Jan. 16, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

The Loyola Marymount men's basketball team will complete its three-game road swing to start the West Coast Conference season with Max Good as the new head coach, taking on 2008 West Coast Conference Tournament champion San Diego on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on San Diego Channel 4 and also aired on KXLU 88.9 FM and LMULions.com.

BAYNO/GOOD
Head Coach Bill Bayno, who has been serving a leave of absence since Nov. 24, has officially resigned from the position, Athletics Director Dr. William Husak announced Monday, Jan. 12. Husak also announced that Max Good, who has been the acting head coach during Bayno's leave, has agreed to a multiple-year deal to be the head coach of the Lions (For complete bio on Coach Good, see page 6).
Quotes From Bayno:
"Due to medical reasons and on the advice of my doctors, I am resigning from my duties as head men's basketball coach at Loyola Marymount," said Bayno. "I sincerely apologize for any disappointment this might cause the fans, the administration, the students and most importantly my players, their families and my coaching staff. I care deeply for them all and I will always be available to help in any way I can in basketball and in life. I would especially like to thank Dr. Husak and the entire LMU administration for this opportunity. Dr. Husak's support and guidance has been invaluable for both my personal and professional growth. Again, I apologize for being unable to accomplish the goals that we have set forth, but I still believe in the vision and I think LMU will still undoubtedly realize their championship aspirations. I wish the entire LMU family all the best in the future."
Quotes From Husak on Bayno:
"In his seven months on the job at LMU, Bill Bayno accomplished more than any coach could reasonably be expected to achieve," said Husak. "We are all grateful for his efforts and recognize the foundation he has built and the path he has established for our basketball program. The LMU family wishes Bill continued progress in his comeback from the emotional distress triggered by responsibilities associated with being a head coach. Bill Bayno will always be a Lion."
Head Coach Max Good:
Good officially takes over the program as the 25th coach in school history and is no stranger to running a program. This is his 15th season as a head coach at the NCAA level, coaching eight seasons at Bryant College (2001-08) prior to joining LMU. He also coached at UNLV for one season (2000-01) and five seasons at Eastern Kentucky University (1985-90). He was the head coach at the New England prep school Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine, for 10 seasons (1990-00).
Quotes From Husak on Good:
"In selecting our next head coach, one only needs to read Max's resume to learn what an outstanding coach he has been at every level that he has worked," said Husak. "His reputation as a master teacher and strategist who expects the very best of his players is well documented. Coach Good has done an outstanding job in maintaining the development and spirit of this year's team, which has faced so many trials and tribulations. In naming Max Good our head coach, we are committing to the direction that this staff has established for the future of LMU basketball. I believe our current players and those who will be Lions in the years to come, will have the very best LMU experience to develop as basketball players, scholars and people because Max Good will be at the helm. Bill Bayno frequently said that the best recruiting job he did was in assembling his coaching staff. Jason Levy, Myke Scholl and Gabe Carter along with Max have created a work ethic and energy level that has been amazing."

DEPLETED ROSTER
Five players on LMU's roster, which includes six newcomers and just three seniors, are now out for the season. Junior transfer Larry Davis (Seton Hall) and sophomore Drew Viney (Oregon) are redshirting the season due to transfer rules. The other three players out for the year are all due to injury. Redshirt sophomore Terron Sutton is out for the year due to a torn ACL suffered in practice this October, and Tim Diederichs, who had played limited minutes in the first three games, required surgery on his injured right shoulder suffered in the first weeks of practice this season. He will miss the remainder of the season and plans on applying for a medical redshirt. The third player in that group is Ashley Hamilton, who played in five games this season, will miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his back. He will also apply for a medical redshirt. There is more. Leading scorer, rebounder and assist man through three games, Vernon Teel, broke his right foot against Notre Dame and had surgery Nov. 26 and heading into the 2009 calendar year he will remain out another two weeks heading into conference play. With the injuries, the Lions are down to seven scholarship players, two of which - seniors Corey Counts and Chris Kanne - earned scholarships this summer after playing as walk-ons the last three seasons. Current walk-on Griffin Reilly is the eighth active player and saw his first minutes of action at Arizona. The Lions added a ninth player to the roster in walk-on Daniel Latimer.

TOUGH NON-CONFERENCE
When it rains, it pours never fit better. Playing with just seven scholarship players, experiencing a midseason coaching change and seven of their first 10 games on the road, the Lions have had to do this with a murderous schedule. The Lions' non-conference opponents heading into WCC play combined for a record of 116-71 (62.0 percent). In addition, this was the first time since the 2004-05 season the Lions have played at least two ranked teams in non-conference play. In addition, the Lions begin conference play with the first three straight on the road and five of their first seven away from home.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Five newcomers on LMU's roster, including four true freshman, have been asked to carry the load for the Lions this season. And with injuries the freshman trio of Jarred DuBois, Kevin Young, and LaRon Armstead have been asked to play big minutes. DuBois, Young, Armstead along with sophomore transfer Vernon Teel and walk-on freshman Griffin Reilly have combined to play 2,050 of the 3,600 minutes played in 18 games this season, good for 56.9 percent. All three of the young freshman have played at least two complete games this season with DuBois and Armstead putting up monster stretches of back-to-back complete games. DuBois leads the group with 35.4 minutes per game, on pace to snap the record by a freshman set by Forrest McKenzie with 29.8 minutes in 1981. Armstead had a stretch of 108 straight minutes, stretching from the final four minutes against UALR to the second half against UCSB. DuBois did one better, playing 115 consecutive minutes from the Mercer game through 16 minutes of the first half against CSUB. Armstead is averaging 32.0 minutes while Young is averaging 30.1, playing his third 40-minute game on Thursday. The group has also combined for 659 of the 974 points (67.7 percent) and 347 of the 597 rebounds (58.1 percent).

MAKING A POINT
Freshman Jarred DuBois has been quickly developing into the Lions' floor leader and it reached the first highlight of his career in the win over CSUB. The true freshman point guard scored an LMU freshman record 39 points against the Roadrunners. DuBois' point total came on 11-for-15 shooting from the field and 12-for-15 from the free throw line to snap Forrest McKenzie's freshman record of 29 points set against San Francisco on Jan. 16, 1982. DuBois was 5-for-7 from the three-point line as he scored the most points by any Lion since Wyking Jones had 39 against San Francisco on Jan. 20, 1994. He first turned heads with his defense against No. 8 Notre Dame, helping LMU hold first-team All-Big East performer Kyle McAlarney to zero points (0-for-7), forcing him into four turnovers. DuBois has now added offense to that effort, going for 16 points, hitting 4-of-6 from long range against the Irish. He did one better against UALR with 23 points. The point total ranks tied for 13th among single game scoring by a freshman. He is averaging 13.1 points per game, shooting up seven spots the last two games to rank 9th in the West Coast Conference in scoring (as of 1/12/09). He also entered the week second in the WCC in free throw shooting, hitting 70-for-83 (84.3 percent). He also leads the team with 54 assists (3.18 per game), good for sixth in the WCC (as of 1/12/09).

YOUNG AND THE REBOUNDS
Kevin Young is putting together some of the more impressive games by a freshman in LMU history on the boards, earning possibly the best against New Mexico State. He finished the game with his second double-double of the year with 16 points and 19 rebounds in 40 minutes. It was the most rebounds by a freshman in LMU history and the most rebounds in a game by a Lion since Ime Odouk had 22 on Jan. 7, 1994 against Buffalo. For Young it was an unofficial triple-double as he had 14 offensive rebounds. He now has 125 rebounds this season, moving him past Mark Armstrong for fifth all-time in LMU history for rebounds in a season by a freshman. Young has also has games of 13 (Wyoming), 11 (at Arizona, at UCSB) and 10 (vs. Notre Dame) on his resume, ranking third, tied for sixth and 13th respectively for freshman in LMU history. Young has 58 offensive rebounds, 3.35 per game this season, to lead the Lions and rank fourth in the WCC (as of 1/12/09). Overall, he is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game, fifth in the WCC (1/12/09). He is also fifth with 1.47 steals per game and 8th with 19 blocks (0.88 per game). His 26 steals this season is fifth in the freshman record books at LMU.

STARK IMPROVEMENT
LaRon Armstead became the first Lion since Jim Williamson in the 1995-96 season to play a complete 40 minutes in back-to-back games. Armstead, who started the season averaging just 22 minutes a game at the Iowa State Tournament, is now averaging 31.9 minutes per game after going 40 minutes against Arizona and then against Wyoming. Williamson averaged 35.7 minutes a game in 1995-96, logging 40 minutes in a 67-63 win over Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 16, 1995 and then 40 minutes on Dec. 19, 1995 in an 82-80 win at Hawaii. That season total ranked seventh all-time in LMU history. The all-time leader is Keith Smith, who logged 38.1 minutes per contest in 1984-85. That season he played 40 or more minutes in 12 games, including a stretch of three straight games of 40 minutes and three more times where he went back-to-back games with 40 minutes. And the minutes have led to production for Armstead. Since entering the starting line-up against Wagner, he has caught fire. He now averages 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds on the season, going for an average of 6.7 rebounds (93) and 12.2 points (172) in the last 14 games.

IT COUNTS
Senior Corey Counts made sure the Lions didn't go long without a three-pointer, going 5-for-6 from long range against Iowa State. He had another five three-pointer game against New Mexico State, going 5-for-8, giving him three games in his career to hit five in a game, hitting the mark while going for 21 points against Gonzaga in the WCC opener a year ago. Counts is 36-for-95 (37.9 percent) from the three-point line in 2008-09, moving his career total to 85-for-225 (38.1 percent) in his career. On the season, he is ranked 4th the WCC in three-pointers made per game (2.12) and 8th in three-point percentage (as of 1/12/09). His career three-point percentage entered the season ranked 11th. His 85 made three-pointers moves him to 11th all-time in LMU history past Per Stumer (1988-90). His 225 attempts is ranked 12th, passing former teammate Jon Ziri.

INSIDE THE GAME
The series between LMU and San Diego is one of the younger ones of the seven West Coast Conference foes. The Lions hold a slim 38-37 edge in the series, with the team going 3-3 the last six meetings. The 76th meeting between the two teams is the 35th at San Diego where the teams are deadlocked at 17-17. USD, who won the WCC Tournament a year ago, has overcome injuries and has won their last five straight, including a 3-0 start to WCC play. The streak started with an 64-61 overtime win at Mississippi State. They defeated San Francisco and Santa Clara on the road and then Pepperdine on Thrusday to start conference play. Trumaine Johnson has come in the last six games and replaced the production lost with the season-ending injury to All-WCC performer Brandon Johnson. Trumaine leads the team with 15 points while playing 35.8 minutes in six games this season.