Nov. 10, 2007
Box Score
Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell
On how the team played against LeMoyne
"We haven't played against a team that has zoned almost the whole game in a long time, so that was different for our guys. Some nights, you fall in love with the three or the jump shot, but I think we have to play better in spurts. We had a good spurt and then we really lost momentum and we have to find other ways to create baskets: off the defensive end, offensive boards, at the free-throw line. I thought at times we played solid for two or three minute stretches, then we also had two or three minute stretches which were haphazard. And we're going to run into those this year. I'm still searching a little bit on our bench, trying to find out some combinations that work."
On putting the right players on the court
"I think lots of times we're going to have to search a little bit and find the right guy that clicks. It's good to see Ross (Forman), J.R. (Blount), and Leon (Young) give us some more offensive punch tonight. Tracy (Robinson) is a guy that's capable of putting points on the board, and I think other guys are going to have to have nights of good shooting, like (Dave) Telander, he's very capable of doing that and (Tom) Levin, he's capable of being a good three-point shooter. I think a lot of it's going to be piecing it together. What's got to be consistent is taking care of the ball, rebounding and guarding."
Loyola junior guard J.R. Blount
On the game against LeMoyne
"I think we came out good. That's one thing coach emphasizes is coming out and getting on them right away and that's one thing we did do well."
On what Ross Forman brings to Loyola Basketball
"I think he busted open in the beginning, especially with those three threes. Having a 6-8 guy who can shoot on a wing, that really opens things up. Then coach put him in the middle of the zone and he was able to find other people, so that also helped us as well."
On starting the season with a win
"We had a goal of being undefeated at home and this is the first one of many games, so it feels good to get on a roll. We just want to keep it going, but right now, the game is over and we're focused on Eastern Illinois."
On playing against a Division II school versus a Division I opponent
"I think it feels the same. They had a lineup of 7-foot and 6-8. It was like playing another Division I program, basically. They're bigger than us."
Loyola sophomore forward Ross Forman
On finally playing after sitting out last season
"It has been a little while, but It felt good. It was tough last year, sitting out and watching these guys play. You just have to get yourself ready mentally and that's just what I did."
On his impact in the game
"I felt we meshed well. After I hit those first couple of shots, it definitely opened up for everybody else. Leon (Young) started getting open look after open look underneath the basket. (Dave) Telander started getting open threes. And then coach Whitesell put me at the power four position and threw me in the middle and it just opened things up even more."
On taking shots from outside
"I've been getting hassled at practice for not shooting sometimes. There are times when I feel that I'm not open and Coach Whitesell says, `Shoot it, because you're open.' He's on me about shooting all the time."
