Horizon League Links

Butler
Detroit
Illinois-Chicago
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wisconsin-Green Bay
Wright State
Youngstown State
Horizon Connection

Commentary

10/15/05

John C. Thomas

Basketball season is upon us, and for the first time in 17 years the Loyola Ramblers are picked to finish higher than fourth in the league. Two voters in the Horizon League preseason poll actually picked Loyola to finish first. This, after losing DaJuan Gouard (16.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Tyrelle Blair (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 50 blocks), and the Smith twins (a combined 6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 14 starts, 24 minutes per game).

The outpouring of optimism, smiles, and good feelings at the Midnight Madness event was a testament to how this program has turned around in a hurry. About 1800 fans, more than 90% of them students, turned out to meet the new players and get psyched up for what could be the best season at Loyola since most of the attendees were born. At center court was Coach Jim Whitesell, who has imported a solid set of priorities that have completely reversed two decades of malaise and indifference.

The players listen to the coach and execute their roles. The recruiting has been excellent, if not superb. The fans recognize these efforts, and appreciate the performance of the players and coaches—and that appreciation feeds back into the mix to support and sustain the efforts on the court and on the recruiting trail.

Instead of languishing at the bottom of the league, only periodically putting forth the effort to not completely embarrass the school and themselves, Whitesell has managed to create an environment at Loyola where the elements come together to create an upward spiral. That’s a profoundly difficult to do—like turning around the American economy, or building a thriving community.

And if you think this point is overstated or absurd, consider the enormous obstacles: a languishing mid-Major program at a private school; higher admission standards than almost every other school in the league; competition for recruits from 11 other Division I schools within 100 miles; competition for fans from major pro sports and local schools in the Big 10 and Big East; a crosstown league rival with nearly twice the enrollment, state support, lower admission standards, and a recent history of success; two league rivals with Sweet 16 appearances in the past three years; facilities that are in the bottom half of the league in just about every facet; inheriting a team that had lost four of its top five players the year before; a school with a recent history of financial difficulties; and a head coach with a modest reputation and little experience at the Division I level.

The 2005-06 Loyola Ramblers were picked third in the preseason league poll and garnered two first place votes because the rest of the league recognizes what a tremendous job Coach Whitesell has done in his first 18 months at Loyola. Other teams in the league may collectively have more raw talent and/or experience, but Whitesell’s Ramblers are feared because of the attitude, discipline, and execution he’s been able to instill in his team. In his brief tenure, he’s been able to completely erase several of the nagging, chronic issues that have characterized Loyola basketball for years. And years. And years.

1. Beating a much more experienced and athletic UIC team at the Pavilion, representing the first Loyola win over UIC in that building since the 1987-88 season.

2. Beating UIC in the Horizon League Tournament to end Cedrick Banks’ college career and partly avenge the Loyola loss to UIC in the 2002 Horizon League final.

3. Registering 2000 student fans to pledge support to the men’s basketball team—roughly 13% of the entire student body and 75% of Loyola’s home attendance average in 2004-05.

4. A 24-0 run at home against the league’s second place finisher, UWGB, to sweep the season series.

5. Recognizing the importance of student fans and reconnecting the men’s basketball team to the student community.

6. Identifying teaching moments within the game to make sure that players improve through the course of the season and during their tenure at Loyola.

7. Instilling a positive attitude among the players so that psychological barriers don’t contribute to losses.

8. Identifying and adjusting player rotations to game situations.

9. Creating and implementing solid game plans.

10. Getting the most out of every player.

11. Adjusting to game situations at halftime and communicating it to the players.

12. Going an entire season without a bizarre or unusual coaching mistake like forgetting how many time outs remain, having too many players on the court, being assessed a technical foul with the game on the line, or daydreaming on the bench.

The jury is still out on Whitesell in a number of areas. It’s unknown as to whether he can keep players from transferring as they learn and improve. It’s unknown as to whether he will be able to adjust to the poaching of his assistants as word spreads that this program is very solid. It’s unknown as to whether Coach Whitesell will be able to counter when other coaches and teams inevitably adjust to his coaching principles and philosophy. It’s unknown as to whether his first, ostensibly excellent recruiting class represents one fortunate effort or whether it can be sustained from year to year. It’s still a question as to how long Loyola might be able to keep him if he continues on the present successful track. And there are always injuries, unexpected circumstances, rebuilding years, incidents of bad luck, etc.

These are all questions for the future. But for right now, Loyola fans are able to command respect and hold their heads higher at every venue around the league than at any time in nearly a generation. Coach Whitesell has almost singlehandedly turned the Ramblers from a punch line into a powerhouse.