Post by fanblade on Jan 31, 2008 3:23:47 GMT -5
Warning: Make sure you are sitting down. Can't say I disagree. 
www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/report/LOYMRY/10609009
Getting Inside
It's not just the losses, it's the margin of the defeats that's demoralizing to Loyola Marymount. The Lions have not even been in most games.
The only thing the Lions can feel good about is that they have no chance to set any school records for futility. The 1999-2000 Lions went 2-26, including 0-14 in the conference, and did not beat a single Division I team.
The Lions' top scorer and rebounder (Orlando Johnson) is a freshman, as is their No. 3 scorer (Tim Diederichs), but that is about the only cause for optimism, because the Lions don't seem to be improving.
The 23-point loss on Jan. 26 to Pepperdine, which gave the Lions their 10th loss in 11 games, was particularly discouraging because the Waves are a team that the Lions figured to have a chance to beat.
The Waves had not beaten a Division I opponent since Dec. 8 before meeting the Lions, and Loyola Marymount trailed just 13-12 with 9:20 left in the first half. But, typically, Loyola Marymount had a stretch that took it out of the game.
Pepperdine scored 12 consecutive points over the next 3 minutes as Loyola Marymount committed four turnovers in that span.
Three more turnovers in the next three minutes and the deficit had grown to 18 points.
The Lions cut the margin to 11 points with seven minutes left, then scored just four points over the next five minutes.
Notes and Quotes
--All four of the Lions' conference losses have been by more than 20 points, and 10 of their first 17 losses were by 22 points or more. They have played well in close games, winning four of the six decided by seven points or fewer.
--The Lions have had fewer turnovers than their opponents just three times, and they won all three. The only game they won when they had more turnovers than their opponents was against Boise State, when Loyola Marymount had one more turnover.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We beat ourselves. It is absolutely frustrating." -- Loyola Marymount coach Rodney Tention, after losing to St. Mary's.
Strategy and Personnel
Freshman Orlando Johnson scored in double figures in four of the Lions' first five conference games.
PLAYER ROTATION
Usual Starters -- F Orlando Johnson, G Shawn Deadwiler, F Tim Diederichs, C Marko Deric, G Corey Counts. Key Subs -- G Quentin Turner, G Jon Ziri, C Max Craig.
GAME REVIEW
Santa Clara 58, Loyola Marymount 35
St. Mary's 87, Loyola Marymount 55
Pepperdine 87, Loyola Marymount 64
GAME PREVIEW
vs. San Diego, Saturday, Feb. 2
vs. San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 4
at Portland, Saturday, Feb. 9
IN FOCUS
The game against San Diego is Loyola Marymount's first home game since Jan. 14, and the Lions won their previous home game. As always, the story is turnovers for the Lions, who can compete if they minimize mistakes. The Lions beat San Diego on the road late last season, although the personnel was much different.
ROSTER REPORT
--Through the Jan. 26 game against Pepperdine, Orlando Johnson had 272 points, the seventh-highest total for a Loyola Marymount freshman, and 115 rebounds, sixth most for a Lions freshman.
--Johnson, Shawn Deadwiler and Tim Diederichs, the team's top three scorers, all have started each of the first 21 games.
--Junior Marko Deric, Rodney Tention's first recruit at Loyola Marymount, totaled two points in the Lions' three games ending with the Jan. 26 loss to Pepperdine, and he went 0-for-7 from the field in that three-game span.
www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/teams/report/LOYMRY/10609009
Getting Inside
It's not just the losses, it's the margin of the defeats that's demoralizing to Loyola Marymount. The Lions have not even been in most games.
The only thing the Lions can feel good about is that they have no chance to set any school records for futility. The 1999-2000 Lions went 2-26, including 0-14 in the conference, and did not beat a single Division I team.
The Lions' top scorer and rebounder (Orlando Johnson) is a freshman, as is their No. 3 scorer (Tim Diederichs), but that is about the only cause for optimism, because the Lions don't seem to be improving.
The 23-point loss on Jan. 26 to Pepperdine, which gave the Lions their 10th loss in 11 games, was particularly discouraging because the Waves are a team that the Lions figured to have a chance to beat.
The Waves had not beaten a Division I opponent since Dec. 8 before meeting the Lions, and Loyola Marymount trailed just 13-12 with 9:20 left in the first half. But, typically, Loyola Marymount had a stretch that took it out of the game.
Pepperdine scored 12 consecutive points over the next 3 minutes as Loyola Marymount committed four turnovers in that span.
Three more turnovers in the next three minutes and the deficit had grown to 18 points.
The Lions cut the margin to 11 points with seven minutes left, then scored just four points over the next five minutes.
Notes and Quotes
--All four of the Lions' conference losses have been by more than 20 points, and 10 of their first 17 losses were by 22 points or more. They have played well in close games, winning four of the six decided by seven points or fewer.
--The Lions have had fewer turnovers than their opponents just three times, and they won all three. The only game they won when they had more turnovers than their opponents was against Boise State, when Loyola Marymount had one more turnover.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We beat ourselves. It is absolutely frustrating." -- Loyola Marymount coach Rodney Tention, after losing to St. Mary's.
Strategy and Personnel
Freshman Orlando Johnson scored in double figures in four of the Lions' first five conference games.
PLAYER ROTATION
Usual Starters -- F Orlando Johnson, G Shawn Deadwiler, F Tim Diederichs, C Marko Deric, G Corey Counts. Key Subs -- G Quentin Turner, G Jon Ziri, C Max Craig.
GAME REVIEW
Santa Clara 58, Loyola Marymount 35
St. Mary's 87, Loyola Marymount 55
Pepperdine 87, Loyola Marymount 64
GAME PREVIEW
vs. San Diego, Saturday, Feb. 2
vs. San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 4
at Portland, Saturday, Feb. 9
IN FOCUS
The game against San Diego is Loyola Marymount's first home game since Jan. 14, and the Lions won their previous home game. As always, the story is turnovers for the Lions, who can compete if they minimize mistakes. The Lions beat San Diego on the road late last season, although the personnel was much different.
ROSTER REPORT
--Through the Jan. 26 game against Pepperdine, Orlando Johnson had 272 points, the seventh-highest total for a Loyola Marymount freshman, and 115 rebounds, sixth most for a Lions freshman.
--Johnson, Shawn Deadwiler and Tim Diederichs, the team's top three scorers, all have started each of the first 21 games.
--Junior Marko Deric, Rodney Tention's first recruit at Loyola Marymount, totaled two points in the Lions' three games ending with the Jan. 26 loss to Pepperdine, and he went 0-for-7 from the field in that three-game span.
