Munster's Crisman making a difference at Loyola men's basketball team

CHICAGO | Joe Crisman has always played basketball with a never-say-die attitude, even if that approach sometimes gets him into trouble.

The Loyola freshman and Munster graduate was on the floor last month when the Ramblers were trailing DePaul by double digits with under a minute remaining. Hustling to the final whistle, Crisman went up and out-rebounded DePaul's center, but not before taking an elbow on the top of his hand.

Crisman could barely move his hand for three days and missed the next four games before returning to the lineup against Wright State on Dec. 29.

"It was definitely an ugly injury," Crisman said. "The ligament was partially hanging on and it was just unfortunate, but I'll never use an injury as an excuse."

Crisman's injury has been a bump in the road in an otherwise solid first year of collegiate basketball. The Munster native started the first eight games of his career before suffering the injury against the Blue Demons. After missing four games, Crisman came off the bench against the Raiders and was back in the starting lineup against Detroit.

Crisman is averaging 7.8 points and just over one steal in 30.7 minutes per game.

"The injury frustrated me because I felt like we were just starting to play some really good basketball," Crisman said. "I felt like we were really starting to click and play really well together."

This season has been a rebuilding year for the Ramblers in more ways than one. Loyola completely renovated the Gentile Center, brought in first-year coach Porter Moser and is struggling with an 0-7 record in the Horizon League. Crisman sees the light at the end of the tunnel and is happy to be competing on the floor in his first year with the Ramblers.

"Coach told me that we'd have a bit of a unique situation the first year," Crisman said. "I just wanted to keep working and get on the floor. I feel like I've earned it and I've worked hard to get this spot."

Crisman and his teammates will host Valparaiso on Thursday night and it's an opponent that Crisman knows well. The Crusaders recruited Crisman last season.

"They came out to see me a lot when they were recruiting Brian Stolarz," Crisman said. "I went there for a couple of open gyms. It will be fun playing against them. They talked to me about representing the Region at Valpo, but I think this was a good decision for me. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys."