Loyola-Valpo

Loyola at Valparaiso 

   This season has been common to recent years for the Ramblers.  A hot start gives them confidence and their fans optimism, but then the conference part of the season rolls around and the fire seems to fizzle out as the season goes along. 

   The Ramblers started the season 7-0 and looked to have a lot of momentum going into their game against national runner-up Butler.  Although the Bulldogs squeaked by, it sent the Ramblers into a bit of a downspiral, as they lost eight of their next 11 games.  While their 15-13 record doesn't exactly knock them out of any postseason race, a win here and against Butler (the third and second place teams) would go a long way. 

   Geoff McCammon leads four Ramblers in double figures at 14 ppg.  Ben Averkamp and Terrance Hill are right behind him at 12 and 11.5 ppg, respectively.  Walter Gibler is the other double digit scorer at 10 ppg.  Jordan Hicks, who broke his foot for the second time in two years, was averaging 12 ppg before his injury in early December.

   Valparaiso is one of three teams in the Horizon League that has amassed 20 or more victories (Butler and Cleveland State are the others).  The thing that has led them to a 20-9 record and 11-5 conference record has been its offense efficiency.  The Crusaders are in the top 75 in scoring, averaging over 73 ppg, 21st in assists with 16 apg and 14th in field goal percentage, hitting 48 percent of their shots. 

   Brandon Wood leads four Crusaders in double figure scoring, pouring in 17 ppg.  He has scored more than 20 points in the teams' last three games.  Next are Cory Johnson (14 ppg), Ryan Broekhoff (11 ppg) and Howard Little (10 ppg).  What is crazy statistically for Valpo is that those four are also the top rebounders, averaging between 4.2 and 4.8 boards per contest.  Little and Broekhoff lead the team at 4.8 rpg a pop.          Prediction:  Valpo wins 81-74