Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago

Two early-60s basketball powers looking to regain their former glory meet up at Gentile Arena in the semifinals of the 2015 CBI, as Seattle University plays Loyola for the first time since December 22, 1962. Seattle reached the 1958 NCAA Final against Kentucky on the strength of phenom and future NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, and was regularly ranked through the mid 1960s. When #4 Loyola beat #10 Seattle in that Saturday Chicago Stadium doubleheader in 1962, the eventual National Champions defeated the Chieftains (that’s what they were called then) 93-83. Loyola used late free throw shooting to overcome a late comeback surge led by Eddie Miles, the future Detroit Pistons top draft pick. Through the 1960s Seattle was near the top of all schools producing the most NBA players, but the program dropped from Division I after the 1979-80 season.

Known as the RedHawks since rejoining the Division I ranks in 2009, Seattle is coached by Cameron Dollar, whose heroics in the 1995 final led UCLA to the NCAA Championship. Dollar’s RedHawks are 18-15 overall this year, with wins over New Mexico State, UC Davis, Pepperdine, and Colorado, but find themselves in the CBI after losing in the Western Athletic Conference tournament final.

The RedHawks start two men in the frontcourt, 6’11” junior center Jack Crook and 6’6” forward William Powell. Neither are prolific scorers, with Powell averaging 7.7 points and Crook chipping in 6.7, but they are extremely strong rebounders and fill up the lane. Powell, a sophomore out of Alabama, averages 6.5 rebounds per game, has notched 12 blocks, and is tied for the team lead in getting to the free throw line. Crook grabs 5.5 rebounds per game, but is prone to foul trouble—he has fouled out of 11 out of Seattle’s 33 games this season, including four of the last six games. When Manchester native Crook comes out of games, Londoner Shore Adenekan, a 6’9” senior forward, checks in. Adenekan is slightly more offensive-minded, averaging 4.1 points (on 57% shooting) and 3.1 rebounds in only 16 minutes per game. Six foot six sophomore forward Manny Chibuoqwu also sees some time off the bench in the frontcourt.

The bulk of the RedHawks’ scoring comes out of the three-man starting backcourt, led by 6’0” senior guard Isiah Umipig, who averages 17.3 points per game, shoots 85% from the free throw line, and connects on 43% of his long distance shots—which he hoists up often. Umipig has hit 121 threes on the season on 285 attempts, and has had double-digit three point attempts in 13 games, including three of the last four (all RedHawks wins). When he’s not dropping bombs he gets to the free throw line, where he’s 32 of 33 in his last six games. Despite being a great shooter from distance and the free throw line, he has trouble inside the arc, hitting just under 39% on two point shots. Umipig is rarely off the floor, averaging nearly 34 minutes per game and fouling out only twice (both losses).

Joining Umipig as a one-two scoring punch is streaky 6’3” senior Jarell Flora, who has the ability to light it up on any given night. Flora has had 10 games this season scoring 20 or more (Seattle is 7-3 in those games), but 12 games in single digits (where Seattle is 2-10). Like Umipig, he is a great three point shooter (80 made threes at a 41% clip), hits over 80% from the line, and makes more than half his field goal attempts from long range. Six-three senior Emerson Murray is the third experienced guard in the backcourt, and is a pass-first, shoot under dire circumstances player; he averages only 2.4 points per game in 26 minutes per, but leads the team in assists, makes few turnovers, grabs 3.5 rebounds per game, and rivals Umipig in steals.

The RedHawks began the season trying to run and gun at a furious pace, and wound up going 5-6 in the early going—both issuing and receiving blowouts, depending on the strength of the opposition. But after slowing their tempo and looking for better shots just before the beginning of conference play, Seattle has gone 13-9-- including their best quality wins on the year. Yet with all the bright spots, the RedHawks are a very bad road team—their only two road wins on the season came at San Jose State (0-28) and Chicago State (5-24), and their only neutral site wins were against non-D1 Pacific Lutheran, and Chicago State and UMKC (by six points) in the Western Athletic conference tournament.

The Ramblers will need to rebound like mad against Seattle’s frontcourt duo, keep Umipig and Flora from getting hot from outside, and force the ball into the hands of the less dynamic scorers. Getting some fouls on the frontcourt players, keeping Flora and Umipig off the free throw line, and turning out a big and loud home cheering section would also help. A trip to a postseason tournament final and at least two more games in a great season is on the line.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 324aaa.pdf

Seattle game notes: http://www.goseattleu.com/ViewArticle.d ... M_ID=18200

CBI Bracket: http://www.gazellegroup.com/events/cbi/ ... racket.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN3 http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index

Vegas odds: Loyola by 9.5

I wonder if Umipig is related to the famous art collector Ima Hogg ?

I see LU playing a lot of the 1-3-1 again..which let then get some steals and run a little against ORO. LU has also done a good job of shutting down leading scorers.Seems to be a strategy of Coach Mosers.

Good to see the Ramblers continuing to win. Go get it all while the opportunity is there.

On ESPN3 schedule for 3/25 it shows the LU vs Seattle game as being televised.

The odds in Vegas are up to Loyola -10.5, but I have to admit I'm really worried about this game. Yes, Seattle is bad on the road, but their two senior guards are GREAT three point shooters. Umipig is second in the nation in made threes, and would rank 8th on the the Loyola all time made threes list from his stats just this year. Umipig and Flora together this year would rank three made threes short of #1 on Loyola's all time career list. I don't think we've seen a team this year that has that type of three point shooting in two players.

In our two CBI games thus far-- both at home-- we've allowed our opponents to go 23 for 51 (.451) from outside, and both opponents actually shot better from three than from two. We haven't been playing really great with a lot of energy on defense except in short stretches. And allowing opponents 34 trips to the line in two games at home is just too many.

I'm just worried that this could be like one of those regular season games against Indiana State. We were favored in our home game against ISU by three points and lost by 14.

I still feel bad that Rajala's season ended. He was just starting to build confidence, get in the rythm of games, and provide valuable minutes and size off the bench. The last 5 games would have been very helpful for his progression. It would have been nice to have him in this game to go agains some of seattle's big men. Really hope he has a good offseason.

We can't make our shots. Hoping that changes in the second half. Also, how was that not a foul on Seattle when Turk went down. He straight was tackled.

Unrelated...good TV time for BigJoe. Unfortunately, good TV time for Jabba the Kelly. Not sure if he has taken his seat yet. Looks like Swella is behind him. Maybe he can yell "Down in front!"

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Cigarboy sucks!

Umipig looks like John Starks.

Stupid Hotel is NOT on espn3--So help !! Please !!
Why did Milton not start anyone know--He also has missed his two shots !! Something is wrong here !!