YSU-UIC set to clash in Horizon tourney

(3/06/03)

The numbers are all in UIC’s favor in Friday night’s Horizon League tournament second round game with Youngstown State in Milwaukee’s U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Flames (20-7) are 8-0 all-time against Youngstown State and 4-0 against the Penguins the last two years, but as proven by UIC last year, anything can happen in tournament play.

UIC looks to begin its quest for a repeat of its Horizon League tournament title when it tips off with the Penguins at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1000, starting with a special pre-game at 7 p.m.

The Flames ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak, including a 73-47 blowout of the Penguins just last Saturday. YSU (9-19) knocked off Wisconsin-Green Bay 65-61 in an opening-round game Tuesday, while UIC has been idle since last week.

The numbers could be deceiving. The Penguins played the Flames close in the two meetings at the Beeghly Center the last two seasons. UIC escaped with a 78-76 victory Jan. 25 when Cedrick Banks hit a late three-pointer. UIC beat YSU 63-57 in the 2001-02 season at Beeghly. UIC, however, owned the Penguins at the Pavilion, winning easily on both occasions.

Sophomore swingman Doug Underwood is the offensive leader for the Penguins, while junior center Adam Baumann possesses the inside muscle. Senior guard Marlon Williamson, while not as quick as UIC’s Martell Bailey or Loyola’s David Bailey, can be a pesky defender at 5-foot-8. Also, junior forward TeJay Anderson had a career game against UIC on Jan. 25, so he can’t counted out of the equation.

UIC should be heavily favored to win this contest, on the strength of All-Horizon players Banks, Bailey and forward Armond Williams. The leading trio, along with the bulky Kyle Kickert, should cause headaches for the Penguins, inside and out.

MEANWHILE: On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 seed Loyola and No. 5 seed Detroit square off in an interesting battle. Both teams won on its home floor, and the winner of this game could cause havoc for the conference’s regular season champion Butler in Saturday’s semifinals.

Detroit is led by senior guard Willie Green—the Horizon’s Player of the Year—and forward Terrell Riggs, while Loyola is spearheaded by senior guard David Bailey and junior forward Paul McMillan—the league’s Newcomer of the Year.

Butler and No. 2 seed Wisconsin-Milwaukee earned automatic byes into the semifinals. The Butler game will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, while Milwaukee’s game begins at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be televised locally on UHF channel 34, W34CK, whose company also owns WJYS-Ch. 62.