Sunday, February 19, 2017 3:00 p.m.
Redbird Arena, Normal, Ill.

Loyola travels to Illinois State on Sunday, likely just in time for the return to the starting lineup of MiKyle MacIntosh. The Redbirds were 4-1 without him in the lineup, suffering their only conference loss (an 86-45 humiliation at Wichita State, broadcast nationally on ESPN2). In the span without McIntosh there were also a few close calls, like a six-point home win over Northern Iowa, and ISU’s last outing where McIntosh had to return to the lineup from the bench to help ISU come from behind to win 67-66 at Missouri State.

On New Year’s Day, Illinois State embarrassed Loyola with an 81-59 shellacking at Gentile Arena, in which at least half of the 1678 to show up were Redbird fans. The tandem of Deonte Hawkins and MiKyle McIntosh caused huge problems for the Ramblers, combining to score 30 points on 10-for-18 shooting, and 5-for-9 from three-point territory. The two mobile forwards, standing 6’7” and 6’8” cause matchup problems for Loyola, because they can hit shots from anywhere on the court and have the capability to drive to the basket. The Redbirds shot 57.1% as a team in that game, by far the most efficient performance against the Ramblers by any team this season.

Keeping ISU well under their season average of 44.3% and away from the foul line is going to be rule number one if Loyola wants to stay in game at Redbird Arena. The Ramblers will also need some offensive contributions from the bench; last time out Loyola got only three points from the bench players (excluding Aundre Jackson), and that slim total was equal to the two previous games combined. Loyola hasn't won at ISU since 1991. ISU is 13-0 at home this year, with an average winning margin of 11.2 points.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 218aaa.pdf

Illinois State game notes: http://goredbirds.com/documents/2017/2/ ... _Notes.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPNU (http://www.espn.com/watchespn/index/_/i ... nois-state )

Vegas odds: Illinois State by 9

Great preview. Hopefully Ben breaks his shooting slump tomorrow. Need him to get him going if we want a chance.

2 weeks to go. Can't help wonder what the Ramblers will be doing in 14 days. A. Planning an NCAA watch party B. Getting ready for the CIT/CBI C. Season over

Seems to ba a lack of enthusiasm here on this board. Understandable, but lets stick to one game at a time...
The season is still in play you guys.
Hopefully the players know the same.
If you define a successful season reasonably, then there is a lot to play for.
Placing in top 6, maybe higher would be a good achievement.
It is a tossup in the Arch Madness tourney, but with just a little luck, something we have not seen for a few decades,
the Ramblers could find themselves in the final game.
I am not drinking funnyKoolaid. There is so much parity, or nastily phrased, so little consistent excellence, in this conference.
Look at who beats who and it does not make sense sometimes how it would be possible.
I say we stay the course. It is now a five or six game season and the definition of success for the Ramblers is still on the table.
Ill ST just escaped MSt by a single point the other day, and got blown out by the Shockers by 39!! This is doable. Even if not, win the last two and we are in decent shape for the Madness. Even not, beat SIU and it is likely still open season in the Arch.
Go RAMBLERS
Whew

A win today and it will bring a lot of people back on board. A blowout today and almost everyone is going to jump ship and the words "big man" and "can't recruit" will be thrown around towards the end of this game thread.

We're getting open shots, but just not hitting. Not ideal.

Can't waste open shots against these guys.

First foul goes against dirty Clayton.

Cam is looking perhaps as good as he has all year. Looking more confident, which is good.

Satterwhite is playing well, and showing his potential. He's really helped us hang in there.

Unrelated to the game itself, I don't like the ISU uniforms. Everyone is complementing them so I may be in the minority, but I think they should stay retired.