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SEASON 7

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Challenge 9: Shock The Neighborhood

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From Worst to First

Peers and Seers

Game 7-039: Illinois-Chicago at Loyola (Ill.)
January 24, 2011 3:52 pm ET by Kyle Whelliston

Illinois-Chicago Flames at Loyola (Ill.) Ramblers

January 22, 2011 4:00 pm
Joseph Gentile Center
BBState Stats/Recap

In a century of progress, college basketball has proven to be infinitely scalable: from the cramped quarters of the 3,400-seat oldest living Division I gymnasium at Fordham to a 90,000-capacity false fieldhouse. So much of what Our Game is has to do with where it's played, and it can be played just about anywhere now; modern advances have allowed games to be removed from physical context, pasteurized, and made to appear exactly identical. But for those who go, those spaces are what we remember most afterwards, and then the moments that happened inside them.

Loyola is the only Horizon League program with a National Championship, at least the kind that we've been taught to honor and respect. Butler has a banner up at Hinkle Fieldhouse with a statement to that effect dated 1929, but that was a trophy awarded in a sporting club in Philadelphia. The Ramblers won theirs on the court and on a bracket back in 1963, as a first-time invited independent to the NCAA Tournament. They beat Tennessee Tech, Mississippi State, Illinois and Duke. In the title game, Loyola played post-Oscar Robertson, two time defending champion Cincinnati team from the Valley. In Louisville's Freedom Hall, they came back from a 15-point deficit and won in overtime, 60-58. There's a giant plaque on the outside wall of Alumni Gym with the names of the players and the coaches from that historic team.


Three years later, Texas Western would win the National Championship with five black starters. What tends to be forgotten, or just never mentioned, was that four of Loyola's were black too. There's no Disney movie of that, for whatever reason, but an excellent documentary called "Game of Change" was released three years ago that details the Ramblers' 1963 third-round game in East Lansing, Michigan against Mississippi State. Sports teams from Mississippi were not allowed to play integrated teams, but the game went on despite an issued state injunction against the Bulldogs.


George Ireland's Ramblers only lost two games that season: a blowout at Bowling Green's Anderson Arena ("The House That Roared") to snap a 21-game win streak, as well as a 73-72 drop in a pre-Tournament showcase against Wichita State at Chicago Stadium. They defended their home court to the death. At Alumni Gym, the Ramblers were a perfect 13-0.

Loyola men's basketball won there a lot over the years -- almost 80 percent of the time. They beat Kevin McHale's Minnesota team and Larry Bird's Indiana State squad in the same season (1977-78). But the Ramblers haven't called Alumni Gym home for a while now. The last contest there was in 1996, a city game against UIC. The Ramblers won, and then moved into the Gentile Center next door. Since then, there hasn't been much reason to update the signage and the logos to keep up with the changing times, from the MCC to the Horizon League.




Four months from now, the building will be gone forever. One final exhibition was held there back in November, between Loyola and Gentile Center NAIA sublessors Robert Morris. A small group of loyal Loyola folks have tried to save it by way of some sort of historical register, posting memories on Facebook (the human rosary!), but even the student journalists have moved on. "Although Alumni Gym is home to many memories, its facilities are no longer suitable for today's current student athletes," wrote the unofficial Loyola Student Dispatch news service in November, and the official Phoenix offered a historical recap. A new modern facility will open next April.


After Saturday's city game at Gentile between Loyola and UIC, I watched one of the last sporting events at the old "Brown Box That Rocks," a men's volleyball contest against lower-division Lindenwood. What volleyball has done is allow Alumni Gym to live a little bit longer as an event venue. As in the distant past, fans in the second deck sat against the railing with their feet dangling over the edge, and the box rocked, with a faded old 1980s and 1990s playlist blaring out over even older speakers. The 2,000-seat place was half-full, and the audience was mostly college age. The entire dance team (which had performed at the basketball game earlier) was there in street clothes, making up goofy choreographed routines to "Footloose" and "Baby One More Time." I was likely the only person who was there for nostalgia purposes.

But this wasn't to say goodbye, as with other places this season. Though the media quarters have been at Alumni Gym's street level for years, I never got to see a game there, and I was just trying to get an idea of what it was like back then. The Loyola community had 15 years -- nearly an entire generation -- to make peace with the doomed building and let go. Most of the season ticket holders of the past are likely retired or dead. In its final hours, it's just another old, outdated building with bad lighting.

In time, they're all going to come down, all the old ones. Anderson Arena at Bowling Green is in its last season too, and someday Rose Hill at Fordham will be. Even The Palestra, our beloved Palestra, won't last forever. I guess the debate becomes whether to rip them down quickly, in order to allow emotional wounds to oxygenate and heal at a faster yet more painful pace, or let them convalesce and die gracefully, like Alumni Gym has. Either way, we have to strive to repeatedly capture the snapshot essence of these places while they're alive. Otherwise, the history of college basketball is nothing but a series of line-scores and brackets and a highlight reel of remember-whens.


And this is why we need poets more than we need geeks.

@midmajority Game Tweets

15:25 Red Line to HL Chicago city game. Some kid hijacked the PA: "This is the Smooth Conductor, and I got a lil something for all the llladies."
15:37 Considering that the Smooth Conductor was promptly arrested, you are right. RT @ksvoboda @midmajority im sure he has nothing for the lladies
15:42 RT @ksvoboda: @midmajority smooth conductor getting a free ride to jail. #CaptainObvious
15:43 Loyola : S7 :: La Salle : S1 RT @danblock2: @midmajority Gentile Center = Unofficial Home of TMM s7?
15:43 RT @Dobber_BtB_SBN: Gaels climbing up that hill again. Within 5 now. #pixelvision (c @midmajority )
15:46 Wonder if they'll refuse to accept this one. http://img.ly/2QPe
15:57 Game 7-039: UIC at Loyola (Ill.). Cubs-White Sox? No. THIS.
16:02 We are pleased and honored to be present for the game that will decide ownership of Chicago for another... three weeks or so.
16:06 Loyola 11-8, 2-6 in the Horizon, and just won at Milwaukee. UIC is 5-14 overall, 0-7 in the conference, on an L7 streak. #youareinformed
16:07 RT @gmoore21566: #ODU - #VCU on #pixelvision. That is awesome! @midmajority
16:10 We are underway. http://img.ly/2QPq
16:10 RT @defiantlydutch: Thanks to @midmajority we've got ODU-VCU on #pixelvision. This day just gets better. Definitely ordering Italian tonight. #CAA #CAAhoops
16:14 We'd personally deliver some Maggiano's Little Italy to @defiantlydutch, but we can't be all things to all people.
16:15 With an opening Terrance Hill #superhoop and a couple of baskets from Ben Averkamp, Loyola is up 7-4 after four minutes of play.
16:16 UIC's Robo Kreps has been contained so far in this game, managing one rebound. Loyola's Keys To The Game: Stop Robo, Stop Robo, Stop Robo.
16:17 RT @bubbaprog: @midmajority KLAATU BARADA ROBO.
16:18 Have you seen "Small Wonder?" RT @smfranz: @midmajority Robo's real name is Robert. "Robo" is the name that HE CHOOSES TO USE
16:19 Paul Carter, who used to be a Gopher, nails a wet silky j, and he's got six of UIC's eight. Loyola leads 11-8, 13:51 1H.
16:21 #beep #boop RT @smfranz: @midmajority No, but I've seen Robo's licensed biography: http://bit.ly/5DXPJ
16:23 Make that eight of UIC's 10. Paul Carter is a one-man wrecking crew, if the wrecked item is a theoretical, oversized Loyola lead. 14-10.
16:27 RT @adamamin: and I'm pretty sure I just heard a "Spongebob Squarepants"-esque cheer at the Gentile Center. @midmajority confirm?
16:28 Confirm the Spongebob cheer. I'm not sure it's to razz an opposing player, especially since Loyola is in yellow today.
16:29 We are here, as well, for a very special event. Here is a hint as to what it is. http://img.ly/2QPE
16:30 This is the first time we've been here this year with the cheerleaders and full band present. They have been working on their "Bad Romance."
16:33 Loyola up 24-17 at the third media. Zippy ball movement and a lot of threes so far.
16:38 Walt Gibler for two, a Courtney Stanley runner, and Loyola up 30-19 at 4:27 1H. This is what they thought they'd be doing to more teams.
16:40 Three minutes left in the half, until something awesome happens. I'm surprised they didn't hype this more. It's annual.
16:43 Loyola 34-23 at 2:43 1H. OK, here's a hint: http://tinyurl.com/6dt6cug
16:46 Robo Kreps heating up! After a slow start, three baskets. But the Gentile scoreboard refuses to recognize his contributions: 3 0 0.
16:47 One minute to go in the half, 37-25 Loyola. And YES, you can expect full coverage of the annual Battle of the Chicago Mascots at halftime.
16:47 RT @quarantedeux: @midmajority THE MASCOT GAME! Ah, memories.
16:49 Halftime! 40-27 Ramblers. Bring on the MASCOT MADNESS!
16:49 We have a thin lineup: LU Wolf, Sparky the UIC Dragon, Skates from the Chicago Wolves, and a couple of, um, "corporates."
16:54 To fill out the lineup for Team Sparky, somebody dressed like Snooki. http://img.ly/2QQ3
16:56 It's Team Sparky against Team LU Wolf. Home team with early advantage.
16:57 6-2 Team LU Wolf. Sparky's squad pretty much sucks.
16:58 Wish you were here. http://img.ly/2QQ5
16:59 Lulu Wolf just missed a #superhoop. Pizza Delivery Girl cleaned up. 16-4 LU.
17:00 http://img.ly/2QQ7
17:02 And that's your final for the 2011 Battle of the Mascots: Loyola 16, UIC 4. "It's just like the real game." - LU fan in bleachers
17:02 RT @WCCSports: Gaels 11-game win streak snapped RT @smcgaels: MBK: Final Score in Nashville. #Vandy 89, Saint Mary's 70.
17:05 From the Mascot League to the Horizon League! The second half begins between UIC and Loyola. 40-27 Ramblers.
17:06 UIC, down 13, shot 50% but coughed it up 7 times. Loyola: 47%, two turns, 34 shots, 6-for-9 from 3.
17:08 #SCOOP RT @jtemplon: @midmajority No! I missed mascot basketball. Unfortunate timing.
17:10 UIC keeps turning it over, Loyola keeps Ramblin'. It's 47-29 at 16:40 2H, and this might turn in to as much a blowout as the mascot game.
17:15 LU Wolf missed his two three-point attempts today. Still don't know what that contest is about, but the fans are very invested.
17:15 RT @midmajority360: Temple 77 Xavier 88 | TU 13-5 (3-2) XU 13-5 (5-0) | #A14
17:16 RT @midmajority360: Charlotte 67 Duquesne 83 | CHAR 9-10 (1-4) DUQ 13-5 (5-0) | #A14
17:19 Geoff McCammon hits a #superhoop, and here comes the Spongebob song from the Rambler Rowdies again. I think there's a connection there.
17:20 It's 51-33 Loyola at 14:00 2H. UIC playing something resembling defense, because it's organized. But it's kinda like soy milk... it's not.
17:21 Bobcats simply don't take the regular season seriously anymore. RT @midmajority360 Buffalo 73 Ohio 68 | BUFF 11-6 (3-2) OHIO 8-11 (1-4) #MAC
17:23 Joke, JOKE... OK, here in Chicago it's 55-35, nearing the 12:00 2H mark. Ramblers have turned aside first UIC attempt at a major run.
17:28 End of the third quarter, 57-40 Loyola. A lot's happened since these two teams met in the first annual #ALLCAPSGAME last season. A LOT.
17:29 OK, now it makes sense. The band is singing "Geoff McCammon" to the tune of "Spongebob Squarepants." Hope that clears it up.
17:32 But really, who saw the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run or Rahm Emanuel coming back when the #ALLCAPSGAME happened? Seriously. History is alive.
17:34 Note to all mid-major MTO event planners: the "Dress Like a Player" contest doesn't work as well when the jerseys and shorts fit.
17:36 59-45 Loyola at 7:29 2H, after a running Robo layup in transition. Rahm seems like such a nice, compassionate man in his campaign ads.
17:38 Here is the second UIC attempt at a catching the Ramblers napping and putting on a big run. 15-4 in four minutes.
17:38 Recall that Loyola can be quite emotionally fragile. The lead's been quickly slashed in half, now it's 59-48 at 6:51 2H.
17:39 RT @theswac: RT @devilsports: So far, nothing but good comments on the new floor in the R.W. Harrison Complex
17:43 Could this be Loyola's Robocalypse? Kreps with eight points for UIC during this extended run, now Flames' leader with 14. 62-52 at 4:15.
17:46 Loyola is on that short list of schools that haven't made the NCAA Tournament during the lifespan of any current player. (1985.)
17:47 Loyola content to burn clock and try to hold instead of making the Big Statement. 3:30 to go in this one, 62-52.
17:50 Rambler Rowdies more confident now, starting the "warm up the bus" chant at 2:20 with a 10-point lead. UIC is not within walking distance.
17:50 But Paul Carter cuts the lead to eight with a steal and runback. With pressure defense, the Flames are turning up the heat! #sportswriting
17:51 Robo with a #superhoop, and the lead is down to five!! 1:10, 62-57 Loyola. This was 55-35 once.
17:53 Empty Loyola possession, followed by an NBA-length Robo 3-attempt. 54 seconds left; here comes the foulin'.
17:53 RT @MattnotDonovan: @midmajority That, that's Robo Kreps' music! #JimRossVoice
17:55 Now this is getting nuts. Brito misses front end of 1-and-1 for Loyola, Paul Carter 3-miss the other way, Rambler Averkamp sinks 1 of 2 FT.
17:55 So there are 41 seconds left, Loyola's up by six, and that was one premature "warm up the bus" chant.
17:58 30 seconds left, 66-59. Band of Wolves starts "If you're winning and you know it" song. Tempting fate.
17:58 Robo malfunction!!! Misses two free throws, and that will just about do it. 17.9 left, 66-59, Polka at the line for Loyola.
18:00 67-59 Loyola, :10.9. Paul Carter runs himself into a turnover, and #peopleareleaving. Flames call time. What are they talking about?
18:01 Team dinner plans, probably. Courtney Stanley one of two after a foul, and that's a final. 68-59 Rrrrramblers.
18:03 Big shouts to @SkywayChicago and @isnetamerica here in the house today! And you, if we didn't see you.
18:04 Seriously, how much fun was that? Thus endeth the Midwestern portion of our schedule. Next week: #AEastMadness! CAA! NEC! And more!
18:06 RT @bubbaprog: Do Missouri State kids always dress up like The Village People? http://30fram.es/11j @midmajority
18:12 Good Evening Hoops Nation, and thank you, Chicago. We will all meet again. http://img.ly/2QR6

Boxscore

at LOYOLA (ILL.) 68, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 59
01/22/2011

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 5-15 (0-8) -- R. Kreps 7-17 3-6 19; P. Carter 5-8 0-0 10; B. Birton 1-2 2-3 4; D. Williams 1-1 0-0 2; D. Singh 2-5 0-0 5; C. Gray 2-3 0-0 5; K. Robbins 5-8 0-0 10; S. King 0-1 0-0 0; D. Tyler 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 25-51 5-9 59.
LOYOLA (ILL.) 12-8 (3-6) -- G. McCammon 7-13 0-0 19; C. Stanley 4-8 5-8 13; T. Hill 2-9 0-0 6; B. Averkamp 5-13 2-4 12; A. Polka 1-3 3-4 5; W. Gibler 3-9 2-4 8; D. Brito 2-2 0-1 5; S. Adams 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 12-21 68.

Three-point goals: UIC 4-13 (P. Carter 0-2; C. Gray 1-2; R. Kreps 2-7; D. Singh 1-1; D. Tyler 0-1), LOYO 8-19 (G. McCammon 5-9; C. Stanley 0-1; S. Adams 0-1; B. Averkamp 0-1; T. Hill 2-6; D. Brito 1-1); Rebounds: UIC 32 (P. Carter 11), LOYO 31 (A. Polka 11); Assists: UIC 9 (P. Carter 3), LOYO 12 (A. Polka 4); Total Fouls -- UIC 18, LOYO 11; Fouled Out: UIC-B. Birton; LOYO-T. Hill.