Feb. 24, 2007
Recap | Box Score
UIC Interim Head Coach Mark Coomes
On UIC's performance
"Our team has definitely gotten more aggressive. VanderMeer has gotten more aggressive. This was one of his better games."
On what this loss means for Loyola
"In the long run this could be a real boost for Loyola. It is never a good thing to have a long winning streak in the course of a season. I think that has caught up with Butler some. You can't play well all the time. It is virtually impossible. We have been up and down all season and the thing that I like about our team is that we are on our way up. I hope we continue to do that."
UIC center Scott VanderMeer
On tonight's performance
"It wasn't my best game. I had some close to triple-double games this season. It doesn't matter about the best game. The only thing that matters is the win. And this is awesome to sweep for the whole year. We might see Loyola again in the tournament, you never know. It's a big win for us."
Loyola Head Coach Jim Whitesell
Opening Statement
"Congratulations to UIC. They made some big plays at the end. It's a disappointing loss for us. I thought we were going to be able to gut a win out. We had a seven point lead with two and a half minutes to go and fouls to give. We were in a pretty good situation. We gambled and gave up a three-pointer and then we didn't get very organized at the timeout. I thought we had a good shot and missed it. After that we didn't really do a good job defending."
"UIC made big shots. You have to play all the way to the buzzer. We had to get a good shot off and we didn't do that. That is my fault. I have to do a better job of getting them organized and together that way. It's a tough way to lose your Senior Night. That's why this is a great rivalry. You have to play all the way to the end of the game."
On Loyola guard Blake Schilb
"I thought he did a real good job on getting the ball. He did a very good job of giving us a lead and momentum. He got us a seven-point lead. That was our biggest lead. We had a real good start to the second half, and then we just staled again."
On UIC center Scott VanderMeer
"VanderMeer bothers you, he's got real big size. I think he bothered us more in the first half and we took a lot of one-footed shots. I told our players at halftime, I hadn't seen that stuff all year. He altered a lot of shots and got us out of sorts."
On opponent in second round of Horizon League Tournament
"I think we have to be prepared and play well in every game. Whether it's UIC or UW-Milwaukee, we have to play awfully well."
Loyola guard Blake Schilb
On tonight's performance
"We were up seven points with two-and-a-half minutes left then made a couple of defensive errors. UIC knocked down the shots when they needed to. Give credit to them. They really stepped up and we didn't when we needed to."
On tonight's game after winning at Butler
"It negates Thursday's performance, in my opinion. It was supposed to be a good day on Senior Day and we obviously thought we were invincible. This one hurts. You have to chalk it up and come back Monday and see where we're at."
On game's execution
"I wouldn't say it was the prettiest game. It was going back and forth, especially during the second half for a stretch. They needed the shots and they got the possessions when it counted the most."
On handling the loss
"Hopefully, we'll take it as a lesson, learn from it and go into the tournament and make a run again. After a devastating loss like this, you have to pull together."
