Illinois State Preview and Game Thread -- 2-2-2022

[JCT]

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 7:00 p.m.
Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois

Loyola returns home to friendlier confines Wednesday night for a midweek matchup with Illinois State. The Ramblers are coming off a rough loss at Drake, where the Bulldogs used physical play and 28 trips to the free throw line to defeat Loyola with seeming ease. Loyola shot well inside the arc (65.6% on two pointers), but had almost nothing from outside (only six of 23 from three). The Jan. 5 game with Illinois State in Normal was postponed due to Covid, so ISU is making their first appearance against Loyola this season.

Coming off their worst season in the MVC since 2011 and their worst season overall since 2003, Illinois State was picked a distant last in the 2021-22 MVC men's basketball preseason poll. Folks were beginning to talk about a hot seat for Redbird legend Dan Muller-- until the unheralded Redbirds started the season 10-9 overall and 3-3 in conference (with impressive wins over Missouri State and Bradley). But with the Redbirds primed to move above .500 in conference late in a close game at Evansville, ISU's top rebounder and second leading scorer Sy Chatman tore his ACL. The Redbirds have lost their last three conference games (including a gritty OT nail-biter at home against Drake) and are now 10-12 overall, 3-6 in conference.

The Ramblers haven't lost two conference games in a row in more than two years, but given the shaky, streaky offense they've shown recently, it's a definite possibility. So the Ramblers are glad to see ISU come calling before they have to head out on the road for tough games at Missouri State and at Bradley. It helps that Wednesday's game is also the Jesuit Jam, which promises to hype up the home crowd.

Coach Dan Muller is likely to start forwards Liam McChesney and Kendall Lewis and three impressive guards: Josiah Strong, Howard Fleming Jr., and Antonio Reeves. Reeves, a 6'6" junior guard out of Simeon, rivals Missouri State's Isiaih Mosely for the conference scoring title. He pours in an average of 20.2 points, averages about 40% from three, hits 80% from the free throw line, and adds 3.7 rebounds per game to the mix. Six-four senior guard Josiah Strong is an even better shooter from distance, averaging 11.9 points per game and firing threes with 43.1% accuracy. Fleming, a 6'5" sophomore, averages 5.5 points and does a lot of the defensive work; he leads the team in steals, pulls in 4.2 boards, and has six blocked shots.

Six-ten sophomore McChesney and 6'8" junior Lewis man the frontcourt; McChesney had a career high 19 points and 8 rebounds in his start against UNI last time out. Lewis leads the team with 25 blocks, chips in 9.8 points per game, and hauls in 5.4 rebounds.

Coming off the bench are 5'11" junior and Tennessee State transfer Mark Freeman, 6'11" junior forward Ryan Schmidt, 6'5" sophomore guard Emon Washington, 6'9" forward Abdou Ndiaye, and 6'7" sophomore forward Harouna Sissoko. Freeman is a quick guard who scores 9.3 ppg and leads the team in assists. Schmidt is adequate defensively but not much of a factor on offense (2.8 ppg). Ndiaye is a project with good shot-blocking and offensive rebounding ability. Washington's minutes, scoring, and shooting percentages are way down from last season when he was a part-time starter and a promising freshman.

The Ramblers need to get back on track, and playing against a team that likes to run and shoot might be just what Loyola needs right now. The Redbirds play the second-fastest tempo in the league behind Indiana State, and are not particularly known for their defense. ISU gives up the most points per game in the league (76.7) and sits in the middle of the pack (5th) in shooting percentage. Without the experience and athleticism of Chatman down low, the Ramblers should be able to better spread the floor and get back in an offensive groove.... just don't let Reeves go off with 40 points like Mosley did 11 days ago.


Loyola game notes: https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/20 ... 2_2_22.pdf

Illinois State game notes: https://goredbirds.com/documents/2022/2 ... Loyola.pdf

TV/Streaming video: ESPN+ https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/ ... 3687f2a241

Radio/Streaming audio: https://loyolaramblers.com/watch/?Live=103

Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=369449

Vegas odds: Loyola by 14.5

[goramblers2011]

Please don't lose this one.

[Chiguy14]

If anyone would like a free ticket for this game tomorrow, send me a private message!

[swellafelon]

What are the chances the game gets canceled on account of the snow?

I see that Illinois State canceled classes for today and tomorrow.

Anybody know the Redbirds team travel plans? (Are they already in Chicago?)

The Evansville at Valpo game today was canceled.

https://news.yahoo.com/another-postpone ... 17853.html

Edit: According to Redbird message board team traveled yesterday late afternoon/early evening. Since presumably the Redbirds are already in town I figure the game is on regardless of weather.

[WestCoastFan]

The teams might be in town, but I wonder about the refs. Most refs work 5+ games a week so I'm willing to bet one or more of the referees aren't in Chicago yet. If that's an issue, maybe they could get someone who did the Northwestern game last night to sub in.

[Dansen]

Schwieger bounce back game. Calling my shot.

[NuncEstBibendum]

Schwieger bounce back game. Calling my shot.

I think Schwieger can and hopefully will be a big part of us getting our offensive going.

On a side note, I am super pissed that I have to pay ESPN more money than I already do through Comcast to watch this game. Just saying.

[WestCoastFan]

Clemons isn't dressed. I'm guessing it's the knee but don't know officially.

[Dansen]

Those Uguak fouls are brutal. Kennedy looks really engaged defensively. Hutty looks worse every game, just can’t put the ball in the hoop right now

[goramblers2011]

Clemons isn't dressed. I'm guessing it's the knee but don't know officially.

Just when he seemed to be starting to put it together.