Big Joe's Wright State Preview
3/1/04
by Joe Dlugosz
The Loyola Ramblers travel to Ohio this Tuesday for a first round Horizon League match-up with the Wright State Raiders. The Ramblers come into the tournament as the eight seed against the Raiders. The Ramblers disappointed most everyone this season with their dismal 4-12 conference mark while the Raiders, behind first year head coach Paul Biancardi, made a run at the league title before coming up a bit short down the stretch. On the season, the Raiders finished 14-13 with a 10-6 conference record. That mark was good enough to earn Biancardi coach of the year honors. The Raiders also had three other players garner post-season awards. Forward Seth Doliboa was named to the first team all-conference and guard Vernard Hollins earned second-team honors. Freshman point guard DeShaun Wood was named to the newcomer team as well. The Raiders took both contests between the two clubs this season; beating the Ramblers at the Gentile Center 83-65 and posting an 83-71 win at the Nutter Center.
After some early season struggles the Raiders started to bring it all together at the start of the conference season. With five freshmen seeing significant minutes, most expected the Raiders to struggle. It was the hot start to the conference season and the eventual ten wins that made the league take notice. Behind the senior duo of Hollins and Doliboa the freshmen came of age quickly and have made the Raiders a force. Both contests against the Ramblers saw them post double digit victories.
Raiders point guard DeShaun Wood had two solid games against the Ramblers. In the first meeting back on January 17 the 5?11" 170 pounder scored 14 points and handed out three assists, shooting 6-10 from the field. In the next meeting he scored a team high 21 points with eight rebounds and three assists, this time on just 6-8 from the floor. The senior stars for the Raiders each turned in solid performances over the two games. Doliboa averaged 16.5 points per game in the series to go with a series high eight rebounds per game average. Hollins turned in an 18.5 scoring average and six assists per game. Forward Alex Kock, who averaged 7.3 points per game over the season, had 17 and 11 point performances against the Ramblers, hitting 8-15 three-pointers over the two games.
On the Loyola side, Paul McMillan was the only player to turn in solid performances in both contests. The senior forward was one of two Loyola players acknowledged on the Horizon League post-season teams. After garnering newcomer of the year honors a season ago, McMillan was named to the conference?s first team this year. Against the Raiders McMillan averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 21-33 for the series. In the second meeting McMillan was the only Rambler in double digits, notching a career high 28 points and grabbing ten rebounds in the loss at Wright State. Terrance Whiters scored a game high 22 points in the second meeting of the two teams. DaJuan Gouard turned in a 15 point and four assist performance in the second meeting, as well.
As a team the Ramblers shot exactly 50% from the floor and 31.3% from three-point range. The Raiders shot a shade better, 54.5%, from the floor while hitting an astounding 48.1% from three-point range. The Ramblers dished out 31 assists against 25 turnovers while the Raiders had 28 assists to 29 turnovers. The Raiders won the battle on the glass in each contest, outrebounding the Ramblers 33-28 in the first meeting then 39-22 in the second match-up. The Raiders also held an advantage at the free-throw line hitting on 31 of 48 attempts while Loyola hit 15 of just 22 attempts.
The Raiders seemingly dominated each match-up this season and the results were eerily similar to the 2001-02 season when the Raiders handled the Ramblers twice in the regular season before falling in the Horizon League tournament to the Ramblers. In order for the Ramblers to win this match-up they can?t let the Raiders hit nearly 50% from three-point range and they must also win the rebounding battle. Doliboa has been on a shooting cold streak and the Raiders come into the tourney having lost two in a row. Loyola has a penchant for giving up career highs to role players, which would hurt in this meeting. If Doliboa continues his cold shooting and the Ramblers don?t let someone like Zakee Boyd or Alex Kock go off for 25 points they may have a chance to advance.
MATCH-UPS
Frontcourt: Advantage Even
Doliboa, Kock, Boyd, Drew Burleson, Vova Severovas all played well against the Ramblers. McMillan was the only Ramblers player that was on track in both contests. The Raiders held Demetrius Williams under his numbers in both games. They also prevented Blake Schilb from ever doing any damage as well. Loyola?s frontcourt did do a relatively good job on the glass as WSU?s guards helped them gain the rebounding edge.
Backcourt: Advantage WSU
Both backcourt starters for the Raiders were named to post-season all conference teams with Hollins being named to the second team and Wood being named to the newcomer team. Wood had two outstanding games against the Ramblers and has been to the free-throw line nearly as much as the Ramblers as a team in the two contests. Whiters had his best game of the year against WSU, but the Ramblers backcourt as a whole allowed the Raiders to do what they want.
Coaching: Advantage WSU
Biancardi was named the coach of the year in just his first season guiding the Raiders to a 10-6 conference mark and turning more than a few heads along the way. The rumors are already swirling that Farmer?s just waiting for the season to come to an end to resign. The process will be hastened if the Ramblers are as prepared as they?ve been the previous outings against WSU.
Intangibles: Advantage WSU
The Raiders have lost two straight coming into the tourney, but this is a home game for them against a team that may actually be happy to bring this extremely disappointing season to a close.
Big Joe?s Line: WSU ?9
Big Joe?s Predicted Score: WSU 83, Loyola 77
Big Joe?s Record: SU 16-6 ATS 11-9
3/1/04
by Joe Dlugosz
The Loyola Ramblers travel to Ohio this Tuesday for a first round Horizon League match-up with the Wright State Raiders. The Ramblers come into the tournament as the eight seed against the Raiders. The Ramblers disappointed most everyone this season with their dismal 4-12 conference mark while the Raiders, behind first year head coach Paul Biancardi, made a run at the league title before coming up a bit short down the stretch. On the season, the Raiders finished 14-13 with a 10-6 conference record. That mark was good enough to earn Biancardi coach of the year honors. The Raiders also had three other players garner post-season awards. Forward Seth Doliboa was named to the first team all-conference and guard Vernard Hollins earned second-team honors. Freshman point guard DeShaun Wood was named to the newcomer team as well. The Raiders took both contests between the two clubs this season; beating the Ramblers at the Gentile Center 83-65 and posting an 83-71 win at the Nutter Center.
After some early season struggles the Raiders started to bring it all together at the start of the conference season. With five freshmen seeing significant minutes, most expected the Raiders to struggle. It was the hot start to the conference season and the eventual ten wins that made the league take notice. Behind the senior duo of Hollins and Doliboa the freshmen came of age quickly and have made the Raiders a force. Both contests against the Ramblers saw them post double digit victories.
Raiders point guard DeShaun Wood had two solid games against the Ramblers. In the first meeting back on January 17 the 5?11" 170 pounder scored 14 points and handed out three assists, shooting 6-10 from the field. In the next meeting he scored a team high 21 points with eight rebounds and three assists, this time on just 6-8 from the floor. The senior stars for the Raiders each turned in solid performances over the two games. Doliboa averaged 16.5 points per game in the series to go with a series high eight rebounds per game average. Hollins turned in an 18.5 scoring average and six assists per game. Forward Alex Kock, who averaged 7.3 points per game over the season, had 17 and 11 point performances against the Ramblers, hitting 8-15 three-pointers over the two games.
On the Loyola side, Paul McMillan was the only player to turn in solid performances in both contests. The senior forward was one of two Loyola players acknowledged on the Horizon League post-season teams. After garnering newcomer of the year honors a season ago, McMillan was named to the conference?s first team this year. Against the Raiders McMillan averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 21-33 for the series. In the second meeting McMillan was the only Rambler in double digits, notching a career high 28 points and grabbing ten rebounds in the loss at Wright State. Terrance Whiters scored a game high 22 points in the second meeting of the two teams. DaJuan Gouard turned in a 15 point and four assist performance in the second meeting, as well.
As a team the Ramblers shot exactly 50% from the floor and 31.3% from three-point range. The Raiders shot a shade better, 54.5%, from the floor while hitting an astounding 48.1% from three-point range. The Ramblers dished out 31 assists against 25 turnovers while the Raiders had 28 assists to 29 turnovers. The Raiders won the battle on the glass in each contest, outrebounding the Ramblers 33-28 in the first meeting then 39-22 in the second match-up. The Raiders also held an advantage at the free-throw line hitting on 31 of 48 attempts while Loyola hit 15 of just 22 attempts.
The Raiders seemingly dominated each match-up this season and the results were eerily similar to the 2001-02 season when the Raiders handled the Ramblers twice in the regular season before falling in the Horizon League tournament to the Ramblers. In order for the Ramblers to win this match-up they can?t let the Raiders hit nearly 50% from three-point range and they must also win the rebounding battle. Doliboa has been on a shooting cold streak and the Raiders come into the tourney having lost two in a row. Loyola has a penchant for giving up career highs to role players, which would hurt in this meeting. If Doliboa continues his cold shooting and the Ramblers don?t let someone like Zakee Boyd or Alex Kock go off for 25 points they may have a chance to advance.
MATCH-UPS
Frontcourt: Advantage Even
Doliboa, Kock, Boyd, Drew Burleson, Vova Severovas all played well against the Ramblers. McMillan was the only Ramblers player that was on track in both contests. The Raiders held Demetrius Williams under his numbers in both games. They also prevented Blake Schilb from ever doing any damage as well. Loyola?s frontcourt did do a relatively good job on the glass as WSU?s guards helped them gain the rebounding edge.
Backcourt: Advantage WSU
Both backcourt starters for the Raiders were named to post-season all conference teams with Hollins being named to the second team and Wood being named to the newcomer team. Wood had two outstanding games against the Ramblers and has been to the free-throw line nearly as much as the Ramblers as a team in the two contests. Whiters had his best game of the year against WSU, but the Ramblers backcourt as a whole allowed the Raiders to do what they want.
Coaching: Advantage WSU
Biancardi was named the coach of the year in just his first season guiding the Raiders to a 10-6 conference mark and turning more than a few heads along the way. The rumors are already swirling that Farmer?s just waiting for the season to come to an end to resign. The process will be hastened if the Ramblers are as prepared as they?ve been the previous outings against WSU.
Intangibles: Advantage WSU
The Raiders have lost two straight coming into the tourney, but this is a home game for them against a team that may actually be happy to bring this extremely disappointing season to a close.
Big Joe?s Line: WSU ?9
Big Joe?s Predicted Score: WSU 83, Loyola 77
Big Joe?s Record: SU 16-6 ATS 11-9
