Jan. 16, 2009

Loyola vs. Valparaiso Game Notes

LOYOLA (10-8, 2-4) vs. VALPARAISO (5-13, 2-5)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009
Time: 3 p.m. CT
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Stadium: Gentile Center (5,200)
Series with Valparaiso: Loyola leads, 31-8
Television: Lakeshore Public Television;
Horizon League Network
www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv;
Radio: WLUW (88.7 FM)
John Fitzgerald - Play-by-Play
Dave Klusendorf - Expert Analyst

RAMBLERS/CRUSADERS PREVIEW
Loyola wraps up a weekend home stand by hosting Valparaiso Saturday afternoon. The Ramblers have won eight of their last 12 outings, while the Crusaders have stumbled in nine of their last 11.

SERIES NOTES
Loyola and Valparaiso are meeting for the 40th time in a series that dates back to 1922. The Ramblers, who own a sizable 31-8 advantage in series history, have won 11 straight games against the Crusaders since suffering a 70-65 loss in Valparaiso, Ind., Jan. 14, 1978. Loyola has won six consecutive games against Valpo in Chicago. A year ago, the Ramblers swept the season series, winning 65-63 at the Athletics-Recreation Center on J.R. Blount's driving lay-up with four seconds left in regulation, then holding on for a 68-61 victory behind 19 points apiece from Darrin Williams and Justin Cerasoli, in Chicago.

LOYOLA HOLDS MLK DAY CELEBRATION
The Horizon League is honoring the late Martin Luther King Jr. with a student-centered arts contest, which will culminate with a celebration prior to today's game. Loyola partnered with Northside Catholic Academy to organize a contest for students who submitted a piece of art, an essay, or musical performance focusing on the life of Dr. King. The winners chosen from the school received tickets to today's game and will be recognized on the court during pre-game ceremonies.

RANDOM RAMBLER RUMBLINGS
J.R. Blount is the first Rambler since Eric Dolezal (1990-93) to average 10.0 ppg or better in each of his first three seasons at Loyola...the Ramblers are 8-4 this season when a freshman is part of the starting lineup...the Ramblers are 17-24 under head coach Jim Whitesell in the month of January...Loyola's 78-55 loss to No. 17 Butler Thursday night was its worst home loss since a 103-71 setback to then No. 2 Michigan State on Dec. 9, 2000...in Loyola's two League victories it has held the opposition to 10 percent (3 for 30) shooting from three-point range, while in its four setbacks, opponents have shot a sizzling 52 percent (41 for 79) from beyond the arc.

MILWAUKEE'S BEST
A Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League pick, senior J.R. Blount enters Saturday's game versus Valparaiso ranked 14th on Loyola's career scoring list with 1,419 points and last season became the 37th player in school annals to reach the 1,000-career-points plateau. A clutch performer, Blount is tallying 17.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 apg in two career games against Valpo, and sank a pair of free throws with 4.6 seconds left to lift Loyola to a 62-60 victory over Green Bay Jan. 5. Loyola is 8-4 this season when he scores 10 or more points, and in his team's wins this year, is accounting for 15.6 ppg, while dishing out 44 assists and committing only 27 turnovers. Over the last two years, as Blount has gone, so has the Ramblers. Since the start of the 2007-08 campaign, Loyola is 2-9 when the Milwaukee native fails to score in double figures and 14-4 when he shoots better than 45 percent from the field. Blount, who needs two more assists to vault himself into the top ten in Loyola history in that category, went over the 1,000-point barrier by hitting the game-winning shot with four seconds left in a 65-63 victory at Valparaiso last January. He was held to two points versus Butler Thursday for his lowest output since also registering two points versus Youngstown State on Jan. 29, 2007, a span of 58 games. Blount started the 2008-09 season with a bang, scoring a career-best 42 points in Loyola's Nov. 14 tilt versus Rockhurst. The 42 points are the most ever by a Rambler in a season opener and also tied former LU star David Bailey's Gentile Center record for points in a single contest.

LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
Through games of Jan. 15, Blount ranked fourth in the Horizon League with 14.8 ppg and tied for third with 3.8 apg. The senior guard is one of only two players (UIC's Josh Mayo is the other) to rank in the top five among League leaders in both categories.

WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING
Blount enters Saturday's game against Valparaiso riding a string of 85 consecutive starting assignments. So far this season, Blount and Darrin Williams are the only Ramblers to have started all 18 contests.

BENCH BOOST
A major factor in Loyola's offensive resurgence of late has been the production of its bench. Over the last eight games, Loyola's reserves have produced 30.6 ppg (245 total points), after accounting for only 12.2 ppg (122 total points) in the first 10 outings of the year. At least one Rambler has come off the pine to record 10 or more points in eight of the last nine games. Loyola reserves came in to contribute a season-best 46 points against No. 17 Butler Thursday night as both Ross Forman (13 points) and Marcus Thomas (12 points) scored in double digits.

HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
Loyola has won nine of its last 13 games at the Gentile Center dating back to last season. Under Whitesell, the Ramblers have compiled a 46-22 (.676) record at the Gentile Center. Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola is 22-4 (.846) versus non-Horizon League opponents at home.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
After going 5-6 last season in contests decided by five points or less, the Ramblers are 5-0 in such games so far this season, including a thrilling 62-60 victory over Green Bay Jan. 5, sealed when J.R. Blount broke a 60-60 tie with a pair of free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining. Under the direction of Jim Whitesell, Loyola has accumulated a 23-17 (.575) record in game determined by five points or less.

THAT 70s SHOW
Seventy points has been the benchmark for success when it comes to the Ramblers' offense the last few seasons. A year ago, Loyola went 7-0 when totaling at least 70 points. In fact, dating back to the 2006-07 season, Loyola has won 16 of its last 18 contests when it reaches the 70-point plateau, and is 4-1 when doing so this year. Conversely, when the Ramblers surrender 70 or more points this season, they are 0-8.

JUSTIN'S TIME
Senior guard Justin Cerasoli has scored in double digits in 11 of the Ramblers' last 17 contests, and in has connected on 41 of his last 44 (.932) attempts from the foul line, including each of the last 29, dating back to last season. A Chicago native, Cerasoli averaged 14.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 3.5 apg in a pair of games versus Valparaiso last season. In Horizon League action, the 6-foot-5 transfer from the University of Mississippi is contributing 11.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.7 spg. He has struggled with his shot over the last three games however, connecting on only 4 of 27 (.148) tries from the field, including 2 of 10 (.200) from long distance. Over the last seven games, Cerasoli has handed out 26 assists to only 18 turnovers (1.4 ratio).

LISTEN UP ALL YOU POLKAMANIACS
After ranking third in the Horizon League with 7.2 rpg as a rookie in 2006-07, forward Andy Polka hauled in 6.7 rpg last winter to place sixth in the conference. The Oshkosh, Wis., native enters Saturday's game against Valparaiso needing two more caroms to become the 28th player in Loyola history to reach the 500-rebound level for his career. In a Dec. 2 victory over William & Mary, the 6-foot-7 forward snared a season-high 11 boards as he ran his total of double-digit-rebound games to 12 for his career. In nine starts this season, the 6-foot-7 forward is contributing 7.9 ppg and 6.0 rpg, and in two career appearances against Valpo has provided 9.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg. Polka, who has scored in double figures on three occasions this season, has converted 3 of his last 6 (.500) tries from three-point range. Following a three-game shooting slump in which he hit only 7 of 22 (.318) shots from the field, Polka has bounced back to drain 13 of his last 26 (.500) attempts over his last six contests. Polka missed seven games due to a severely sprained ankle before returning to action against Butler Thursday.

SURE SHOTS
Improved efficiency at the offensive end of the floor has helped fuel Loyola to its last four victories. In those four triumphs, the Ramblers are averaging 76.8 ppg, over 12 points more than their season average, while draining shots at a striking 54 percent (122 for 227) rate. Loyola is connecting on 51 percent (124 for 244) of its field-goal attempts in the last four games at the Gentile Center.

FORMAN IS GRILLING UP POINTS
Junior Ross Forman, who has played in only four games since returning from a back injury that sidelined him for seven contests, came off the bench to record a season-high 13 points versus No. 17 Butler Thursday night. The 6-foot-8 forward's 13 points are his most since a career-best, 28-point outburst at Green Bay last March and also equal his production from his previous seven appearances. In four home games this season, Forman is shooting 56 percent (9 for 16) from the field and is tallying 6.0 ppg. He has committed only seven turnovers in his last 481 minutes of action, or one miscue every 69 minutes.

AMAZING ARIC
Known mostly for his defense, junior Aric Van Weelden scored a team and career-best 12 points in last Saturday's win at Youngstown State. The 6-foot-3 guard has helped Loyola to a 6-3 record since moving into the starting lineup for the Dec. 13 contest versus UMKC, by averaging 3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 1.6 apg, while shooting 57 percent (13 for 23) from the field. Arguably the team's best defender, Loyola has allowed only 64.2 ppg, down from 68.4 ppg, since Van Weelden moved into the starting lineup. He entered the Youngstown game with only one three-point field goal on the year, but went 4 for 4 from long range in that game and is now shooting a ridiculous 72 percent (5 for 7) from triple territory, and 73 percent overall (8 for 11), while contributing 5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.3 apg in the last four contests.

ONLY THE YOUNG CAN SAY
Since returning to the court after missing the first nine games due to a broken hand he suffered in practice, Leon Young has made an immediate impact, helping Loyola to a 6-3 ledger. In nine games this year, the 6-foot-6 Long Beach, Calif., native is contributing 10.2 ppg and a team-best 6.4 rpg, while shooting .532 (33 for 62) from the field. Young, who has converted 80 of his last 95 (.842) tries from the foul line, is averaging 10.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg in his last three home contests. He recorded his first double-double of the season, and the 10th of his career, with 16 points and 11 boards versus SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 22. He is 159 points shy of the 1,000-point plateau. In Thursday's game against Butler, Young produced eight points and six rebounds. He has scored in double figures off the bench in five of his nine appearances this season.

AND LEON'S REBOUND TOTALS ARE GETTING LARGER
With the first of his five rebounds in a Jan. 5 game versus Green Bay, Young became the 27th player in school history to haul in 500 or more boards in his career. His career total (521 rebounds) is even more impressive when you consider the fact that he has been sidelined for 26 games, nearly the equivalent of a full season, in his career due to various injuries and ailments. Young is the first player since Blake Schilb (2003-07) to corral over 500 misfires in his career, and is only the third Rambler since the 1998-99 season to do so. He is aiming to become only the 18th player in Loyola history to rack up over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career.

GREAT WALT
Since moving into the starting lineup at Northern Illinois on Dec. 20, freshman forward Walt Gibler has been a steady player. In the last eight games, all as a member of the starting rotation, the Cincinnati native is contributing 6.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 1.0 apg, while shooting 53 percent (19 for 36) from the field. Gibler, who has connected on 21 of his last 22 (.955) tries from the foul line, is tallying 7.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg, while shooting 59 percent (13 for 22) from the field, in the last five home games. His 19-point outburst against Alcorn State on Dec. 30 was the best by a Loyola true freshman since Leon Young erupted for 23 points at Youngstown State on Feb. 25, 2006. After starting the year by hitting 2 of his first 9 shots (.222) from the field, Gibler has buried 22 of his last 43 (.512) tries.

ON THE MARCUS
After getting off to a slow start shooting the ball, junior Marcus Thomas appears to have found his stroke over the last nine contests, as he is hitting shots at a 44 percent (28 for 64) clip, including 44 percent (20 for 45) from long distance. The Indianapolis native began the year by hitting only 12 of his first 56 (.214) shots overall, including 8 of 41 (.195) from three-point range. He has scored in double figures off the bench in consecutive games for the first time in his Loyola career, averaging 11.5 ppg in that stretch. Thomas, who set a Danville Area Community College record with 83 triples a year ago, has helped Loyola to a 5-2 record this season when he drains two or more trifectas, and a 7-2 mark when he scores six or more points. He is contributing 10.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg off the bench, while hitting shots at a 48 percent (14 for 29) rate, including 52 percent (12 for 23) from three-point territory, in his last four games at the Gentile Center. Thomas has hit at least one three-pointer in six straight contests and eight of the last nine. In fact, he has picked up 16 of his 28 triples on the year in the Ramblers' last half dozen outings.

GETTING IT DONE WITH DEFENSE
In its 10 victories this season, Loyola has surrendered only 56.2 ppg, while putting the clamps down on defense. In those wins, the Ramblers have permitted opponents to shoot a meager .375 (202 for 539) from the field, including .241 (41 for 170) from three-point land, while also forcing a total of 144 turnovers.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
In November, Loyola announced the signing of Ben Averkamp (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) and Gabriel Kindred (Oakland, Calif./Worcester Academy, Mass.) to National Letters of Intent. A 6-foot-7 forward, Averkamp averaged 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 5.0 bpg and 3.0 apg last season for Germantown High School en route to Associated Press Second Team All-State honors. Kindred, a 6-foot-1 guard, tallied 10.0 ppg, 4.0 apg and 2.0 spg at Worcester Academy in Worcester, Mass., and is regarded as one of the top players in his prep league.

MAYBE IT IS HOW YOU START
Since the outset of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has compiled a 56-10 (.848) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime, including a 9-0 mark this year.

NOT WITHOUT A HITCH
Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 912 consecutive Loyola men's basketball contests heading into Saturday's game versus Valparaiso. 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 427 Rambler victories. In his 32nd year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

RAMBLERS COLLECT SHOES FOR SAMARITAN'S FEET
At Saturday's game versus Valparaiso, fans are being asked to donate a brand new pair of shoes, which will be collected for Samaritan's Feet, a a nonprofit organization that distributes the shoes for needy children around the world. Loyola is one of a number of schools participating in the initiative this weekend.

TEN SPOT
With a 68-57 victory at Youngstown State last Saturday, Loyola notched its 10th win of the year. A year ago, the Ramblers did not capture their 10th victory until Feb. 20. Whitesell has guided Loyola to 10 or more wins in each of his first five seasons in Rogers Park and is the first Rambler bench boss since Gene Sullivan (1981-89) to turn the trick. Sullivan reached double figures in wins in each of his nine seasons at Loyola.