Steady Improvement for the Basketball Program
Steady Improvement for the Basketball Program
December 7th, 2009
Consistency, once a term rarely deemed to the Loyola men’s basketball program, has been the overwhelming characteristic over the past four seasons. Since taking over the team in April 2004, head coach Jimmy Patsos has been the driving force behind Loyola’s recent success. After taking over a team that recorded only one win the season prior, Patsos and his staff immediately injected energy into the program.
“That was a tough time, said Patsos. As an entire staff, we needed to change the culture here and bring some much-needed energy.”
That’s exactly what they were able to accomplish. In fact, after the completion of last season, his coaching staff became the first to lead Loyola to double-digit wins in four straight seasons.
At the time, the student body was also in need of an energy boost. It was routinely common for Reitz Arena to be nearly empty for home games. Students would rather sit in their dorm rooms and throw on a romantic comedy than watch the dreadful Greyhounds. However, that culture has also been changed at Loyola University. Students have rallied behind the team and now seats can be tough to come by.
A basketball fanatic, junior Dylan Palumbo claimed that, “if you show up 20 minutes late to a game, you will be sitting in the nosebleeds. The boring, lousy Loyola teams are a thing of the past.”
The Loyola program has also witnessed much improved recruiting as of late. Arguably Patsos best recruit at Loyola, Gerald Brown, was a force to be reckoned with in the MAAC Conference. During the 2006-2007 season, the Providence transfer led the conference in points and steals, while earning All-MAAC First Team honors. It seems that Patsos and his staff have a recruiting connection at Providence because current Loyola junior Jamal Barney is also a star in the making. In the 2008-2009 season, he also led the MAAC in scoring with 18.1 points per game, including two 40-point performances.
Jamal Barney Gerald Brown
Current team managers, Jarrett Malizio and Taylor Bozel, have witnessed both of these athletes play for a few seasons now. “Plain and simple, they make plays,” said Bozel. “I think they can compete with just about anyone in Division I basketball,” he continued.
In addition, the national recognition of these players allows Loyola to schedule better quality opponents. These tougher opponents include teams like West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and even Duke. Players like junior guard Brian Rudolph often wish the schedule were a bit tougher.
“It makes us a stronger team. Even if we end up losing, it will help us down the road in the MAAC tournament,” said Rudolph.
So far this season, the Greyhounds have gotten off to a mediocre start, with a record of 4-4, but the future certainly does look bright. The next game is December 9th against Coppin State at home in Reitz Arena.
