MAAC Basketball 2010-2011 Preview: # 6 The Loyola Greyhounds

# 6: The Loyola Greyhounds

Head Coach: Jimmy Patsos

2009-2010 Record: 13-17

Conference Record: 6-12



Three years ago Loyola was on the verge of heading to the MAAC title game. After a colossal second half collapse against Siena, Loyola has never seemed to fully recover. After Jimmy Patsos resurrected Loyola's program, the Greyhounds have now endured two erratic seasons.

The entertaining and outspoken Patsos is back for his 6th season and if the Greyhounds don't have a successful year, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be his last. In the off season, rumors fluttered around that Patsos would return to Maryland to assist Gary Williams. One would believe that Patsos must have seen good reason to return to Loyola, and reason to believe this years squad may have a chance to contend.



The Low Down On The Greyhounds:



One thing must be established first, and that is, Loyola does have talent. Every year Patsos brings in a unhappy Big East or ACC transfer, and usually puts the ball in their hands. This year there is no new Big East or ACC transfer, which could be a good thing.



Jamal Barney enters his senior season at Loyola as one of those "hard to figure out" players in the league. Barney, who began his career at Providence, took the league by storm in 2008-2009 as he proved to be one of the league's most explosive scorers. Fast forward to 2009-2010 and you've got a disgruntled Jamal Barney who preferred to fight with Patsos and leave the team unexpectedly. One only knows so much of the story, but Greyhound fans can only hope that Barney can solely focus on basketball this year. If so, Barney is a match up nightmare. At 6"4 Barney is a post up guard, who also gets to the lane at will from the perimeter. His long arms also can pose problems in Loyola's press, as well as on the glass.



Brian Rudolph started his career as the catalyst for one of the premier teams in the league in 2007-2008, but those may have been his best days thus far as a Greyhound. If Rudolph can stay on the mature side, he could be this years version of Frank Turner for Loyola. Rudolph can penetrate with the best of them and is not afraid to bomb in a deep three or two just when you least expect it.



Rudolph's running mate in the back court will likely be Robert Olson. With a summer in the weight room behind him, Olson may be the calming influence that Patsos covets on this team. Olson is a tall and lanky guard, who plays conservatively and effectively. Olson did struggle with smaller pesky guards on the perimeter last season, however he seems like a gym rat who would be motivated to work out kinks in the off season.



Down low, the Greyhounds will pose a tall and versatile front line. Julius Brooks is a powerful and athletic power forward who enjoyed some success as a freshman. Brooks has the potential to be one of the top rebounders in the league, and will give Loyola garbage points.



The versatility of this front line comes with Shane Walker, a second year transfer from Maryland. At 6"10, Walker is the one of the best shooting big men in the league. If Walker can add rebounding and toughness to his pedigree, Patsos and company are in business.



Also keep an eye on Anthony Winbush. His game shows flashes of Tayshaun Prince, and should be one of the leagues elite defenders this season. Winbush can guard up to four positions on the floor, something that fits nicely into Patsos's mixing and matching defensive schemes.



The Negatives:

It has been greatly publicized that Barney and Rudolph have shared there differences with Patsos. All three have strong personalities. Barney and Rudolph will have to drop their views and follow Patsos's lead for this team to be anywhere near consistent. If they can do that, they have a team to be reckoned with, with one all league player, and possibly a second.

Walker is capable of stringing together five or six threes in a game, but at 6"10 he does not rebound like he should. Walker averaged a respectable 6.6 rebounds an outing last season, but that won't be good enough against the top tier teams in the league. Look for Patsos to try and light a fire under Walker to provide some double digit rebound outings along with an interior presence to compliment Brooks.