Scouting the Ramblers

By Sean Carley, @SCarleyDE

Loyola (7-5) — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Joseph J. Gentile Arena in Chicago

The Saluki men’s basketball team begins its 2015-2016 MVC schedule Wednesday at Loyola.

Loyola has played a decent non-conference schedule, facing three Rating Percentage Index (RPI) top-150 teams with losses to No. 44 Notre Dame and No. 144 New Mexico, and a win over No. 146 Creighton.

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Meanwhile, the Salukis have four top-150 wins over No. 64 Kent State, No. 96 Sam Houston State, No. 97 Oakland and No. 107 Air Force.

Unlike Saint Louis, Loyola has struggled to get to the free-throw line, attempting only 208 free-throws compared to SIU’s 319.

This may be in part to Loyola’s lack of size. The Ramblers only have two players taller than 6-foot-7 and neither average more than 10 minutes a game.

The Ramblers make up for their lack of height at the three-point line where they are third in the MVC at 37.3 percent, better than SIU’s 35.8 percent.

The Salukis will face another tough point guard in junior Milton Doyle, who leads the team in points and assists per game at 12.6 and 3.7 per game, respectively. He is also the team’s second leading rebounder at 4.4 per game.

Doyle will likely be matched up with Saluki junior point guard Mike Rodriguez but also senior guard Anthony Beane if Doyle has success early.

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