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Loyola Ramblers

11/05/05
by Joe Dlugosz

Though the Ramblers finished just 13-17 a year ago there is more hope than there has been around the program in 20 years. Loyola closed out last season on a 7-2 run with the two losses coming at the hands of league champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee. With a full season under his belt head coach Jim Whitesell has upped the ante this season as the Ramblers have been picked to finish third in the Horizon League pre-season poll. Much of the optimism stems from the abilities of do-everything point guard Blake Schilb. The 6’7” junior added some bulk over the summer and is on the short list of favorites for Horizon League Player of the Year. The Ramblers will need more than just Schilb, though, and that where some question marks come into play.

During that 7-2 run to end last season the leading scorer and/or rebounder in all but one of those contests is no longer with the squad. Shooting guard Dajuan Gouard graduated and center Tyrelle Blair transferred. In order to for the Ramblers to keep on rolling some returnees are going to have to step up their game and a handful of new recruits in the frontcourt will have to contribute right away.

Schilb came into his own last season shortly after an injury to Gouard. Forced to find an answer at the point guard position Whitesell moved Schilb into the spot and he eventually found his home. Schilb doubled his scoring output last season, led the team in assists for the second consecutive season, and led the squad in rebounding, steals, three-pointers made, free-throw percentage, field-goal percentage and minutes. On a down note he turned the ball over, a lot. Schilb’s 120 turnovers were 35 more than any other player in the Horizon League. Schilb was also a step slow on defense. According to the coaching staff these issues were all addressed over the summer and Schilb should be an even more complete player this season. But who is to complement him in the backcourt?

If the season started today, the Ramblers would most likely start freshman J.R Blount, the Ramblers top recruit out of Milwaukee. Blount led his high school squad to an undefeated season and narrowly missed out on becoming Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball winner. Whitesell says that Blount is ready to play on the defensive end of the court already. Blount will have to work on his outside shot is he hopes to generate any offense for the Ramblers.

Majak Kou came of the bench for most of last season, starting just nine contests. He’ll see plenty of starting assignments this season as the Ramblers may go with three guards often. He was able to provide a spark in the sixth-man role averaging better than ten points a game and leading the club in three-point field goal percentage. Kou is rail thin at 6’5” and 165 pounds, but has the ability to score in bunches and use his lanky frame to help on defense. He was second to Schilb in steals last season with 42. Kou spent the summer helping Canada at the under-21 world championships where he played against some top names. If he can improve his consistency Kou should be able to be the compliment to Schilb that Gouard was last season.

Senior Chris Logan started a handful of games down the stretch for the Ramblers last season and was able to provide a spark defensively and also help out Schilb on some defensive assignments. Logan is recovering from a broken leg, but will see plenty of time.

Sophomore Dave Telander started last season out on fire, leading the Ramblers in scoring twice in the pre-conference season. Once the conference season got underway Telander faded. He still managed to shoot 37% from three-point range and could fill a huge role for the Ramblers as a three-point marksman. Pierre Parker has a huge reach at 6’3” and saw 15 minutes a contest last season. With a summer of international competition under his belt he should also be improved.

In the frontcourt is where the bulk if the questions surrounding the Ramblers lie. Sophomore Tom Levin is the only returning starter. In fact he is just one of two frontcourt players returning. Levin was thrust into playing better than 30 minutes a game last season as a freshman and he fared better than expected. Though he averaged just over five points and three rebounds a game Levin rarely made mistakes and could be even more valuable if some of the recruits around him this season evolve.

The only other returnee is 6’7” Tracy Robinson. Robinson is quite thin at 190 pounds and seems to be still looking for his role. He averaged less than ten minutes in 21 games last season.

Among the newcomers freshman Leon Young figures to begin the season in the starting lineup. Young is generously listed at 6’6”, but is a fearless rebounder. In high school he put up over 20 points and 15 rebounds a contest and once snagged 30 rebounds in a game. Young has been described as willing to do anything to grab a rebound.

Junior college transfer Kye Pattrick stands 6’9” and weighs in at 250 pounds. Last season at Ellsworth community college he shot 65% from the field. Like Young he’s not afraid to use his bulk underneath to push people around. Fellow juco transfer Brandon Woods is lanky and fast at 6’8” and 195 pounds. At Eastern Arizona Community College he averaged better than 19 points and nearly eight rebounds a game while shooting 60% from the floor. An injury the first day of practice will probably leave Woods sideline until December.

Red-Shirt freshman Darrin Williams is coming back from surgery on both knees, but appears to pain free. Anything that he can bring to the table for the Ramblers this season would be a positive. Walk-on Matt Adler stands nearly seven-feet tall and is his high school’s all-time blocked shots leader.

The Ramblers knew they had to add some beef and scoring to the frontcourt and the incoming class appears to address that need. The backcourt of Kou and Schilb along with Blount should be among the best in the league. If the frontcourt recruits pan out the way the coaching staff believes third place isn’t out of the question for Loyola. With Detroit’s injuries in the frontcourt and a couple of breaks going Loyola’s way perhaps they could contend for the top two spots in the Horizon League.

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