Feb. 3, 2010
Loyola vs. Youngstown State Game Notes 
Loyola (12-9, 3-8) vs. Youngstown State (8-13, 2-9)
February 4, 2010 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Chicago, Ill. - Gentile Center
Radio • WNTD (950 AM); WAUR (930 AM); WLUW (88.7 FM) • John Fitzgerald (play-by-play), John Tracy (analyst)
TV • Lakeshore Public Television
www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv
TONIGHT'S GAME
Loyola looks to put an end to a four-game losing skid when it plays host to Youngstown State Thursday night. Much like the Ramblers, who have dropped seven of their last eight contests, the Penguins have fallen on hard times recently, having come up on the short end in five of their last six decisions. Thursday's game is the opener of a grueling three-games-in-five-days stretch for Loyola in which it will host Cleveland State Saturday (Feb. 6) before heading to Indianapolis to face No. 23 Butler Monday night (Feb. 8).
SERIES NOTES
Loyola and Youngstown State are meeting for the 23rd time in a series that dates back to 1956. Thanks to the Penguins' 71-67 victory in Youngstown, Ohio last month, the series is knotted at 11 and the teams have split the last eight meetings. Loyola has posted an 8-3 record against Youngstown State in games played at the Gentile Center and has claimed four of the last five meetings in the Windy City. When the teams met at the Beeghly Center last month, the Ramblers wiped out a nine-point deficit in the second half but couldn't hang on as DeAndre Mays tallied 30 points to spark the Penguins to the four-point win. Terrance Hill scored 18 points to lead four double-digit scorers for Loyola. In last season's contest at the Gentile Center, Kelvin Bright notched 16 points as YSU earned a 60-49 victory despite 12 points from J.R. Blount as Loyola shot only 25 percent (17-for-68) from the field.
ON THIS DATE IN LOYOLA HISTORY
Behind 17 points and 25 rebounds from Larry Knight Loyola picked up its third victory over a ranked team in a week's time as its defeated Georgetown, 68-65 in overtime in Alumni Gym, on this date in 1978.
"D" IS THE KEY
Loyola has emerged victorious 15 of the last 17 times it has held a team to fewer than 60 points. In its last three wins, Loyola's defense has done the job, holding opponents to 49.3 ppg. Loyola, which has allowed more than 70 points just once in 12 wins this year (73 at Holy Cross), has limited opponents to 55.3 ppg, 33 percent (57-for-171) from the field and 32 percent (20-for-63) from three-point range, in its three League victories. The Ramblers have surrendered just 51.0 ppg and limited foes to 34 percent (74-for-217) from the field, including 30 percent (21-for-71) from triple territory, in their last four wins overall.
WHERE DID THE "O" GO?
After averaging 71.1 ppg in the first 10 games of the year, Loyola has seen its offensive production slip to 57.3 ppg in the last 11 contests. The Ramblers have not scored 70 or more points since a 79-61 victory at SIU Edwardsville Dec. 20, a span of 10 games.
SIZING UP THE SLUMP
During a slump in which it has lost seven of eight games, Loyola has averaged only 55.8 ppg and shot 40 percent (158-for-399) from the field and 62 percent (80-for-130) from the free throw line. Conversely, en route to an 11-2 record through the first 13 contests of the season, the Ramblers put up 68.8 ppg, while knocking down shots at a 43 percent (308-for-720) clip from the field and a 70 percent rate (191-for-273) from the charity stripe. Loyola, which has lost three straight games at the Gentile Center, has put up only 52.0 ppg and shot 32 percent (54-for-167) from the field, while racking up 29 assists and 40 turnovers in that slump. En route to opening the year with seven straight wins at home, the Ramblers tallied 68.6 ppg and shot 46 percent (165-for-358) from the field while registering 101 assists and 91 turnovers.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Since the start of the 2008-09 season, Loyola is 13-4, including a 7-3 mark this year, in games decided by five points or less. After opening the season with a 6-0 mark in games decided by five points or less, the Ramblers dropped heartbreakers at Cleveland State (62-57) and Youngstown State (71-67) before picking up a 55-50 victory at UIC Jan. 15. Loyola had been 3-0 at home in contests determined by five or fewer points until a 48-47 setback versus No. 20 Butler Jan. 21. Five of Loyola's last eight road games have been decided by five points or less.
REBOUNDING RAMBLERS
Through games of Jan. 31, Loyola ranked second in the Horizon League with a +4.1 rebounding margin. Since the inception of the League in 1979-80, the Ramblers have produced the conference's top board man nine times, more than any other school in the League's history, in 30 seasons, and Andy Polka currently paces the circuit with 8.9 rpg. In its last four victories, Loyola owns a staggering +12.0 rebounding margin (39.8 to 27.8). Over the last three games however, the Ramblers have been beaten on the boards, 119-91 (39.7 to 30.3).
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
Under head coach Jim Whitesell, Loyola is 55-30 (.647) all-time at the Gentile Center, including 32-7 (.821) in non-conference action, and has won seven of its last 10 games at "The Joe." After opening the year with a 7-0 mark at home, the Ramblers have dropped their last three games there.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Andy Polka needs only 15 rebounds to become the 14th player in Loyola history to grab 700 career boards. The 6-foot-7 rebounding machine was the Ramblers' leading board man as both a freshman and sophomore, and last year, despite appearing in only 11 games due to an ankle injury, still managed to post a team-high 5.5 rpg. Polka, who leads the Horizon League with 8.9 rpg, is on the cusp of becoming the third Rambler since the 1988-89 campaign to grab 9.0 rpg or better in a full season. Already this year, Polka has grabbed 10 or more rebounds on 10 occasions, which eclipses his previous season high of six set in 2007-08. Loyola is 10-3 the last 13 games in which he has grabbed double-digit boards.
BEN AT WORK
Ben Averkamp, who has turned away 2.4 shots per game in the last five contests, has come off the bench in each of the last two outings and posted 3.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg and 1.5 bpg. A starter in the first 19 contests, the 6-foot-8 forward has registered 7.9 ppg and shot 53 percent (40-for-75) from the field in the team's wins, compared to 3.8 ppg and 42 percent (13-for-31) shooting in its losses. Loyola is 4-1 when he scores in double figures and in Horizon League action, Averkamp is shooting 57 percent (4-for-7) from long range. Averkamp, who ranks second in the Horizon League with 1.2 bpg, is looking to become the first true freshman since Javan Goodman (20 total blocks) in 1995-96 to lead Loyola in blocked shots. Loyola is 7-1 when Averkamp scores eight or more points and over the last four home outings, he has mustered only 2.3 ppg and 2.5 rpg after going for 8.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg in the first six home contests. In four games versus teams from Ohio this season, the freshman is shooting 88 percent (7-for-8) from the field and in last month's showdown at Youngstown State, he notched 11 points and four rebounds.
DYNAMITE DEFENSE
On Jan. 21, Loyola held then 20th-ranked Butler, which came into the game averaging 76.0 ppg in Horizon League play, to nearly 30 points below its average. A stifling Rambler defense allowed the Bulldogs to score only 48 points, which is the fewest by a Butler team since a 43-42 loss at Wright State on Dec. 8, 2007. Butler's previous low in points this year was 57 at UAB.
MAYBE IT IS HOW YOU START
Since the outset of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has compiled a 67-13 (.838) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime, including an 8-2 mark in 2009-10. Both of those losses this season came at the hands of Detroit.
ON THE MARCUS
Although his minutes have dwindled recently, Indianapolis native Marcus Thomas is providing a long-range touch, averaging 6.5 ppg, while shooting 42 percent (35-for-83) from triple distance off the bench this year. The 6-foot-2 senior posted 12.2 ppg on 47 percent (25-for-53) shooting through the first six contests, but has managed only 4.3 ppg on 39 percent (22-for-57) shooting in the last 15 outings. Thomas, who started the year by hitting 14 of his first 25 (.560) triple tries, got off to a fast start this year by burying 23 threes through the first 12 games. Thomas has connected for two or more three-pointers in 10 of the team's first 21 contests of the year and has hit a three-pointer in six straight outings, his longest stretch since nailing one in each of the first contests of the season. Thomas scored in double figures in five of the first six games this season but has done so just twice in the last 15 outings. With 13 points off the bench at Wright State last Saturday, he recorded his best showing since going for 13 points at Green Bay on Dec. 3. Thomas is contributing 9.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg and burying 50 percent (5-for-10) of his triple tries in the last pair of outings. After putting up 10.3 ppg on 47 percent (9-for-19) long-range shooting in the first three home games this season, Thomas has put up only 3.0 ppg and shot 25 percent (5-for-20) from three-point land in the last seven contests at "The Joe".
THAT 70s SHOW
Seventy points has been the benchmark for success when it comes to the Ramblers' offense the last few seasons. In 2007-08, Loyola went 7-0 when totaling at least 70 points. In fact, dating back to the 2006-07 season, Loyola has won 23 of its last 27 contests when it reaches the 70-point plateau, and is 4-0 when doing so in 2009-10.
LIVING IN THE 80s
Under Whitesell's watch, Loyola is a spotless 19-0 when scoring 80 or more points, including an 81-42 victory over St. Ambrose, Nov. 28.
THREE-MENDOUS
After connecting on only 31 percent (158-for-506) of their triple attempts a year ago and 28 percent (142-for-511) in 2007-08, the Ramblers have shored up their long-range shooting and are draining 36.5 percent (138-for-378) of such tries through 21 games this season. Loyola is challenging the current school accuracy record of .374 set in 1996-97.
PHILLY'S BEST
Philadelphia native Courtney Stanley ranks second in the Horizon League lead with 4.5 apg through games of Jan. 31 and twice this season has doled out 10 or more helpers in a game. Stanley is tallying 5.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.3 apg and 2.3 spg, while handing out 16 assists to only seven turnovers, in the last three games. He has been a key to the team's success as Loyola is 8-4 this season when he posts a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. In the Ramblers' three League wins, the sophomore point guard is tallying 8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 3.7 apg. Stanley, who has helped Loyola to an 8-0 record when he hits 50 percent or more of his field goal tries, buried a three-pointer from halfcourt, while falling out of bounds as the final horn sounded, to lift Loyola to a 68-65 win at Bradley Dec. 16. In Loyola' wins this year, the speedy guard is tallying 6.0 ppg and 5.2 apg, while shooting 56 percent (25-for-45) from the field and 71 percent (5-for-7) from long distance. However, in the Ramblers' nine losses, he has put up 5.1 ppg, 3.7 apg, and shot 26 percent (15-for-58) from the field, while misfiring on 16 of his 19 trey attempts. Loyola is 6-3 this season when he hands out five or more assists and the 6-foot-1 Stanley dished out 12 assists, against only one turnover, in the home opener versus Canisius. In four games against Ohio foes this season, Stanley is registering 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3.0 apg and went for 10 points, a pair of boards and four helpers at Youngstown State last month. Stanley, who has averaged 3.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg and shot 22 percent (4-for-18) from the field in the last three home games, has drained 50 percent of both his field goal (18-for-36) and three-point attempts (3-for-6) in non-League play, but only 33 percent (22-for-67) of his shots from the field and 25 percent (5-for-20) from long distance, in League battle.
T-TIME
Junior college transfer Terrance Hill has made an immediate impact at both ends of the floor and has tallied 13.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.3 apg over the last eight outings. The Kansas City, Mo., native, who has started all 21 games this year, is looking to become the first newcomer to lead Loyola in scoring for a season since Derek Molis posted 14.9 ppg in 1995-96. Hill has scored in double figures in 14 of the first 21 games and is contributing 14.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 apg and shooting 47 percent (8-for-17) from triple territory in the last three home games. Through the first three contests, the junior guard averaged a respectable 7.3 ppg, but over the last 18 contests has bumped his production to 12.8 ppg. Hill is contributing 10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 3.0 apg at home this year. Loyola is 6-1 when he scores fewer than 10 points and he has scored in double figures in six of the team's 10 home games this season. After struggling through a 4-for-22 (.182) stretch from beyond the arc, Hill has hit 9 of his last 20 (.450) tries from long distance. Hill is also looking to regain his touch at the foul line, where he has converted only 15 of his last 25 (.600) tries after burying 29 of his first 33 (.879).
THE GREAT WALT
Walt Gibler has been a reliable and consistent weapon off the bench and has provided toughness in the post for Loyola this season to the tune of 11.2 ppg. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is tallying 13.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg in the last five outings at home. When the 6-foot-7 sophomore forward scores in double figures, Loyola is 10-6 in his career. Gibler has scored in double figures in 13 of the last 20 games, and is looking to become the first Rambler since Leon Young in 2005-06 (10.4 ppg) to average double figures in scoring while playing more than 50 percent of his games as a substitute. Gibler, who has drained 56 of his last 69 (.812) tries from the charity stripe and 26 of his last 45 (.578) from the field, has also hit 3 of his last 5 (.600) attempts from three-point range after missing 12 of his previous 13 tries (.077). Loyola is 7-2 this season when Gibler scores 14 or more points and in the last two contests, he is tallying 6.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg, after going for 15.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg in the previous pair of games. He owns a team-best 12.8 ppg average at home this winter and is chipping in 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 spg and shooting 58 percent (14-for-24) from the field, against Ohio teams. He made his first start since Feb. 13, 2009 in last Saturday's loss at Wright State.
G-MAC ATTACK
After receiving limited playing time in his first two seasons, junior Geoff McCammon has blossomed into one of the Ramblers' top scoring threats with 9.5 ppg and has scored in double digits in 10 contests, three times eclipsing the 20-point plateau. The 6-foot-4 guard, who is one of only two Illinois natives on the roster, tabulated personal bests of 26 points and five rebounds in only 24 minutes of action at UIC Jan. 15. Loyola is 7-2 this season when McCammon, who has connected on 15 of his last 17 (.882) tries from the foul line, hits two or more three-pointers. Loyola is 9-2 in his career when he scores in double figures and in the team's 12 wins this year is accounting for 13.2 ppg, while shooting 53 percent (56-for-106), compared to 4.6 ppg and 32 percent (14-for-44) in the Ramblers' nine losses. McCammon is sinking 52 percent (17-for-33) of his three-point attempts in League action and he has converted his last 11 attempts from the foul line at home. His 9.5 ppg average this season has come in just 19.7 minutes per game. McCammon, who his averaging 10.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg and shooting 51 percent (20-for-39) from the field and 61 percent (11-for-18) from long range in the last five outings, is averaging only 4.0 ppg in the last three home games after going for 14.0 ppg in the first seven games at the Gentile Center.
LISTEN UP ALL YOU POLKAMANIACS
Andy Polka has displayed no ill effects from the season-ending ankle injury he suffered last year. The forward has ripped down a team-best 8.9 rpg, which leads the Horizon League through games of Jan. 31, and in a Dec. 12 win over San Francisco recorded the seventh double-double of his career and third this season by scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 boards. The senior, who received an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA due to medical hardship, is averaging 3.2 apg, which ranks 10th in the Horizon League. Polka is the only player to rank among the top 10 in the League in both rebounds and assists. One of the top passing big men in the League, Polka is notching 9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and shooting 47 percent (8-for-17) from the field in the last two outings. The Ramblers are 3-1 overall this year when he scores in double figures and in his last four appearances in the month of February, is contributing 9.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 1.5 apg. Polka has connected on 8 of his last 17 (.471) shots from the field after making only 2 of his previous 14 (.143) tries. At home this season, he is putting up 7.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 3.2 apg.
JESUITS BE JAMMIN'
Thursday's game against Youngstown State is the annual Jesuit Jam and the first 500 students entering the Gentile Center will receive a free t-shirt and a raffle ticket for premium prizes. Following the game, a party, featuring entertainment, free pizza and soft drinks, will be held in Alumni Gym.
RAMBLERS MAKE THE GRADE
Loyola is one of only 24 men's basketball programs to have received a NCAA Public Recognition Award in each of the past two years. The NCAA issues a Public Recognition Award to programs that have multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all men's basketball teams in the country. Also in this exclusive club over the last two seasons are tradition-rich schools such as Dayton, Duke, Holy Cross, Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina, Princeton and Villanova to name a few.
NOT WITHOUT A HITCH
Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 947 consecutive Loyola men's basketball contests heading into Thursday's game against his alma mater Youngstown State. 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 443 Rambler victories. In his 33rd year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
CARDIAC RAMBLERS
Not only has Loyola won seven games by five points or less this season, but it has also picked up a pair of those wins in thrilling fashion by hitting three-pointers as time expired. On Nov. 20 at Holy Cross, senior guard Aric Van Weelden hit the first buzzer-beater of his career to cap a remarkable Rambler comeback in the final 1:05. Van Weelden's three-pointer at the final horn punctuated an 11-0 Loyola run in the final 65 seconds as the team picked up a 76-73 victory. On Dec. 16, sophomore guard Courtney Stanley hit one of the most dramatic shots in recent Loyola history as he tossed in a shot from halfcourt, while falling out of bounds, to propel the Ramblers to a 68-65 victory for their first win at Bradley since 1984. Stanley's stunner was part of an incredible second-half comeback that saw Loyola erase a 12-point deficit in that period.
JOHNNY B GOOD
Sophomore center John Benkoske was solid in his first career start last Thursday night at Detroit. The 6-foot-9 Oshkosh, Wis., native pulled down a career-best five rebounds and added two points in nine minutes of action. In fact, Benkoske's two points at Detroit Thursday were his first since going for four points at Milwaukee Dec. 5. Benkoske, who is averaging 1.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg in the last pair of contests, has recorded 12 of his 15 points this season away from home. He is shooting 56 percent (5-for-9) from the field on enemy hardwood this winter.
BENCH BOOST
In 21 games this season, Loyola's bench has outscored that of its opponents by a whopping 506-323 margin. At least one player has scored in double digits off the bench in 15 of Loyola's first 21 contests and in fact, nine times this year the team's leading scorer has not been a member of the starting lineup. Jim Whitesell's bench has provided a major lift in the last seven games, as it has outscored that of its counterparts by a 147-77 margin.
RANDOM RAMBLER NOTES
Loyola posted 10 wins before Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1962-63 season...Loyola's seven-game winning streak in December was its longest since claiming seven consecutive contests, Jan. 29 - Feb. 22, 2007...dating back to last season, the Ramblers have dropped seven of their last eight home League contests...Loyola is 4-0 this season versus teams from the state of Illinois.
FEBRUARY FINISHES
Under Whitesell, Loyola has rolled up a 22-15 (.595) all-time record in games played in the month of February. From 2005-07, the Ramblers were nearly unstoppable in February, winning 77 percent (17-5) of their games, but over the last two seasons, have gone just 5-10 (.333).
OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF LEAGUE
En route to a 9-1 record against non-Horizon League foes this season, Loyola averaged 70.4 ppg, posted a + 9.4 rebounding margin, dished out 155 assists to 139 turnovers, and shot 71 percent (150-for-212) from the foul line. However, in League action, where the Ramblers have gone 3-8, they have seen those numbers dip to 57.9 ppg, a - 0.7 rebounding margin, 127 assists to 165 miscues, and a 63 percent (121-for-191) accuracy rate from the charity stripe.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
In November, Flavien Davis signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Loyola next fall. An athletic, 6-foot-5 wing player from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wis., Davis has had a decorated prep career and last season led his squad to the Wisconsin Division 2 state championship by averaging 16.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg for a team that finished with a 24-2 overall record. Davis is a three-time First Team All-Wisconsin Little Ten Conference honoree and last season was tabbed second team all-state by both the Associated Press and Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.
EIGHT TO ENTER LOYOLA HALL OF FAME FEB. 6
Eight of the greatest student-athletes ever to wear the Maroon and Gold will be inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 6. Joining the ranks of Loyola immortals will be Ellen Antonacci Bartletti (softball), Sherry Metz Ott (women's basketball), Tony Parker (men's basketball), Missy Sartorelli Grevengoed (women's volleyball) and the track relay team of Kevin Bikus-Larry Krause-John McCabe-Joe Smyka. The Hall of Fame Class of 2010 will be recognized at halftime of that day's game versus Cleveland State.
LOYOLA DRAWS CREIGHTON IN BRACKETBUSTERS
For the fourth time in seven seasons, Loyola will face an opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference in games selected from the ESPN BracketBusters pool of teams. On Feb. 20, the Ramblers will travel to Jesuit rival Creighton for their first meeting with the Bluejays since Dec. 12, 1981. Loyola is 4-2 in six previous BracketBusters contests.
ASSESSING THE SCORING AVERAGES
Should leading scorer Terrance Hill maintain his current pace of 12.0 ppg, he would post the lowest average by a Loyola team leader in that category since Vernell Brent tossed in a team-high 10.9 ppg in 1993-94. In fact, Brent's average is the lowest by a Rambler leading scorer in the Post-World War II Era.
UP NEXT
Loyola closes out a brief two-game homestand when it hosts Cleveland State Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m., in a contest will be televised locally on Lakeshore Public Television.
