Loyola, UIC need more scoring
The Horizon League schedule has a ready-or-not quality to it, raising the curtain on conference play at a time when most teams are still in rehearsal mode.
Loyola and Illinois-Chicago are probably in the "or not" category, but both teams hope for growth spurts tonight. The Ramblers begin league play at home against Wisconsin-Green Bay, and the Flames host Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"Everyone would like to play conference after Christmas," said Loyola coach Jim Whitesell. "It's so early and you're still trying to juggle things, but it's also magnified
"This is your league, so it's jacked up a bit."
Whitesell wants to jack up Loyola's points total, which has sharply declined after the graduation losses of Blake Schilb and Majak Kou. Loyola ranks a distant last in the Horizon League in both scoring offense (59.3 ppg) and 3-point shooting percentage (26.7).
Guard J.R. Blount isn't immune from the 3-point woes (21.7 percent), but the team captain has found other ways to score (17.5 ppg). His teammates now must follow suit.
The Ramblers' inability to generate easy baskets is glaring: they have only 2 fastbreak points in their last three games and have failed to score on the break three times this season. That won't cut it against Green Bay, the league's top scoring team (75.4 ppg).
"Ball pressure will really help us defensively," sophomore forward Andy Polka said. "Maybe we're not going to get run-outs right away, but we can at least get deflections and turnovers, give us some more offensive possessions."
UIC also has struggled to score, ranking above only Loyola in the league. But coach Jimmy Collins is more concerned with generating leadership and having each player accept his specific function.
Collins knows what the roles should be. Junior guard Josh Mayo is a pure scorer, 7-foot center Scott VanderMeer is a lock-down post defender and sophomore Spencer Stewart is a natural point guard.
But too often, the jobs have become muddled, leading to inconsistency. The same Flames who beat Bradley last month lost by 26 on Saturday at Illinois State.
"A lot of guys won't even accept the words role player," Collins said. "Well, everybody's a role player. Everybody's not going to shoot the ball like Josh. Everybody's not going to block shots like Scott. Everybody's not going to handle the ball like Spencer.
"Some guys who handle the ball really well and are adept at passing, they'll see one of their teammate's name in the paper after they score some points, and now they want to be in the paper. So they'll take undesirable shots trying to get to that. That's not their role."
Loyola tries to snap a four-game slide against a Green Bay team led by junior forward Mike Schachtner, who Whitesell calls "a load and a half." The 6-9 Schachtner, who leads the league in scoring (19.7 ppg), will lure bigger players to the perimeter, opening up gaps inside.
UIC faces a Milwaukee team that has dropped three straight but boasts a formidable front line in Oklahoma State transfer Torre Johnson (17 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Northern Illinois transfer Paige Paulsen (14.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg). The Flames play their first home game since Nov. 13.
"We can beat Bradley, we can beat Illinois State, and we're still not going to be ranked or go to the NCAA (Tournament) unless we win our conference," Collins said. "Right now, the stakes are a little higher."
Wisconsin-Green Bay (5-2) at Loyola (2-4)
When: 7 p.m. at the Gentile Center
TV: www.horizonleague.org
Radio: WYLL 1160-AM
The skinny: Beset by a disappearing offense, Loyola has dropped four straight games. Things don't get easier against Green Bay, which leads the Horizon League in scoring (75.4 ppg) and has lost only to Ohio State and Massachusetts. Loyola opens league play against the Phoenix for the second straight year after pounding them 71-52 last year at the Gentile Center. The Ramblers held Green Bay to 29 percent shooting and likely need a similar effort tonight. "Last year, we kind of ran them out of the gym," Loyola forward Andy Polka said, "so we're comfortable playing at home." Green Bay freshman point guard Rahmon Fletcher has been terrific, averaging 13.1 points on 53.7 percent shooting.
- Adam Rittenberg
Milwaukee (3-4, 0-0)
at Illinois-Chicago (3-4, 0-0)
When: 7 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion
TV: ESPN FullCourt/ESPN 360
Radio: WIND 560-AM
The skinny: Remember the Flames? After 23 days and five games away from home, Jimmy Collins' crew welcomes one of its archrivals to town for a Horizon League opener. The Flames went 1-4 away from the Pavilion against good competition, similar to the way the Panthers have lost three in a row against the likes of Marquette and other top RPI foes. UIC gets 15.6 points per game from Josh Mayo, who's hitting 57 percent from 3-point range. Scott VanderMeer contributes 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and a Horizon-best 3.7 blocks. The Panthers are playing upwards of 11 guys per night, but senior forwards Torre Johnson (17.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Paige Paulsen (14.9, 6.6) are the mainstays.
-- Lindsey Willhite