Wednesday, December 3, 2014 7:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago

Since Loyola played Tulane a year ago, losing 65-59 in N’awlins after giving up a 19-point lead early in the second half, the Green Wave finished 17-17 (good enough for the CBI Tournament) and joined the American Athletic Conference. As the newest member of the conference cobbled together from the football schools of the old Big East and some better basketball schools of C-USA, Tulane was picked to finish last. The Wave was obliterated in their home opener against Wake Forest, but is 5-0 since—all at home—including Sunday’s 73-68 win over Tennessee Tech.

The Green Wave returns four starters and its top six scorers from last season, including guards Louis Dabney (a 6’3”, 210 pound junior) and Jonathan Stark (a quick 6’0” sophomore point) who combined for 50 of Tulane’s 65 points last year against the Ramblers. The rest of the starters are filled out by 6’4” senior guard Jay Hook, 6’6” senior forward Tre Drey, and 6’11” sophomore center Ryan Smith.

Fifth year head coach Ed Conroy runs a guard-intensive team that relies on sharing scoring, defense and rebounding, and the presence of Smith and fellow centers 6’9” Dylan Ostkowski and 6’10” Aaron Liberman mostly serve as a deterrent to keep other teams honest. The trio of big centers had not provided much offense prior to their last game against Tennessee Tech, when Smith was much more active (10 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes). Sophomore forward Peyton Henson (7 rebounds off the bench against Loyola last year, 8 points and 5 rebounds against Tennessee Tech Sunday) and Ostkowski also have potential for a big game. Drey leads the Green Wave in rebounding at 4.7 per game, but the trio of starting guards average 9.8 boards per game among them.

In Tulane’s game against Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Stark was impressive at the point (14 points, 7 assists, 3 steals). Dabney, the team’s leading scorer, did not start—maybe he was being sent a message (took a lot of contested shots rather than passing). Tulane trailed by one with 3:46 left, but pulled away for the win behind some big late plays by 6’7” sophomore forward Cameron Reynolds (a steal, a crucial rebound, and four points).

Tulane’s young big men make their baskets when they take them, but aren’t very good defensively. Tennessee Tech made a whole lot of their scoring from 8-foot jumpers to the left and right of the lane, which seems to be a prescription for a big scoring game from Milton Doyle. The Green Wave’s big guys are also prone to bite on dribble penetration, leaving the basket open for passes to cutters—something Christian Thomas has been doing for a lot of his scoring this year. Stark will be a handful to defend, but the other guards tend to force shots even under decent coverage.

Loyola should be favored in this game, but has to watch letting down their energy as they appeared to do at times in the second half at Kent State.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 202aaa.pdf

Tulane game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tul ... 202aaa.pdf

Streaming video: http://www.loyolaramblers.com/collegesp ... dia=472476

Vegas line: Loyola by 7.5

Aaron Liberman,one of their centers is a transfer from Northwestern who left when Doug Collins took over. I was thinking at the time that he would be someone who was serviceable and maybe we would go after him but guess not.
Hey and take a picture of the Sagarin Basketball Rankings as we are the KINGS of Chicago basketball....ranked ahead of Northwestern, DePaul and UIC.
He has 4 Valley teams in the top 100. WS, UNI,Evansville and ISU. Pomeday has us below Northwestern. Know it is way early to make any sense of these standings but you know it still looks good.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/sagarin/

If we can manage to finish the year with an RPI/Sagarin/Pomeroy in the top 150, I would be SO happy.

_________________
Cigarboy sucks!

In doing the preview, I was surprised at how little time Liberman gets... only 27 minutes over five of the six games they played this year. They've got a logjam at the center spot, with freshmen Smith and Osetkowski, and sophomore transfer Lieberman. Sometimes Henson gets time playing a 5, at least he did against Tennessee Tech.

In terms of other measurements, kenpom has us ranked 135, with the offense at 116 and the defense at 165. Despite their 5-1 record, Tulane is 223 overall, with their offense ranked 220 and their defense at 208 (their strength of schedule is near the bottom).

When I look at the teams that have gotten 2 or 3 centers I am amazed that we could not get anyone......who would have almost been guaranteed playing time. Unless PM has decided to go and recruit a smaller, faster line up, eventually being a quick team, Kind of like VCU. Which would be fine by me....give us an identity,,,,something for the players and fans to enjoy,

When we were recruiting for this season we had Osborne, Johnson and King. Not necessarily great players, but they filled their roles and there was some expectation that they'd improve a bit with experience. Maybe Moser knew that they were leaving before they publicly declared their intention to transfer in March, but if you're assuming you have those guys for 2-3 more years, those positions aren't necessarily your top recruiting priority. Still, we were one of the last two schools considered by Sean O'Mara, and if Marlon Jones had qualified we would have had a decent inside presence for about 20 minutes a game.

Good points. I am thinking that PM thought he was going to get Omara being that he was from Bennet.

It seemed petty clear that O'Mara was close to 50-50 between Xavier and Loyola, so I wouldn't think you would just ignore big guys. PM is said to claim that he was totally blindsided by O'Leary and Osborne and really upset with the timing which effectively ruled out recruiting to replace them. I have no idea about Johnson and King. Both could have been very useful this year, just keeping CT out of foul trouble if nothing else. But given where we are and how the style of play is evolving, I think we play taller this year than we did the times last year when O'Leary was in there as a big guy. He wasn't, both by disposition and body build. Except for some rough stretches, like the whole game at MSU, the interior defense and rebounding in the last couple of games at least are not as bad as I would have thought. We're doing better against big slow guys than smaller guys like Rockhurst.

Looking forward to tomorrow, feel free to say hello if you see me...at the game or beforehand at Bruno's. Streak - I'll try to sneak over and say hi.

Curious to see minutes for Jeff. He's been working back into the rotation (few minutes vs MSU, 17 vs UTSA and 21 vs Kent St). I think he's a real key for continued success. Steadying veteran presence and can help alleviate pressure on Milton having to play point.

08

Unfortunately I will be flying back from New York and will be late or not there at all. Its December and although I only try to work thirty weeks a year, December is the month when the banks want to spend money in their year end budgets. (In contrast January is very slow).

It would be great to see you again. Perhaps we could meet for breakfast in January at Lou M's.

But, the Calculator Lady will be there watching the game. So there are three seats available on the floor. So why not come down and sit there? Can I tell her to expect you and your guests?

I can also call Brian Day and tell him to have you get in for free on my tickets. Let me know if that is what you want to do.

In any event, bring home a Rambler win. Had a brief communication with Coach W last week. As you know he is doing well.