In the first installment of our ’08-’09 preview we’ll be taking a look at the entire roster and give you an idea of what to look for from each player… so without further ado, allow me to introduce to you the Greyhounds:
#1 Anthony Winbush, 6’7 180, Fr. F: A long athletic player with a ton of potential who will see time at the 3 and 4 positions this season. Sporting a good handle and range for a player his size Winbush can play on the wing as well as in the post. He is the ‘Hounds top recruit for this season, who they hope will someday be an All-MAAC performer.
#2 Isaac Reid, 6’5 225, So. F: A projected starter at the power forward or center position. He did not participate in the second half of last season, leaving the team for personal reasons, but will be looked at to fill the scoring, rebounding, and defending voids left by Omari Israel and Mike Tuck. Reid was the Texas 4A Player of the Year just two years ago and Coach Patsos hopes he will be able to use his superior athleticism and strength to make up for a lack of height to compete in the pivot with the MAAC’s best bigs.
#3 Tony Lewis, 6’2 175, So. G: He got the start as the third guard in the starting lineup vs. Catholic. Lewis is perhaps the most athletic player on the team and its best perimeter defender. He looks much more comfortable in the offense and will look to be more aggressive on that side of the ball in this his 3rd year in the program. Lewis took a medical red-shirt his first season after suffering a separated shoulder.
#4 Brett Harvey, 6’1 175, Jr. G: He has started 61 of his 64 games played in a Greyhound uniform. As a freshman he served as the team’s point guard and last year played off the ball at the 2 and has been effective in both spots. Harvey is a hard nosed on ball defender, can push the ball in transition, can take it to the rim, can find the open man, and possesses a consistent jump shot. He’s the heart and soul of the team and don’t be surprised if he leads it in scoring this season.
#5 Marquis Sullivan, 6’1 190, Sr. G: He’s Loyola’s all-time 3 point marksman, the MAAC’
s 6th Man of the Year Award recipient from last season, and without a doubt has the prettiest jump shot in the conference. Sullivan was named to the preseason 3rd team all-MAAC squad and will once again provide leadership, and instant offense off the bench. His unrelenting passion and quick release make him perfect for the role of “6th starter” as Coach Patsos would call it, assuming the spot that Shane James and Mike Tuck played so well in. Opposing coaches know, if Sullivan gets an inch off a curl screen anywhere within 3 feet off the arc, it’s 3 for the ‘Hounds.
#10 J’hared Hall, 6’2 160, Fr. G: He was a big time scholastic scorer from the basketball hotbed of Mount Vernon, NY. He’ll challenge for playing time right away, but with the abundance of guards on the roster, Hall may have to wait his turn for major minutes. He showed what he could do when he hit two 3’s and took the ball to the rim and hit a floater on 3 consecutive possessions late in the Catholic scrimmage, where he was used as the baseline shooter when the team ran its swing offense.
#11 Paolo Ivis, 6’7 225, Fr. F: A native of Fazana, Croatia, he was in street clothes for the exhibition game against Catholic. Ivis has imposing size, and could make an impact right away if he can provide serviceable defense and rebounding.
#13 Dan Ficke, 6’6 245, Sr. F: He was active on the glass in the Catholic scrimmage and looks slimmed down after a long summer of working out. With Loyola’s lack of size and depth inside, Ficke could be an option for Coach Patsos in the post.
#15 Shane Walker, 6’10 215, So. F: He will sit out this season after transferring to the program from the University of Maryland. He will have 3 years of eligibility remaining when he hits the floor and with his length and athleticism he could be a major contributor and one of the one of the premier big men in the MAAC.
#21 Jawaan Wright, 6’8 230, Jr. F: He red-shirted last season as the Greyhounds frontcourt was crowded with the likes of Israel, Tuck, and Fofana playing in front of him. Wright could be the starting center for the Greyhounds and has the tools to be amongst the MAAC leaders in blocks and rebounds if he is able fulfill his potential. If the Greyhounds are to contend for the conference championship this season, Jawaan will need to be a big factor.
#22 Jamal Barney, 6’3 185, So. G: He’s the newest Baltimore product to return home to p
lay for Loyola. Like Gerald Brown, Jamal played one season for Providence College, and like Gerald Brown, he will have to shoulder high expectations and be looked at to put the ball in the basket right away. However, his game is different than Brown’s – Gerald used his size and strength to bully his way to the basket and help out on the glass, whereas Barney will use a superior handle and lighting quick first step to fill it up. He'll see significant minutes playing as an off-guard and it will be interesting to see if he's able to duplicate what Andre Collins and Gerald Brown were able to do in their stints at Loyola.
#24 Joe Muvuna, 6’9 200, Fr. F: Really tall and really thin. Muvuna, born in Rwanda, comes to Loyola via the Worchester Academy in Massachusetts will take a medical red-shirt after a broken wrist in preseason. It could be blessing in disguise as he will look at add a little bulk to throw around when he resumes his playing career in the Green and Grey in ’09-’10.
#31 Brian Rudolph, 5’11 170, So. G: He’s Loyola’s floor leader and is a general on the court.
It was going to take a lot to move backcourt partner Brett Harvey off the ball, but with his exceptional play as a freshman he was able to and was honored as the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Rudolph is the ‘Hounds top playmaker, ballhandler, and passer and is definitely in the conversation for the title of best point guard in the MAAC. He’s a pass first PG and is at his best in Loyola’s fast paced transition game. He’s not afraid of going in and rebounding with the big boys and if he’s able to improve on his jump shot from last season, he has a chance to be the conference’s Player of the Year… he’s that good. The fact that MAAC coaches voted Rudolph on the league’s preseason 2nd team and Fairfield point guard Jonathan Han on the 1st is an absolute joke.
#33 Brad Farrell, 6’5 215, Sr. F: He returns to the program after a two season hiatus. Farrell was a member of Coach Patsos’ original recruiting class 4 years ago and struggled mightily as the team’s starting point guard that season. Playing in a role much better suited for him in his sophomore season, he excelled using his strong floor game and athleticism to be a top defender and rebounder from the 2 and 3 spots on the floor. After an ugly incident with a teammate Farrell was dismissed from the team, but to his credit has fought his way back and will play a major role on this team. Look for Farrell to play the 3 and even the 4 position when the ‘Hounds go with a small, running lineup.
#34 Garrett Kelly, 6’6 175, Jr. F: He serves the team in a thankless, yet necessary role as a gritty walk-on who uses an accurate jump shot when called on in his limited minutes.
#55 Josh Weigand, 6’9 230, Fr. C: A Whiteford, MD native with big size and a soft touch. He will provide depth in the Greyhounds frontcourt this season in his first year with the team.
.jpg)
ll season. Led by the defending Hesiman Trophy winner Tim Tebow they downed Vanderbilt in Nashville 42-14 this weekend and with the W clinched the SEC East, setting up a showdown with Alabama the first Saturday of December. Will it mean a title show for the Gators? After home games against #25 South Carolina and the Citadel and a trip to Tallahassee to play the ‘Noles, we will see.
y host to Texas Tech, after that they play in-state rival Oklahoma St. in Stillwater, and if they do that there’s a chance for a potential Big 12 Championship Game and if they can rack up those 3 in a row… a trip to Miami could be there’s. Can Sam Bradford and his offense, which averages 51.4 ppg, lead them there?
pitched three shoutouts and while allowing only 13 points total. Will the Pac-10 prove to be strong enough to send its champion to the title game? Coach Pete Carroll hopes so. There’s no doubt USC, ranked just #6 in the BCS, can beat anyone on any given day, but will they get the chance?
Longhorns, will need to take finish strong over Kansas on the road and win a home game over Texas A&M and hope that Red River Rival Oklahoma can knock off Tech leading to a 3-way tie in the South. The tiebreaker to see who represents division in the conference title game is the BCS Rankings. Can Texas hit BCS lottery twice in one year?
