blount, who has scored in double digits in seven of the Ramblers' last eight road games, is contributing 16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 3.0 apg, while shooting 50 percent from both the field (12 for 24) and three-point territory (4 for 8) in the last two outings. Loyola is 19-6 since the start of the 2006-07 campaign when he records a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and is 7-3 this year when he shoots better than 45 percent from the field. A 15.1 ppg scorer in the last seven road games, Blount is averaging 18.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.0 spg against teams from Wisconsin this season. He is tallying 17.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 2.4 apg in seven career games versus Milwaukee.

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 9.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg in the Ramblers' last two road 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 and needs 91 boards to join Loyola's 500-Rebound Club. Last season, he recorded 13 points and eight boards at Milwaukee and is accounting for 10.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg, while knocking down shots at a 57 percent (12 for 21) clip in three career meetings with Milwaukee.

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 averaging 15.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 bpg and 1.0 spg versus Wisconsin foes this season. In the Ramblers' last three road games, he is tallying 12.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.1 spg. The senior, who scored 20 points and dealt a career-best eight assists at William and Mary on Feb. 23, has handed out 17 assists to only five 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 his last three games, averaging 12.0 ppg, while shooting 73 percent (11 for 15) from the field. In his last four appearances away from home, the 6-foot-6 forward is putting up 12.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg and has drained 20 of his last 21 (95 percent) shots from the foul line. Young, has had been sidelined for 10 of Loyola's last 16 games for an assortment of ailments, has scored in double digits in seven of his last 10 appearances. In two games versus teams from Wisconsin this season, the Long Beach, Calif., native is producing 14.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg. He went for 21 points and a career-best 14 rebounds against Milwaukee on Dec. 8.

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 20-8 (.714) record in the month of February. Included in that run is a pair of four-game winning streaks and a six-game winning streak. Loyola has enjoyed quite a bit of success away from home in Februarys under Whitesell, having claimed seven of its last 10 games away from home in that month, dating back to 2006.

Ten Spot: Whitesell is 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 27 games, Blount leads the Ramblers with 14.8 ppg and is a cinch 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. 25, Blount ranked 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 7-0 when scoring at least 70 points. In fact, dating back to last year, Loyola has won its last 11, and 12 of its last 13, contests when it reaches the 70-point plateau.

Start Him Up: Blount enters tonight's game having been a member of Loyola's starting five in 63 consecutive contests.

Helping Hands: Loyola is 7-3 this season when it has posted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Over the last two seasons, the Ramblers are 17-4 (.810) when recording more assists than turnovers.

Maybe It Is How You Start: Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has amassed a 46-9 (.836) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Care Takers: Over the last 10 contests, Loyola has averaged only 10.5 turnovers per game, including a mere 9.6 in the last five games. In the first 17 games of the season, Loyola averaged 13.6 turnovers per outing.

Here Comes The Boom: One of the biggest developments of the season has been the emergence of Darrin Williams as a threat in the post. After missing most of his first two years on campus due to knee injuries, the junior forward has contributed 4.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg, while shooting 57 percent from the field and 79 percent from the foul line this season. With 114 points already this year, the Detroit native has eight times his career total entering this season (14 points). On Feb. 20, he tallied 19 points, the second-highest total of his career, and added seven rebounds and three blocks to key a 68-61 victory over Valparaiso. Over the last pair of contests, Williams is accounting for 10.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 1.5 bpg and he has converted 11 of his last13 (85 percent) foul shots.

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 (1,736), Mike Schachtner of Green Bay (1,236), Jon Goode of Detroit (1,227), J'Nathan Bullock of Cleveland State (1,173) and Josh Mayo of UIC (1,142). Blount currently ranks 29th on Loyola's all-time scoring chart with 1,084 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: Thanks to a 68-61 victory over Valparaiso on Feb. 20, Loyola has reached 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 64 victories since the start of the 2004-05 season, to become the most successful in terms of wins, since the Class of 1988 piled up 69 wins in its career.

Not Without A Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 890 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 416 Rambler victories. In his 31st year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2006.

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.).