Lineup change pushes Loyola back in the right direction as it prepares to face WSU

Loyola coach Porter Moser went to the video to help solve his team’s body language problem.

With the Ramblers 0-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, he sent Montel James, Milton Doyle and Devon Turk to the bench. He showed them video of what he considered energy-draining demeanor as the Ramblers lost close games and fell to the bottom of the MVC. Loyola lost three games by a total of five points, leading to a crisis of slumping shoulders, blank stares and quiet.

“The last three games those seniors have taken it to heart coming off the bench and their energy level’s been much, much better,” Moser said. “Body language, even in life, sends messages. I don’t know if the younger generation understands how big a thing that is. It really is a big thing when your leaders get down.”

Since Moser changed up the starters, Loyola is 2-1 and Doyle, a junior guard, and James, a senior forward, are rejuvenated. The Ramblers (9-11, 2-6 MVC) play at No. 22 Wichita State (14-5, 8-0) on Wednesday at Koch Arena.

While snapping WSU’s 41-game home win streak is a tough task, Moser feels better about the second half of the MVC season. His best players are playing better and time remains to escape the bottom of the standings.

“Coaches try a lot of different things,” he said. “You just hope kids respond. Some of the guys that were starting, coming off the bench are just starting with the basic foundation of being great teammates, being great body language guys. I’m excited about what we could do the in this last month-and-a-half.”

The Ramblers ended last season with solid reasons to believe they could rise in the MVC standings. They played in the MVC Tournament semifinals and then won the College Basketball Invitational.

If they are to restart that momentum, Doyle and James must continue to produce. Doyle scored in double figures the past three games, his first such stretch since November. He made 16 of 28 shots and averaged 13 points in wins over Northern Iowa and Drake and a loss to Evansville. James, who battled back problems earlier in the season, scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds at Northern Iowa and scored 17 against Drake.

“Those two have to, if they’re not playing and shooting well, they can’t let that dictate their leadership,” Moser said. “They can’t let that dictate their defense.”

That resolve may be tested against the Shockers. Loyola ranks ninth in the MVC in scoring at 58 points in conference game, shooting 42 percent from the field. WSU’s defense is dominating the MVC by holding teams to 57.5 points and 37.8 percent shooting. In three MVC games, WSU forced more turnovers than it allowed baskets.

“Their press is like body blows in a boxing match,” Moser said. “They just keep it going, keep it going, keep it going and then all of a sudden you’ll feel the pressure get a little bit harder.”

Part of that pressure comes from WSU’s depth. Coach Gregg Marshall is happy to play nine deep, sometimes 10 or 11. That depth showed up in last week’s win at Northern Iowa when fouls forced him to play four centers. On Saturday, he kept his starters under 24 minutes in a rout of Bradley. Freshman Markis McDuffie and sophomore Conner Frankamp lengthened WSU’s bench early in MVC play. In recent games, Marshall is impressed with the contributions of sophomore forward Rashard Kelly.

“He’s gotten himself more physically fit,” Marshall said. “His game is based on rebounding, scoring around the basket, defending — or at least it should be. He worked really hard this summer. He is using the quickness and speed and intensity to his benefit now.”

Injuries forced WSU to play young players early in the season. Those growing pains may be helping now. McDuffie played 20 or more minutes in all three games in the AdvoCare Invitational in November, scoring effectively, but blowing some defensive assignments. Sophomores such as Zach Brown and Shaq Morris also struggled through the first month of the season.

“Now (McDuffie) is helping us win, without a doubt,” Marshall said. “Zach Brown got off to a horrible start. Shaq Morris was just abysmal in his approach. Rashard Kelly was not as good as we thought he was going to be coming out of the summer. And Rauno Nurger was thinking about redshirting. The whole sophomore class just wasn’t ready. Now … their seasons have taken off.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Lineup change pushes Loyola back in the right direction as it prepares to face WSU."