Saturday, December 6, 2014 1:00 p.m.
UIC Pavilion, Chicago

Despite their 2-6 record and RPI in the 290s, UIC is not necessarily a really bad team, depending on which team of multiple personalities shows up. In their season opener at DePaul, they trailed by 21 points in the first half and 16 points at halftime before coming all the way back to take the lead by two with :30 left. They lost that game on a three-pointer with 6.5 seconds left, and they had good performances in some of their other losses—a seven point loss to Southern Illinois, and a 12-point loss to a very good Yale team. But headed into their Saturday matchup with Loyola at the Pavilion, their only two wins came against Western Illinois by three, and non-D1 St. Xavier by 11—both at home.

There’s heat on fifth-year Flames Head Coach Howard Moore, who had a 33–62 record with signature non-con wins over Illinois, Colorado State, Evansville, Iona, and Northwestern in his first three seasons, followed by an 8-31 mark the past season plus. Under Coach Moore, UIC is 2-5 against Loyola with two of the losses by three points or less. And we all know how well UIC has played Loyola historically.

Coach Moore has tried a number of starting lineups this season. Only 6’8” junior forward and leading scorer Jake Wiegand has started all eight games, averaging 15.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. Guard Jay Harris-- a 6’1” graduate senior-- sat out the first three games but has started each of the past five, averaging 14.8 points, two made threes per game, and connecting on 90% of his free throws. Also likely to start are 6’4” senior guard/forward Marc Brown, 6’9” freshman center Tai Odiase, and 5’8” juco point guard D’Juan Miller. The Flames’ bench consists of 5’11” guard Paris Burns, 6’3” guard Markese McGuire, 6’4” guard/forward Lance Whitaker, and outside shooting specialist Gabe Snider.

Poor field goal shooting (36.9% as a team) and a big disparity in three point shooting (22 fewer made threes than their opponents, who shoot 38% behind the arc) has bedeviled the Flames this season, but their free throw shooting is flat-out phenomenal. Take out Odiase’s 45% free throw shooting and the rest of the Flames average a mind-blowing 82.8% from line—and the Flames shoot an average of 22.2 freebies per game, roughly five more per game than their opponents. Wiegand has the ability to go off on teams, racking up 28 points and 11 boards against Western Illinois, and 26 points and 9 rebounds at Kent State; he also had double-doubles against DePaul, St. Xavier, and Grand Canyon.

With Loyola’s undersized front court, keeping Wiegand below 20 points and 10 rebounds will be a challenge that will require a lot of help defense and energy. Managing the tempo, being patient in looking for a good shot, and exploiting the Flames’ propensity to turn over the ball is the key to beating UIC. If the Ramblers can contain Wiegand, and contest jump shots while keeping the Flames off the free throw line, they should be able to win.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 204aaa.pdf

UIC game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ilc ... 205aaa.pdf

Television: Comcast Sportsnet, ESPN 3 (http://espn.go.com/watchespn/)

Vegas line: Loyola by 1.5

What happened to the guard from Purdue? Was it Bartow? did he graduate?

Kelsey Barlow played one season at UIC. He's playing in the D-League for Grand Rapids.

http://basketball.realgm.com/dleague/te ... 39/Rosters

I thought he was a disruption for UIC and wasn't a real good team player. His field goal percentage for UIC was only .387, way down from his average in three years at Purdue (close to .440).

Last year was his Russell Wilson Grad. school year.

Prediction: We should house them. We have to play up to our best capabilities, but if we do, this shouldn't be close. LU 72 UIC 54

As much as I would love a no-doubt win, I don't think we're going to beat them by double digits. I think it's going to be a struggle. They are exactly the kind of team that you don't want to play on the road-- crosstown rival, low RPI, a history of having games against us circled on their calendar, a pretty competent big man, and a coach on the ropes who knows us pretty well. They lost to Southern Illinois on a neutral court by 7. If I were setting odds, I'd say Loyola by 2.5. It depends on which Loyola and which UIC teams show up.

Way to go Super-dooper !! Another optimist besides me has eru[ted on this board.

I say our guys were badly humiliated at home --They will be out to settle a score or three. If they play as I think they will. as they did at Kent, the RAMBLERS will no doubt prevail--say LUC 75--UIC 66

Realistically, you're right. This is definitely a trap game given emotion, history, and intangibles, and Loyola -2 is probably more likely the line (and even outcome) rather than double digits.

But taking uniforms and history away, this is a game that we have to win handily to at least start commanding some respect around the Valley. You don't become a perennial 20 win program overnight, but this is an easy win for an 16 win team, which is where we should be this year.

Posted a preview on the site this morning. I'm excited to finally see Loyola in person.

http://thecatchandshoot.com/uic-and-loy ... -saturday/

Very different starting lineup for UIC in this game.

Rebounding already a problem