Loyola-UWM Game Notes
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Feb. 12, 2007

Loyola (17-9, 8-5) at UW-Milwaukee (8-18, 5-8)
February 14, 2007 -- 7 p.m. CST
U.S. Cellular Arena - Milwaukee, Wis.

Radio: WYLL (AM 1160) - Andy Masur (play-by-play); Dave Klusendorf (expert analyst)
Webcast: Available at www.horizonleague.org

Tonight's Game: Loyola concludes a brief two-game road swing when it heads back north to Wisconsin, this time to face three-time defending Horizon League champion UW-Milwaukee. With a win over the Panthers, the Ramblers would clinch the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye at the Horizon League Championship. Loyola, which has won three consecutive road affairs, brings a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's game, matching its longest streak of the season. A victory would put the Ramblers on a five-game roll for the first time since Feb. 18 - March 3, 2006. Following the showdown with Milwaukee, Loyola will close out the year by playing two of its final three games at the Gentile Center.

Loyola - UW-Milwaukee - The Series: Although Loyola snapped an 11-game losing skid with an 87-74 victory at the Gentile Center last month, UW-Milwaukee still leads the all-time series, 20-15 and has won the last six and eight of the last nine outings in Milwaukee. The Ramblers' last win in Brew Town came on Jan. 10, 2002, when they escaped the Klotsche Center with a 91-87 victory. In last month's win in Chicago, Milwaukee native J.R. Blount scored 20 points and Andy Polka notched his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards to lead Loyola to the victory. Since UW-Milwaukee moved to Division I classification, the Ramblers are 4-10 against the Panthers in Milwaukee.

And That's A Winner: Last week's victory over Detroit assured the Ramblers of their second straight winning season following last year's 19-11 showing. The last time Loyola posted consecutive winning campaigns (1983-84 and 1984-85), Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States.

Head Coach Jim Whitesell: In three short seasons, Jim Whitesell has injected new life into the Loyola program and made the Ramblers a contender for the Horizon League crown. So far in his brief stay in Rogers Park, the Iowa Falls, Iowa native has guided Loyola to a 49-37 (.570) overall record. A master at rebuilding programs in his previous stops at Elmhurst College and Lewis University, both of which he steered to NCAA Tournament appearances, Whitesell's 32 victories in his first two seasons at Loyola were the most by a Rambler coach in his first two campaigns since Tom Haggerty won 43 games from 1945-47. Whitesell is 24-21 (.533) in Horizon League play as Loyola's mentor, and last season notched his 300th career victory in the Ramblers' 77-60 decision at Cleveland State on Dec. 29, 2005. He is the first coach since Gene Sullivan in the early 1980s to lead Loyola to at least 10 wins in each of his first three seasons on the Lake Shore Campus. Whitesell, who sports a career record of 327-231, is 1-6 versus UW-Milwaukee.

February Fun: In three seasons under Jim Whitesell, Loyola has compiled a 14-4 (.778) record during the month of February. Even more impressive is the fact that eight of the Ramblers' wins have come on the road, with seven of those victories coming on the floors of Horizon League foes. Blake Schilb has turned up his game a notch in February, averaging 19.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.4 apg, while shooting 47 percent (117 for 248) from the field in his last 18 contests during that month.

Gentile Giants: The Ramblers have won 16 of their last 20 games at the Gentile Center and are 26-6 in their last 32 contests on their home court. Loyola went 13-3 at the Gentile Center a year ago to set a record for most home wins in a single campaign since the building opened for the 1996-97 season. Under Whitesell, the Ramblers are 15-3 versus non-league foes and have claimed 13 of their last 18 games versus Horizon League opponents at "The Joe". Loyola is 31-12 (.721) at home in the Jim Whitesell era, including a 24-6 (.800) mark since the start of the 2005-06 season.

On The Defensive: Defense wins championships and when the Ramblers have turned up the heat on the defensive end of the floor, they have enjoyed success. In fact, in its current four-game winning streak, Loyola has held opponents to 35 percent shooting from the field, and is 7-0 this season when its foes have connected on less than 40 percent of their shots. During Horizon League action, the Ramblers have yielded 65.2 ppg, and held opponents to 41 percent shooting from the field, including 32 percent from three-point territory. Loyola has allowed only 59.5 ppg in its last four victories and locked down the UW-Green Bay offense in Saturday's win. The Phoenix's .276 accuracy rate was the lowest against the Ramblers since Jan. 8, 1997 when Northern Illinois shot .254 (15 for 59).

Great Eight: Loyola was won at least eight League games three years in a row for the first since 1981-85, when they notched 44 league victories over a four-year span. In addition, head coach Jim Whitesell is the first bench boss in school history to win eight or more conference contests in each of his first three seasons in Rogers Park.

Climbing the Charts: Schilb continues to climb both the Loyola and Horizon League career scoring charts and enters tonight's contest in 22nd place on the conference's all-time list with 1,752 points. The high-scoring senior is one of 26 players in League history to rack up 1,700 points and is aiming to become only the 16th player to top the 1,800-point plateau. Up next on the list is Andy Elkins of Evansville (1,761).

All in the Name of Charity: A major factor in Loyola's success has been the ability to get to the foul line. Through 26 contests, the Ramblers have made 438 foul shots, while their opponents have taken only 423. Loyola, which set a school record and led the Horizon League with a .754 free-throw percentage a year ago, is 6-2 this season when it gets to the foul line at least 25 times.

Majak of All Trades: While Schilb grabs most of the headlines, his fellow backcourt mate, Majak Kou, quietly puts up impressive numbers at both ends of the floor. The slender 6-foot-5 guard was one of only six players in NCAA Division I competition to average at least 1.0 three-point field goals, blocks and steals per game in 2005-06. The versatile senior has converted 21 of his last 25 (.840) attempts from the foul line and has scored in double digits in 11 of the last 14 contests. Over the last two games, Kou has racked up some impressive all-around numbers - 16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.0 bpg, while shooting 52 percent (13 for 25) from the field. In three games versus teams from Wisconsin this season, he is draining shots at a 64-percent (16 for 25) clip.

Thousand Island: Kou became the 36th player in Loyola annals to record 1,000 career points when he tossed in his 30th point in the Ramblers' Dec. 30 game at Youngstown State. Schilb and Kou are the first set of Loyola teammates to have at least 1,000 career points at the same time since Carl Golston and Andre Battle in the mid-1980s. With 1,164 points, Kou ranks 24th on Loyola's all-time scoring chart.

Maybe It Is How You Start: Since the start of the 2005-06 season, Loyola has amassed a 32-2 (.941) record in games in which it has held the lead at halftime.

Schilb's Shooting: Schilb's success in putting the ball in the basket has had a direct effect on the outcome of games over the last few seasons. In fact, Loyola is 25-4 the last 29 times the talented senior guard has shot 50 percent or better from the field. Loyola's all-time leader in three-pointers made, Schilb has converted 73 of 150 (.487) tries from the field in Horizon League competition this season. He has converted at least one three-point field goal in each of the last eight contests and Loyola is 7-1 this year when he buries three or more triples. Over the last eight games, Schilb has drained 21 treys after hitting only 15 in his previous 13 appearances. He has converted 15 of his last 16 (.938) tries from the foul line, and in addition to averaging 15.3 ppg, is shooting 55 percent (18 for 33) from the field, including 46 percent (6 for 13) from long distance, in three games this year versus foes from the neighboring state of Wisconsin.

Not Without a Hitch: Head athletic trainer Dr. Tom Hitcho is working his 858th consecutive Loyola men's basketball contest tonight. Since joining the staff for the 1977-78 campaign, "Hitch", as he is affectionately known to those on campus, has not missed a single contest and has witnessed 401 Rambler victories. In his 30th year at Loyola, Hitcho was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame last February.

Polka Mania: With 6.9 rpg, Andy Polka is the leading rebounder among freshmen and ranks fourth overall in the Horizon League this season. The 6-foot-7 forward is contributing 9.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg, while shooting at a .556 (10 for 18) clip from the field, against teams from his native state of Wisconsin. The Mr. Basketball award winner in the state of Wisconsin a year ago, Polka notched his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards versus UW-Milwaukee Jan. 6. His 180 rebounds rank as the fifth-best single-season total for a freshman in Loyola annals.

Good Woods: Since moving back into the starting lineup four games ago, senior Brandon Woods is contributing 6.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg while shooting 60 percent (12 for 20) from the field. The 6-foot-8 forward, who has made 13 of his last 21 shots (.619), has helped Loyola to a 19-7 record in 26 starting nods during his career. Sixty percent (26 of 43) of his rebounds have come on the offensive glass this season.

Blake Bits: Much like years past, Schilb is heating up for the home stretch and is tallying 19.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.0 bpg over the last six games. The Preseason Horizon League Player of the Year has scored in double figures in 42 of his last 44 regular-season Horizon League contests. Loyola has won 10 of the last 13 games in which Schilb has scored 20 or more points. The two-time First Team All-Horizon League selection has converted 73 of his last 82 (.890) free throw attempts and earlier this season drained 33 straight shots from the foul line. Schilb has reached double digits in scoring in 38 of his last 39 games at the Gentile Center, topping the 20-point mark in 15 of his last 23 outings there. For the first time in his career, he has battled various nagging injuries this year and is accounting for 17.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 5.5 apg in 11 games since returning from a dislocated finger. Loyola is 12-3 this season when he owns a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and the table-setter dished out a career-best 10 helpers to go with 11 points at UW-Green Bay Feb. 10. Schilb, who has recorded a double-double in three of the last six games, has put up 20.0 ppg, and 5.8 rpg in his last four games versus the Panthers in Milwaukee. Over the last four contests, Schilb is shooting a robust 52 percent (26 for 50) from the field. He ranks sixth on the Ramblers' all-time assist list with 413 set-ups and fourth with 152 steals.

Milwaukee's Best: If you had to describe sophomore guard J.R. Blount in one word, there is no question it would be "winner". The 6-foot-1 Milwaukee native has compiled a staggering 87-23 (.791) record over the last three-plus seasons. Over the last three outings, he is accounting for 17.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.0 apg, and has hit 8 of his last 12 (.667) tries from long distance. In three career games versus UW-Milwaukee, Blount is notching 18.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg and is shooting 54 percent (19 for 35) from the field. He is tallying 14.4 ppg with 43 assists to only 36 turnovers in the Ramblers' wins this year and Loyola has posted a 9-1 record this season when he has recorded a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. He is the only Rambler to start all 26 games this season and is looking to become the first Rambler since Chris Williams (1998-2000) to average over 10.0 ppg as both a freshman and sophomore. Last Saturday, he ripped down a career-best 10 rebounds in a victory at UW-Green Bay.

Select Company: With a season-high nine rebounds at Bradley on Dec. 19, Schilb became the 18th player in Loyola history to record at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for his career. Schilb enters tonight's game with 1,752 points and 568 boards and is the only player in Loyola history to register 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists. He also has totaled over 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists for the third straight season.

Putting the "O" in Loyola: Over the last two games, the Ramblers are averaging 70.0 ppg, which is just below their season average, but are shooting a sizzling 53 percent (52 for 98) from the field. In addition, Loyola has doled out 32 assists, its highest total in back-to-back Horizon League games this year, in the last pair of contests.

Badger Born: Loyola's roster features three Wisconsin natives in junior Tom Levin (Oshkosh), sophomore J.R. Blount (Milwaukee) and freshman Andy Polka (Oshkosh). The trio is combining for 21.7 ppg and 12.1 rpg.

That Under 70s Show: Loyola is 13-2 this season, and 35-10 under Whitesell, when allowing fewer than 70 points. Since the start of the 2005-06 campaign, the Ramblers have posted a 25-5 ledger when yielding fewer than 70 points.

Tom Terrific: Junior Tom Levin came off the bench to pour in a season-high 10 points and grab four rebounds in the win at Green Bay Feb. 10. The 6-foot-8 forward , who is posting 7.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg in a pair of outings versus teams from his home state this year, had not scored in double digits since Dec. 20, 2005 at San Diego, prior to last Saturday's outburst.

California Dreaming: During the early signing period in November, Loyola signed 6-foot-8 forward Kyle Thomas to a National Letter Intent for the 2007-08 season. The Folsom, Calif., native has been rated by some publications as the third-best player in northern California after averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior at Folsom High School.