Post by Wolf on Jan 5, 2006 22:19:47 GMT -5
Loyola's Blue Ribbon Preview:
COACH AND PROGRAM
As the Jim Whitesell Era moves to year two at Loyola-Chicago, the comfort zone for the coaching staff and the players has widened considerably. "Last year we took over late,'' Whitesell said. "We were kind of starting from scratch and didn't have a clue about it. We hadn't seen the guys play, hadn't had a chance to work anybody out. We didn't even know what position everybody played.''
Taking over a new program that lost four starters, Whitesell's first gig in Division I was a learn-as-you-go process. The coach and the Ramblers got it figured out. By February, nobody wanted to play Loyola. The Ramblers won seven of their final nine games and the two losses were to league champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"We had a nice stretch that helped us build for this year in terms of attitude and work ethic,'' Whitesell said. "Now we feel more comfortable. You at least know some of the kids in the program, you've had a year to recruit and a year to play in the league, and you understand the road trips.''
PLAYERS
And, not to be overlooked, he now understands Blake Schilb's best position. The 6-7 junior from Rantoul, Ill., had led the team in assists as a freshman in 2003-04, but to look at Schilb (17.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) you wouldn't think point guard. Schilb started the year as the off-guard with DaJuan Gouard as the point. But an injury that kept Gouard out of the lineup for eight games changed everything.
Schilb moved to the point, and over time Whitesell saw the light. When Gouard returned to the lineup, it was to the off-guard spot. With two big scorers (Gouard averaged 16.0 ppg), the Ramblers took off for their big finish. "We found that Blake's natural position is point guard,'' Whitesell said. "When DaJuan did come back, we started winning some of those games we'd been losing. Confidence kept building and where you had been finding a way to lose, now you're finding a way to win.''
Gouard is gone and replacing his scoring punch as a complement to Schilb is one of the Ramblers' missions this winter. The other departed starter is 6-11 center Tyrelle Blair (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Schilb, meanwhile, is a preseason Horizon League Player-of-the-Year candidate, along with Joah Tucker of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Last year was Schilb's coming out season. He doubled his scoring average and again led the team in assists with 120. He also recorded 52 steals and 16 blocked shots. Schilb finished at 50.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent beyond the arc. Don't foul him -- he's an 82-percent man at the line.
"Versatility is the thing,'' Whitesell said. "We can play him on the perimeter or post him up. He rebounds pretty well for a guard and with that size he can see over people. And he shoots it pretty good outside. There was a stretch where he was shooting over 50 percent from three-point range.'' Over the summer Schilb added 10 pounds of muscle and worked on his shot. "He's starting to learn what it's like to be a leader,'' Whitesell said. "That's the biggest difference he has to make. "The thing we're asking him now is to be a better defensive player, to do more of the dirty work. Last year we protected him defensively. Now I want him to assert himself and use his length defensively. He's really bright, he knows how to read things.''
The other aspect of Schilb's game that needs work is his ball security. His 120 assists last year were counter-balanced by 122 turnovers. Part of it was over passing. Part of it was fending off quicker defenders. "When we put the ball in his hands last year it was kind of like putting a rookie in at quarterback,'' Whitesell said. "He's going to throw five interceptions in one day, but if you get that worked out, it's good for the future.''
A 6-7 point guard wasn't the only odd thing about Loyola's winning combination in February. Chris Logan (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg) has to stretch to measure six feet, but he moved into the lineup at off-guard. You'd think a guy that size who doesn't play the point must be a deadeye marksman, but not Logan. He hit only 15.8 percent from three-point range and 50 percent at the free-throw line. But the Ramblers were 7-2 with him as a starter. Logan and Schilb flip-flopped at the defensive end, with Logan guarding the point guard and Schilb the shooting guard. "What Chris gave us,'' said Whitesell, "is a guy willing to guard people, take charges and run down the long rebound. That and good decision-making.''
The likely candidate to move into Gouard's role is 6-5 junior Majak Kou (10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Kou averaged 24.2 minutes and relished a sixth-man role last year. Long and thin, Kou was the team's best perimeter defender (42 steals) and had games where he was a key offensive weapon as well. He finished up at 37.5 percent from three-point range. Kou spent his summer helping Canada win a bronze medal at the FIBA World Under-21 championships. "He got consistent toward the end of the year and that's the thing we've got to get out of him this year,'' Whitesell said. "He's not on a roller coaster any more. If we're going to make the next jump, he's got to do that.''
A couple of holdovers hope to get in the perimeter rotation. Dave Telander (4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg), a 6-1 sophomore, started out his freshman season like he was going to be the Horizon newcomer of the year. The shooting guard notched double figures four times in the first nine games, including 19 against Illinois State. But once Horizon play began, Telander hit the wall. He averaged only 2.3 points the final 18 games. "What happened was he just dropped in confidence,'' Whitesell said, "and when Gouard came back, that cut his time. But he had a great summer and he looks good. He's an excellent three-point shooter.''
Pierre Parker (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-3 sophomore who also got thrown in the fire, especially when Gouard was injured. He isn't a long-range threat but can be a good defender with a wingspan that can't be ignored.
Whitesell also counts on freshman J.R. Blount of Milwaukee to have an impact in the backcourt. The 6-1 Blount comes from a strong prep program at Whitefish Bay Dominican and was a candidate for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin. Blount can play either guard position and has the ability to get to the basket. He figures to push Logan and Kou for playing time, especially if Logan is slow to recover from a broken foot that happened late in the summer.
Now, to the not-so-good news. The only returnee with significant experience in the paint is 6-8 sophomore Tom Levin (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Levin was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, but that was out of necessity. He had originally signed with Whitesell at Lewis University in suburban Chicago. But Lewis gave him a release to follow Whitesell to Loyola. He not only started but averaged 30 minutes a game. "We didn't have much in the front line,'' Whitesell said. "He surprised us a lot. Thirty minutes is probably too much, but he got thrown in there. He's a great character kid and he's very good about knowing what we want offensively and defensively.''
Levin is going to need help. If Whitesell's first recruiting effort pans out, the cavalry is on the way. Kye Patrick is a 6-9, 250-pound junior from Australia. Freshman Leon Young is an undersized (6-6, 235) but physical power forward from California and junior Brandon Woods is a 6-8 junior college transfer with some offensive punch.
Young comes from Lakewood, Calif., where he recorded prodigious numbers, averaging 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds as a senior. He pulled down 30 boards in one game and, Whitesell says, played in a league with strong competition. Appropriately for his size, Young's idol is Charles Barkley. "We beat some good people to get him,'' Whitesell said. "Once he adjusts to the college level, he'll help."
Patrick is a wide body who also got international experience in the FIBA Under-21 world championships playing for the Aussies. He's a banger, which is a weapon the Ramblers lacked last year.
Woods comes from Eastern Arizona Community College, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 60.8 percent from the field. He runs the floor well, which fits in with the style Whitesell hopes to play.
Also hoping to get some minutes in the paint are 6-8, 240-pound red-shirt freshman Darrin Williams and 6-7 sophomore Tracy Robinson. Williams sat out last year while recovering from two ACL injuries to the same knee. He got in only minimal practice. Although he's healthy, the Ramblers will have to keep their fingers crossed Williams' knee holds up enough to allow some spot minutes.
Robinson (1.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg) started off making a decent contribution last year but fizzled out as his freshman season wore on. If his confidence improves, so might his playing time.
The tallest Rambler is 6-11 Matt Adler, an invited walk-on from Cleveland. He played at St. Ignatius High School, where he finished his career as the program's all-time leader in blocked shots (135). He averaged 6.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks last season.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B-
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: B-
The Ramblers finished strong last year and that should bode well for the team's mindset starting a second year under coach Jim Whitesell. Nobody wanted to play Loyola in February and an 8-8 league mark is an indication that the Ramblers will be competitive just about every night this winter.
In Schilb, Loyola might have a potential Horizon League MVP. If he cuts down on his turnovers, the 6-7 Schilb will be a dangerous match-up at point guard because of his ability to score inside and out and also set up his teammates. Another key this year is whether Kou can go from sixth-man role to being a consistent scorer as a starter.
Also look for Blount to help in the backcourt rotation. But what will drag the Ramblers down is the inside game, unless Levin makes a nice jump and newcomers Patrick, Wood and Young have a significant impact. Rambler fans were justifiably excited about what Whitesell accomplished his first year. For the program to move forward again, the big men have to carry their weight.
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COACH AND PROGRAM
As the Jim Whitesell Era moves to year two at Loyola-Chicago, the comfort zone for the coaching staff and the players has widened considerably. "Last year we took over late,'' Whitesell said. "We were kind of starting from scratch and didn't have a clue about it. We hadn't seen the guys play, hadn't had a chance to work anybody out. We didn't even know what position everybody played.''
Taking over a new program that lost four starters, Whitesell's first gig in Division I was a learn-as-you-go process. The coach and the Ramblers got it figured out. By February, nobody wanted to play Loyola. The Ramblers won seven of their final nine games and the two losses were to league champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"We had a nice stretch that helped us build for this year in terms of attitude and work ethic,'' Whitesell said. "Now we feel more comfortable. You at least know some of the kids in the program, you've had a year to recruit and a year to play in the league, and you understand the road trips.''
PLAYERS
And, not to be overlooked, he now understands Blake Schilb's best position. The 6-7 junior from Rantoul, Ill., had led the team in assists as a freshman in 2003-04, but to look at Schilb (17.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) you wouldn't think point guard. Schilb started the year as the off-guard with DaJuan Gouard as the point. But an injury that kept Gouard out of the lineup for eight games changed everything.
Schilb moved to the point, and over time Whitesell saw the light. When Gouard returned to the lineup, it was to the off-guard spot. With two big scorers (Gouard averaged 16.0 ppg), the Ramblers took off for their big finish. "We found that Blake's natural position is point guard,'' Whitesell said. "When DaJuan did come back, we started winning some of those games we'd been losing. Confidence kept building and where you had been finding a way to lose, now you're finding a way to win.''
Gouard is gone and replacing his scoring punch as a complement to Schilb is one of the Ramblers' missions this winter. The other departed starter is 6-11 center Tyrelle Blair (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Schilb, meanwhile, is a preseason Horizon League Player-of-the-Year candidate, along with Joah Tucker of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Last year was Schilb's coming out season. He doubled his scoring average and again led the team in assists with 120. He also recorded 52 steals and 16 blocked shots. Schilb finished at 50.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent beyond the arc. Don't foul him -- he's an 82-percent man at the line.
"Versatility is the thing,'' Whitesell said. "We can play him on the perimeter or post him up. He rebounds pretty well for a guard and with that size he can see over people. And he shoots it pretty good outside. There was a stretch where he was shooting over 50 percent from three-point range.'' Over the summer Schilb added 10 pounds of muscle and worked on his shot. "He's starting to learn what it's like to be a leader,'' Whitesell said. "That's the biggest difference he has to make. "The thing we're asking him now is to be a better defensive player, to do more of the dirty work. Last year we protected him defensively. Now I want him to assert himself and use his length defensively. He's really bright, he knows how to read things.''
The other aspect of Schilb's game that needs work is his ball security. His 120 assists last year were counter-balanced by 122 turnovers. Part of it was over passing. Part of it was fending off quicker defenders. "When we put the ball in his hands last year it was kind of like putting a rookie in at quarterback,'' Whitesell said. "He's going to throw five interceptions in one day, but if you get that worked out, it's good for the future.''
A 6-7 point guard wasn't the only odd thing about Loyola's winning combination in February. Chris Logan (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg) has to stretch to measure six feet, but he moved into the lineup at off-guard. You'd think a guy that size who doesn't play the point must be a deadeye marksman, but not Logan. He hit only 15.8 percent from three-point range and 50 percent at the free-throw line. But the Ramblers were 7-2 with him as a starter. Logan and Schilb flip-flopped at the defensive end, with Logan guarding the point guard and Schilb the shooting guard. "What Chris gave us,'' said Whitesell, "is a guy willing to guard people, take charges and run down the long rebound. That and good decision-making.''
The likely candidate to move into Gouard's role is 6-5 junior Majak Kou (10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Kou averaged 24.2 minutes and relished a sixth-man role last year. Long and thin, Kou was the team's best perimeter defender (42 steals) and had games where he was a key offensive weapon as well. He finished up at 37.5 percent from three-point range. Kou spent his summer helping Canada win a bronze medal at the FIBA World Under-21 championships. "He got consistent toward the end of the year and that's the thing we've got to get out of him this year,'' Whitesell said. "He's not on a roller coaster any more. If we're going to make the next jump, he's got to do that.''
A couple of holdovers hope to get in the perimeter rotation. Dave Telander (4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg), a 6-1 sophomore, started out his freshman season like he was going to be the Horizon newcomer of the year. The shooting guard notched double figures four times in the first nine games, including 19 against Illinois State. But once Horizon play began, Telander hit the wall. He averaged only 2.3 points the final 18 games. "What happened was he just dropped in confidence,'' Whitesell said, "and when Gouard came back, that cut his time. But he had a great summer and he looks good. He's an excellent three-point shooter.''
Pierre Parker (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-3 sophomore who also got thrown in the fire, especially when Gouard was injured. He isn't a long-range threat but can be a good defender with a wingspan that can't be ignored.
Whitesell also counts on freshman J.R. Blount of Milwaukee to have an impact in the backcourt. The 6-1 Blount comes from a strong prep program at Whitefish Bay Dominican and was a candidate for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin. Blount can play either guard position and has the ability to get to the basket. He figures to push Logan and Kou for playing time, especially if Logan is slow to recover from a broken foot that happened late in the summer.
Now, to the not-so-good news. The only returnee with significant experience in the paint is 6-8 sophomore Tom Levin (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Levin was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, but that was out of necessity. He had originally signed with Whitesell at Lewis University in suburban Chicago. But Lewis gave him a release to follow Whitesell to Loyola. He not only started but averaged 30 minutes a game. "We didn't have much in the front line,'' Whitesell said. "He surprised us a lot. Thirty minutes is probably too much, but he got thrown in there. He's a great character kid and he's very good about knowing what we want offensively and defensively.''
Levin is going to need help. If Whitesell's first recruiting effort pans out, the cavalry is on the way. Kye Patrick is a 6-9, 250-pound junior from Australia. Freshman Leon Young is an undersized (6-6, 235) but physical power forward from California and junior Brandon Woods is a 6-8 junior college transfer with some offensive punch.
Young comes from Lakewood, Calif., where he recorded prodigious numbers, averaging 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds as a senior. He pulled down 30 boards in one game and, Whitesell says, played in a league with strong competition. Appropriately for his size, Young's idol is Charles Barkley. "We beat some good people to get him,'' Whitesell said. "Once he adjusts to the college level, he'll help."
Patrick is a wide body who also got international experience in the FIBA Under-21 world championships playing for the Aussies. He's a banger, which is a weapon the Ramblers lacked last year.
Woods comes from Eastern Arizona Community College, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 60.8 percent from the field. He runs the floor well, which fits in with the style Whitesell hopes to play.
Also hoping to get some minutes in the paint are 6-8, 240-pound red-shirt freshman Darrin Williams and 6-7 sophomore Tracy Robinson. Williams sat out last year while recovering from two ACL injuries to the same knee. He got in only minimal practice. Although he's healthy, the Ramblers will have to keep their fingers crossed Williams' knee holds up enough to allow some spot minutes.
Robinson (1.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg) started off making a decent contribution last year but fizzled out as his freshman season wore on. If his confidence improves, so might his playing time.
The tallest Rambler is 6-11 Matt Adler, an invited walk-on from Cleveland. He played at St. Ignatius High School, where he finished his career as the program's all-time leader in blocked shots (135). He averaged 6.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks last season.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B-
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: B-
The Ramblers finished strong last year and that should bode well for the team's mindset starting a second year under coach Jim Whitesell. Nobody wanted to play Loyola in February and an 8-8 league mark is an indication that the Ramblers will be competitive just about every night this winter.
In Schilb, Loyola might have a potential Horizon League MVP. If he cuts down on his turnovers, the 6-7 Schilb will be a dangerous match-up at point guard because of his ability to score inside and out and also set up his teammates. Another key this year is whether Kou can go from sixth-man role to being a consistent scorer as a starter.
Also look for Blount to help in the backcourt rotation. But what will drag the Ramblers down is the inside game, unless Levin makes a nice jump and newcomers Patrick, Wood and Young have a significant impact. Rambler fans were justifiably excited about what Whitesell accomplished his first year. For the program to move forward again, the big men have to carry their weight.
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