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August 15th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Loyola
Chicago Ramblers
Overall Rank:
#88
Conference
Rank: #1 Horizon
2005-06:
19-11, 8-8, 3rd (t)
2005-06
postseason: none
 Loyola Chicago
returns all but one player from a team that went 8-8 in
conference and 19-11 overall last season, including wins over
Bradley and Purdue. Coach Jim Whitesell has brought the winning
ways back to Chicago and, at least on paper, this is the best
team Ramblerland has seen in quite some time.
Who’s Out:
Chris
Logan started 22 contests, averaging 8.8 points, as a senior.
His departure won’t worry Loyola fans though with J.R. Blount,
Majak Kou and Blake Schilb returning to the perimeter. Blount,
a sophomore point guard, averaged 11.3 points and 2.3 assists
last season. Kou isn’t the most consistent shooter around, but
can get to the bucket and looks to increase on his 12.8 points
per game a year ago. Schilb, an early candidate for Horizon
Player of the Year, averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9
assists and 1.3 steals.
Who’s In:
If and when
healthy, Matt Adler will see his first action for the Ramblers.
The 6-11 center redshirted last season and can make an immediate
contribution in the shot blocking department. Andy Polka, a 6-7
240 pound power forward spent his summer playing for the United
States at the Global Games with good results. He’ll find it
troublesome to see too many minutes as a true freshman with the
depth the Ramblers have up front, but the potential is there for
big things in the future. The depth on the perimeter is an
issue and Courtney Horton will have the opportunity to put an
end to that concern. The 6-2 transfer from Southeastern
Community College in Iowa averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds
last year and will provide a spark off the bench. Speaking of
providing a spark off the bench, Marvell Waithe would do that
quite nicely. Some academic concerns leave his eligibility in
question, but if he can play, the 6-7 wing will bring another
scoring threat onto the court. The Canadian has a smooth
stroke, but needs to work on his strength in order to be
effective going to the basket.
Who to Watch:
Leon
Young isn’t the experienced option up front, but after an
explosive freshman campaign big things are expected from the 6-6
forward. Young averaged 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while
coming off the bench in all but five games. His minutes might
not go up too much, but Young could put up even bigger numbers
with a year of experience on his side. Kye Pattrick started 25
games as a junior last season. Once the 6-9, 250 pound
Australian learned how to stay out of foul trouble, he became
quite productive despite the overall numbers of just 1.9 points
and 2.1 rebounds per game. There is tons of depth up front too
with Brandon Woods and Tom Levin both having starting
experience. Junior Tracy Robinson saw the least amount of
minutes of the big guys last year, but showed potential while
seeing an increase in playing time late last season.
Final
Projection:
Teams like
Detroit, Wright State, Butler and Wisconsin-Green Bay aren’t
going to make what could be a magical season easy. In fact, top
to bottom, the Horizon is a vastly improved conference and
nobody is going to concede anything to Loyola. Yet, with this
much talent, the Ramblers are the favorites to make the NCAAs,
which would be their first trip since the Sweet Sixteen
appearance in 1985.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
J.R. Blount,
Sophomore, Guard, 11.3 points per game
Majak Kou,
Senior, Guard, 12.8 points per game
Blake Schilb,
Senior, Guard, 19.1 points per game
Leon Young,
Sophomore, Forward, 10.4 points per game
Kye Pattrick,
Senior, Center, 1.9 points per game
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