Oct. 9, 2009

CHICAGO - Loyola basketball fans can officially celebrate the start of the basketball season by attending Midnight Madness at the Gentile Center Friday, Oct. 16. Doors open at 10 p.m., for a night of interactive opportunities for fans and scrimmages from both the Loyola men's and women's teams. Admission is free.

The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free t-shirt, compliments of the Loyola Athletics Department, along with free pizza and soda. In addition to the brief scrimmages from each Rambler basketball team, a slam dunk and three-point contest will be held and selected students will have an opportunity to shoot for free tuition.

Jim Whitesell, who is in his sixth season at Loyola, welcomes back a pair of starters from last season's squad that won 14 games, including a victory over then No. 15 Butler. Healthy after missing all but 11 contests a year ago is senior forward Andy Polka, who contributed 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game before suffering an ankle injury.

First-year women's coach Eric Simpson inherits a squad that returns all five starters from a year ago, including senior forward Elyse VanBogaert, who was the team's leading scorer and rebounder a year ago with 12.2 ppg and 5.7 rpg.

The men's team will host Robert Morris in an exhibition game Nov. 2, while the women's team will also face Robert Morris in an exhibition contest Nov. 10.