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Schilb and Kou show too hot for Flames
RAMBLERS GET 3RD STRAIGHT WIN OVER UIC
(1/16/06)
Loyola’s version of the World Tag Team Champions couldn’t be stopped at the Gentile Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Ramblers’ duo of Blake Schilb and Majak Kou combined to pulverize the sometimes non-existent UIC Flames defense as Loyola snapped a four-game losing streak and defeated its crosstown rivals 75-61.
“My mentality is the same whether I start or come off the bench,” said Kou (pictured). “We just came in focused to end this losing streak.”
Kou was the Ramblers’ sixth man for most of the season before earning the start last Wednesday at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Ramblers coach Jim Whitesell’s move to make Kou a starter paid off quickly. He scored eight of the Ramblers’ first 10 points to keep Loyola close after UIC opened an 8-2 lead.
With his 6-foot-5-inch lanky body and long wingspan, Kou was a problem all day for the Flames (8-9, 1-4). He scored on alley-oop dunk on a feed from Blake Schilb and made an acrobatic layup off another lob pass during the first half. He also nailed two three-point baskets.
Kou also chipped in with his defense – blocking three shots and grabbing four steals.
“Majak actively fills the lanes,” Whitesell said. “He’s always getting his hands on the ball.”
“It was too much Schilb and Kou,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “They set the tone.
“Kou doesn’t look very strong, but he posted, he drove and took us to the basket at least three times. Schilb just does everything. He can see over the zone and distribute the ball.”
“I’ve been skinny all my life, so I just go out and play,” Kou retorted. “I think most people scout me as a shooter, so I’ve got to change it up and drive.”
Schilb and Kou combined to shoot 20-for-33 from the field and had 64 percent of the Ramblers’ points.
The duo’s effort helped Loyola extend its winning streak to three over UIC, who had 10 of the previous 11 meetings in the series.
“I don’t get caught up in stuff like that,” Whitesell said. “Those things can turn on you real quick. UIC’s always a tough game for us. We have such great respect for Jimmy’s program – they’ve been one of the elite programs in our league.”
An enthusiastic crowd of 2,316, who chose to miss the first half of the Bears’ 29-21 divisional playoff loss to Carolina, showed up to root on both teams. At least 100 Flames fans and Fury members made the trip from UIC and made some serious noise.
Much of the loyal Ramblers fan base was also in attendance, including many of the “Rambler Rowdies.”
Loyola athletic director John Planek said because the game was being nationally televised by ESPNU that there was no flexibility to change the 3 p.m. start time. The game was originally scheduled for a Saturday night, but the opportunity to showcase the program on national TV was enticing.
“At the time of the change, the Bears were 1-3,” Planek said. “We certainly didn’t expect them to be playing.”
Karl White came off the bench to lead four Flames (8-9, 1-4) in double figures with 12 points. Jovan Stefanov contributed 11 points and seven rebounds and Josh Mayo added 10 points.
Loyola took control of the game with a 10-0 run midway through the first half, capped by Tracy Robinson’s three-point play that gave the Ramblers a 20-14 advantage.
During the run, freshman Leon Young’s layup with 12:10 left in the first half gave Loyola its first lead of the game at 15-14. Four different Ramblers scored in the spurt.
Kou made back-to-back baskets, including a layup off a steal for a 26-19 lead, but UIC closed the gap to three after a Robert Bush tip-in and a Justin Bowen layup.
Schilb made two straight baskets to close the first half and started the second half with two consecutive jumpers to put the Ramblers up by double figures for good at 40-27.
“We practiced better this week,” Whitesell said. “We moved the ball, we got good looks and knocked a few down.”
The backbreaker for UIC came when Schilb connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key with 13:41 left and was fouled by Stefanov in the process. Schilb missed the free throw, but junior Brandon Woods snagged the offensive rebound and put it back in as the Ramblers opened their largest lead of the game at 54-36.
The Flames had one more mini-run left in them. Mayo scored on a driving layup and was fouled and converted the three-point play with 5:55 left to pull within 62-51.
On Loyola’s next possession, Stefanov stole the ball from Chris Logan near mid-court and had White with him on a 2-on-1 fastbreak, but Stefanov was slow in making the pass and Logan recovered to steal the ball back, effectively ending the Flames’ chances.
“Justin was under the weather,” Collins said. “He was having nosebleeds, even before the game.”
To Collins’ defense, Bowen started the game with cotton in his right nostril. However, the Flames could have used his presence down the stretch in making a comeback.
The Ramblers shot 52 percent of the game and took advantage of a Flames’ defense was oftentimes a step slow. Stefanov was late covering three-pointers on three occasions, and Kou and Schilb had their way pretty much with whoever was covering them.
“I think we actually started playing well in practice (on Thursday),” Schilb said. “We just need to play like we practiced.”
With 12 games left in the regular season, maybe the Flames can heed that advice from their crosstown rival.
FLAMES FLICKERS: Jeffers was assessed a technical foul early in the second after a slam dunk. Jeffers went up dunked the ball and then slapped the backboard and the officials saw that as a taunt. The dunk pulled UIC within 43-31 with 16:20 left and Schilb made both technical free throws for Loyola. …
It appears that junior walk-on Greg Zimny has now become the No. 1 backup to Mayo at the point-guard position. Zimny played seven minutes, missing his only shot and dishing off one assist. D.J. Smedley did not leave the bench. …
With the loss, UIC actually dropped into last place in the Horizon League and have lost four straight for the first time since 2001 when they lost seven consecutive games. …
Buoyed his career-best 30-point game against UIC last Wednesday, Wisconsin-Green Bay guard Ryan Evanochko was named Horizon League Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Recently retired Tribune sportswriter Bill Jauss was honored by the Loyola athletic department before the game. …
Despite its 8-9 record, UIC still received four points in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
The mid-season Whoosh! print edition is now available in this week’s Chicago Flame newspaper around campus. It should also be available at the Pavilion later this week. …
There was curiosity in the postgame press conference about how the Bears were faring in the playoff game against Carolina. When asked about playing the game at same time as the Bears, Schilb interjected, “What’s the score?” When informed that the Bears had just scored a touchdown late in the first half, the Rantoul native said “Go Bears!”
Freshman forward J’Nathan Bullock leads the Vikings at 10.7 points per game, while junior swingman Raheem Moss averages 10.4 points and is the team’s top three-point threat at 42 percent. Junior point guard Carlos English is second in the Horizon League in assists at 4.9 per contest.
UIC has won seven straight games in the series – the Flames’ second longest winning streak against a conference opponent.
The game can be seen via video stream live via the internet for free at www.horizonleague.org. It will also be audio streamed on the internet at www.espnradio1000.com and www.uicflames.com.
and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1000 (WMVP-AM).
Also, students who are part of the Fury, will have opportunities for special benefits. The first 200 students admitted get vouchers for free food at Union Park. As usual, students will get free postgame pizza. Students will also have an opportunity to win a $500 gift certificate to the UIC Bookstore. Members must sit in Section 111 near the Flames’ bench and wear their red Fury T-shirts.
For more information or to join the Fury, contact Shawn Sullivan at (312) 355-1330 or at ssulli3@uic.edu.
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Kou, who was playing in his second game since being promoted to the starting lineup by coach Jim Whitesell used a combination of quickness, athleticism and guile to dazzle UIC. He scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half as the Ramblers (10-6, 2-4 Horizon League) grabbed a 36-27 halftime lead.
While Kou owned the first half, the second half belonged to the 6-foot-7 Schilb (pictured), who finished with a game-high 27 points and six assists – with 15 points coming after halftime.
“Schilb is a natural player, but Kou is more athletic,” said UIC forward Othyus Jeffers (pictured), who had 11 points and eight rebound. “We never knew where [Kou] was. He seemed to be in on every play.”
UIC played much of the second half without leading scorer Justin Bowen, who was removed from the game with 13:57 left. During a Jeffers free-throw attempt, Collins was seen lecturing Bowen on a defensive miscue. Bowen (pictured) did not return after that and finished with just six points, all of which came in the first half.
UP NEXT: The Flames return to the Pavilion on Thursday in hopes of snapping their four-game slide. Cleveland State comes to town for a 7 p.m. tip. The Vikings are 2-3 in conference play after an overtime win over Detroit and a road win at Youngstown State last week.