The Ramblers are 8-2 (0-2 in the Horizon League) with no good wins and losses to Butler and Valparaiso. The Ramblers return all 5 starters from last season (a squad that posted a 14-16 overall record, including a 5-13 mark in Horizon League play). The Ramblers are projected to finish 8th in the conference this season.
The Ramblers are lead by G Geoff McCammon, F Walt Gibler, G-F Jordan Hicks, G Terrance Hill and F Ben Averkamp. McCammon is averaging 13 points/game (leads the team), 3 rebounds/game and 1 assist/game. McCammon is back for his senior year after a solid season in which he averaged 24 minutes a game. While his hard work improving his long-range shot paid off, the Ramblers hope he can be more consistent with the trey this year, while also using his size to good advantage closer to the basket.
Gibler is averaging 12 points/game, 4 rebounds/game and 1 assist/game. Gibler was voted Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore, making only one start in 30 games. A 6-7 forward, he has battled injuries at the beginning of his first two college seasons, which partly explains why he wasn't in the opening lineup. One thing Gibler does well is get to the free-throw line. His 156 attempts last year were 60 more than anyone on the squad, and he hit 78% of them.
Hicks is averaging 12 points/game, 5 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. In the final seven games of his freshmen campaign, Hicks averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds and shot 55% from three-point range. When Loyola upset Butler, Hicks had 23 points and 8 rebounds.
Hill is averaging 12 points/game, 4 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. The 6'4" guard is a reliable three-point weapon. A high-energy player, Hill can score inside or out and defend.
Averkamp is averaging 10 points/game, 4 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. Averkamp was second in the league in blocked shots and suffered typical freshman inconsistency last season, but after an offseason in the weight room coach Jim Whitesell feels good about Averkamp's potential to have a fine career at Loyola.
F Andy Polka leads the team in rebounding with 8 rebounds/game. Polka was awarded an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because of injuries and is once again among the toughest rebounders in the league. Last year was his first to make it through healthy. Polka showed a little more aggressiveness on the offensive end late in the season, and coach Whitesell would like to see more of that.
G Courtney Stanley leads the team in assists with 4 assists/game. Stanley played little most of his freshman season. He scored a total of 11 points in his first 20 games, then picked it up a little at the end, averaging 4 points in the last four games. But that didn't prepare him to be a 31-minute-a-game point guard as a sophomore.
The good news is that everybody is back but that doesn't appear to be good news on the surface. However, if Hicks stays healthy that will help solve Loyola's problematic scoring lulls. Also, Stanley, McCammon and Gibler should all be more comfortable in lead roles. Hill and Polka need to play like senior leaders should play. If all of that comes together, the Ramblers hope to finish somewhere around the middle of the Horizon League standings.
