Feb. 14, 2009
Loyola at Butler Game Notes 
LOYOLA (12-15, 4-11) at #15 BUTLER (22-2, 13-1)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Stadium: Hinkle Fieldhouse (10,000)
Series with Butler: Butler leads, 46-29
Television: Horizon League Network
www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv;
Radio: WLUW (88.7 FM)
John Fitzgerald - Play-by-Play
Dave Klusendorf - Expert Analyst
RAMBLERS/BULLDOGS PREVIEW
Loyola will look to halt a six-game losing streak when it visits No. 15 Butler Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs, winners of 14 of their last 15 games, defeated UIC 81-60, Friday night, while Loyola dropped a 71-47 decision at Valparaiso.
SERIES NOTES
Loyola and Butler renew acquaintances in a series that began in 1928 and one in which the Ramblers trail, 46-29. Butler has won 19 of the last 23 meetings between the teams, including a 78-55 victory at the Gentile Center last month, thanks to 20 points from Shelvin Mack and 18 points and 11 rebounds from Matt Howard. Loyola was led by Ross Forman's 13-point effort off the bench. Since an 85-84 victory in 1989, the Ramblers have defeated the Bulldogs just once at Hinkle Fieldhouse, in 2007, dropping 18 of 19 contests.
RAMBLERS VERSUS THE RANKED
Loyola is 32-111 all-time against ranked teams, and has won only one of its last 23 contests against such foes. However, that lone win was a 75-71 victory at then-No. 15 Butler, Feb. 22, 2007. Under Whitesell, Loyola is 1-8 against ranked teams, including a setback at then-No. 11 Purdue earlier this season, and last month's loss to then-No. 17 Butler. Prior to the 2007 win at Butler, Loyola had not defeated a ranked team on the road since ousting No. 20 Louisville, 93-81, Dec. 29, 1984.
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...all but one of Loyola's 15 losses has been by 10 or more points and its 11 League losses have come by an average of 17.4 points...Loyola's current six-game losing streak is its longest since an eight-game slide, Nov. 29-Dec. 29, 2004, in Jim Whitesell's first year in Rogers Park...the Ramblers' roster features three Indiana natives in juniors Marcus Thomas (Indianapolis) and Aric Van Weelden (Munster) and sophomore Ryan Sterling (Fishers)...Sunday's game at Butler is Loyola's final road contest of the regular season...the Ramblers finish the year with three straight home games before opening Horizon League Championship play March 3.
MILWAUKEE'S BEST
A Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League pick, senior J.R. Blount enters Sunday's game versus Butler ranked 11th on Loyola's career scoring list with 1,529 points and needs 27 points to crack the school's all-time top ten. Loyola is 10-8 this season when he scores 10 or more points, and in his team's wins this year, Blount is accounting for 15.9 ppg, while dishing out 49 assists and committing only 32 turnovers. Over the last two years, as Blount has gone, so has the Ramblers. Since the start of the 2007-08 campaign, Loyola is 2-12 when the Milwaukee native fails to score in double figures and 16-4 when he shoots better than 45 percent from the field. Blount, who is averaging 11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 3.4 apg in the last five road games, currently resides in 10th place on Loyola's career assists chart with 301 helpers. After scoring 16 or more points 11 times in the first 16 games of the season, Blount has done so just once in the last 11 outings. In Loyola's last two games, he is contributing 12.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 apg and 2.5 spg. The high-scoring senior had 16 points, two rebounds and a pair of assists at Butler last season, but last month, the Bulldogs held Blount to only two points, his lowest output since going for two points versus Youngstown State on Jan. 29, 2007. After getting off to a .821 (64 for 78) start from the foul line this year, the 6-foot-1 guard has connected on only 44 of his last 88 (.500) tosses from the charity stripe. Not known as a three-point shooter, Blount has buried 35 percent (6 for 17) of his tries from behind the arc in the last seven road games and is just 4 for 34 (.118) from long range in all other outings this year. 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.
WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING
Blount enters Sunday's game against Butler riding a string of 94 consecutive starting assignments. He is the only Rambler to have started all 27 contests this year and has not come off the bench since a Feb. 22, 2006 contest versus Wright State.
SWISH AND DISH
Blount is one of only five players in Loyola history to amass over 1,500 points and 300 assists, joining an exclusive club that also features Rambler greats David Bailey (1,933 points, 580 assists), Blake Schilb (1,879 points, 420 assists), Carl Golston (1,625 points, 649 assists) and Darius Clemons (1,610 points, 703 assists).
MAYBE IT IS HOW YOU START
Since the outset of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has compiled a 57-11 (.838) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime, including a 10-1 mark this year. A 60-49 loss to Youngstown State on Feb. 5 was the Ramblers' first this year when leading at the break.
DAY GAME BELIEVERS
After going 1-4 in matinee contests a season ago, the Ramblers have thrived in games played during daylight hours this year, posting a 6-2 record in such outings.
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. 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 18 of its last 21 contests when it reaches the 70-point plateau, and is 6-2 when doing so this year. Conversely, when the Ramblers surrender 70 or more points this season, they are 0-12. With 72 points in a Jan. 24 victory at Detroit, Loyola recorded its most points on the road versus a Horizon League foe since a 75-71 triumph at then No. 15 Butler on Feb. 22, 2007.
JUSTIN'S TIME
Senior guard Justin Cerasoli has victimized teams from the state of Indiana with 12.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg and 3.3 spg this season. Over the last two outings, the 6-foot-5 transfer from Ole Miss is tallying only 4.0 ppg on 12 percent (2 for 17) shooting, after going for 12.3 ppg on 34 percent (15 for 44) shooting in his previous three games. In a Feb. 7 loss to Cleveland State, he had a string of consecutive made free throws snapped at 39, but dating back to last season, has connected on 44 of his last 45 (.978) tries from the charity stripe. Cerasoli, who is a perfect 22 for 22 from the foul line away from home this year, has averaged 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg and 2.5 spg this season versus ranked opponents, and notched a team-best 14 points at Purdue in November. In 24 starts this season, he is springing for 11.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2.0 spg. His 56 total steals this year are the most by a Rambler since Earl Brown recorded 67 thefts in 1997-98.
SURE SHOTS
Improved efficiency at the offensive end of the floor has helped fuel Loyola to its last six victories. In those six triumphs, the Ramblers are averaging 75.0 ppg, 12 points more than their season average, while draining shots at a 51 percent (170 for 335) rate.
JORDAN RULES
Freshman swingman Jordan Hicks has scored in double digits in each of the last two outings, becoming Loyola's first true freshman to accomplish the feat since Andy Polka did so Feb. 14 and 17, 2007. In making his first start since Dec. 20, Hicks notched a team-best 11 points and added four rebounds at Valparaiso Friday night. In Tuesday's loss to Wright State, the 6-foot-6 Rochester, Minn., native poured in a season-high 14 points, in only 13 minutes of action, for the second-highest total by a Rambler freshman this season. Hicks has shot the ball well in true road games this season, to the tune of a 64 percent (16 for 25) rate. In two starts in Horizon League play, he is totaling 10.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg, on a sizzling 89 percent (8 for 9) shooting. In Loyola's last two contests, Hicks is contributing 12.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 1.0 spg, while shooting 75 percent both from the field (9 for 12) and from behind the arc (3 for 4).
BRADLEY IN BRACKETBUSTERS
Last week, it was announced that Loyola will host Missouri Valley Conference and in-state rival Bradley on Feb. 21. The match-up was chosen from a pool of teams for the ESPNU BracketBusters event, and means the Ramblers and Braves will square off for the seventh straight season.
MATCH MAKERS
With a win at Detroit on Jan. 24, the Ramblers matched their win total from 2007-08 by notching their 12th victory. Last season, Loyola didn't win its 12th game until March 4. In addition, the win at Detroit also gave Loyola four true road wins this season, which equals its total from a year ago.
SIZING UP THE STREAK
During its current six-game losing skid, Loyola has struggled at both ends of the floor. Over the last half dozen contests, the Ramblers have managed only 57.3 ppg on 35 percent (116 for 334) shooting from the field, while allowing their opponents to record 72.8 ppg and shoot 47 percent (157 for 331) from the field. In the last pair of outings, Loyola's struggles have been more dramatic at the offensive end of the floor, as they are mustering only 49.5 ppg and shooting 32 percent (33 for 103) from the field, including 20 percent (6 for 30) from three-point territory.
ONLY THE YOUNG CAN SAY
Leon Young made his first start of the season in a Feb. 7 loss to Cleveland State, but came up with his best offensive showing in over a year by going for 22 points. His output was his best since tossing in a career-high 24 points at UMKC on Dec. 22, 2007. Young, who has converted 99 of his last 119 (.832) tries from the foul line, is averaging 11.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg in two starts this season. 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 110 points shy of the 1,000-point plateau. Loyola is 4-3 this season when he scores in double figures, and over his last three appearances, Young is tallying 11.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg, while shooting 63 percent (10 for 16) from the field and 81 percent (13 for 16) from the charity stripe.
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 (557 rebounds), which ranks 24th on Loyola's career chart, is even more impressive when you consider the fact that he has been sidelined for 27 games, nearly the equivalent of a full season, in his career due to various injuries and ailments.
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 17 games, all as a member of the starting rotation, the Cincinnati native is contributing 6.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg, while shooting 50 percent (10 for 20) from three-point range. 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. Gibler, who has buried 7 of his last 13 (.538) triple tosses, is contributing 6.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg, while shooting 63 percent (5 for 8) from three-point territory in the last five road games. After opening the year by hitting 22 of his first 45 shots (.489), the 6-foot-7 forward has converted only 14 of his last 41 (.342) from the field. In Loyola's wins, Gibler is putting up 6.3 ppg and shooting 51 percent (24 for 47) from the field, including 75 percent (6 for 8) from three-point land, while in its setbacks, is managing only 3.6 ppg, on 31 percent (12 for 39) shooing from the field and 31 percent (4 for 13) from long distance. He is shooting 58 percent (7 for 12) from beyond the arc in true road games this year.
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 16 contests, as he is hitting shots at a 39 percent (31 for 79) clip from long distance. The Indianapolis native began the year by hitting only 8 of his first 41 (.195) attempts from three-point range. Thomas, who set a Danville Area Community College record with 83 triples a year ago, has helped Loyola to a 6-4 record this season when he drains two or more trifectas, and an 8-4 mark when he scores six or more points. He is contributing 7.1 ppg off the bench and shooting 40 percent (14 for 35) from triple distance in the last eight road games. Thomas has hit at least one three-pointer in 13 of the last 15 contests and has picked up 27 of his 39 triples on the year in the Ramblers' last 15 outings. Thomas has drained 18 of his last 46 (.391) attempts from long distance and has scored in double digits on five occasions this season.
HERE COMES THE BOOM
Senior Darrin "Boomer" Williams has registered 192 points this season, which surpasses his career total entering this year (136 points). The 6-foot-8 forward scored in double digits for the third time in the last seven game when he totaled 10 points at Valparaiso Friday night and is now tossing in 8.0 ppg and grabbing 4.4 rpg in eight League road tilts this season. Williams, who is contributing 8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg and shooting 70 percent (14 for 20) from the field over the last four road outings, has helped the Ramblers to a 7-5 mark in his career when he scores in double figures. The Detroit native is turning away 2.7 shots per game in the last three contests.
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.
NOT WITHOUT A HITCH
Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho has worked 921 consecutive Loyola men's basketball contests heading into Sunday's game at Butler. 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 429 Rambler victories. In his 32nd year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
GETTING IT DONE WITH DEFENSE
In its 12 victories this season, Loyola has surrendered only 57.0 ppg, while putting the clamps down on defense. In those wins, the Ramblers have permitted opponents to shoot a meager .387 (249 for 644) from the field, including .264 (52 for 197) from three-point land, while also forcing a total of 173 turnovers.
BEEN CAUGHT STEALING
Loyola recorded a season-high 13 steals in Friday night's loss at Valparaiso. In fact, the 13 thefts is the most by a Rambler squad since swiping 16 balls Dec. 29, 2007 vs. Saint Mary's (Minn.) and is the most versus a NCAA Division I foe since tallying 13 steals in a Nov. 20, 2006 victory versus San Diego.
INJURY BUG BITES RAMBLERS
Numerous Ramblers have battled injuries during the course of the 2008-09 season as six different players have been forced to the sidelines for at least one game this year due to various ailments. Andy Polka has missed 16 games to lead the M*A*S*H unit, followed by Leon Young (10 games), Ross Forman (8 games), John Benkoske (2 games), Walt Gibler (1 game) and Courtney Stanley (1 game). Polka, Forman and Young all sat out Friday night's game at Valparaiso.
