Nov. 23, 2009
Recap | Box Score
Post-Game Quotes
Loyola vs. Western Michigan
November 23, 2009
Loyola Head Coach Jim Whitesell
Opening Statement
"We beat a really good team tonight. Western Michigan just kept bringing it to us and I'm really proud of our guys. We fought really hard, but we just got frustrated offensively. Some of the shots that we've been making didn't fall for us. I really thought that (Terrance Hill and Walt Gibler) really spurred us on in the last 11 minutes. Terrance hit those two big three's when we were really struggling and really played with incredible effort. Walt just kind of got us going offensively. Give them the credit, they're the guys who got the job done."
On giving specific players consistent minutes
"Defensively, Terrance (Hill) really had to do a great job on (David) Kool - you have to chase him around. I think he's an outstanding player and I thought that was a good match-up. (Aric) Van Weelden always has a good idea of what to do to get us organized, because we do have some youth on the floor. Walt (Gibler) knows how to play and he'll always stay tough. Walt's very good in the clutch. He's good in the last three minutes - he's going to make free throws, he's going to get you big rebounds and he steps up and makes some good plays that way. Like the guys said, it was a really great team effort. I think the biggest thing is that we kept fighting. Every time we play Western Michigan, it literally almost comes down to the last possession."
On coming back from a 10-point deficit in the second half
"They were putting it to us. I was like, `when are we going to start fighting because they're bringing it to us?' The thing about our guys is that they're very team-oriented, but they've also shown some good resilience. I like that about our team. They're still very coachable when we do not play well. They can handle getting after it and I like the idea that they made themselves accountable. Western Michigan is certainly going to be very, very good this season. They're athletic and they're tough and they're well-coached. I knew for us it was going to be a very tough game to win."
Loyola junior guard Terrance Hill
On responding to Western Michigan's physical play
"(Ben) Averkamp got elbowed in the nose and when I got tangled up, I got thrown to the floor and got elbowed. We're really team-oriented, so once we see one of our teammates get hit like that, we respond like, `you can't do that to our teammates.' Regardless of what we have to do, we weren't going to let each other go out like that."
Loyola sophomore forward Walt Gibler
On scoring 14 points off the bench
"It's a team game. I've had open shots, but our players are great. I think everyone is capable of scoring on this team. When Marcus (Thomas) gets it, people have to flood over on him, so it leaves me open sometimes. Terrance (Hill) is unbelievable driving, people have to help out there and Ben (Averkamp) is awesome too. We really have a strong group here."
