COMMENTARY: There’s more than cream filling in these hearts

“LITTLE SISTER” NOT A CUPCAKE

(12/15/06)

File photo Othyus Jeffers is not part of a “cupcake” team.

Between message board banter and media perception, UIC took a bit of a beating last week.

Unfortunately very few recognized that the Flames put a major scare into the “Big sister” Illini last Saturday at the United Center. Based on a lot of that folks read, you would have thought that UIC got blown out or that Illinois was just toying with the Flames.

The final score: Illini 71, Flames 66 … with the Illini fortunate that there wasn’t another minute or two on the clock at their “home away from home.”

Sure, the Flames didn’t play well in the first half, but they played hard. In the second half, UIC showed that it was very capable of beating the Illini. Tell Othyus Jeffers that he’s a part of a “cupcake,” and he’ll eat you alive.

“I think it’s a great that we get an opportunity to play the Illini,” said UIC coach Jimmy Collins, who was an assistant at Urbana-Champaign for 13 years. “The Illini is our sister school, it helps us. It may not help them, but reach down for your little sister sometime and give us a hand.”

However, at the postgame press conference, for the most part, all Illinois coach Bruce Weber did was bemoan the fact that his team didn’t sweep the Flames under the rug.

“We should have been up 20 at half,” said Weber, whose team was ahead 37-22 at the break despite sloppy play from both ends. “I’m very upset [with our effort].”

OK, Coach, turn it around for a second. If UIC doesn’t have one of its worst halves of the season, perhaps the game is a lot closer … and maybe the Illini don’t escape with the win. Sorry, Bruce, you can’t win by 20-25 points every game, just be happy with the win.

“I don’t like state games, because it’s hard on me,” Weber said. “You win, it’s a relief. You lose, it’s a crisis. What do I gain from it? I understand it’s good for basketball.”

File photo Illini coach Bruce Weber was once coach at “mid-major” Southern Illinois.

Welcome to the big time, Bruce. That’s what happens when you are at the “top” state school. That’s what happens when you lead a team to the Final Four. (It’s also what happens when you leave the comforts of the Assembly Hall, too.) Everyone is going to gun for you. How quickly we forget our days from Southern Illinois when I’m sure Weber would have loved to have played Illinois annually.

Speaking of playing the Illini every year, UIC and Illinois used to meet almost every year. In fact, the contract that is currently in place called for 10 games. It was restructured after the 1997-98 season when shockingly, the Flames narrowly missed upsetting Illinois at the Assembly Hall. Only an unfriendly rim cost Bryant Lowe a game-winning basket at the buzzer.

According to UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt, the deal now calls for playing every third year “at a neutral site and if the United Center is available, we would pursue it.” He also added that there should be four games left on the contract. UIC’s next opportunity comes in the 2009-10 season.

It’s a shame that the two schools can’t play every year. For whatever reason, natural rivals like Savannah State, Austin Peay and the like find their way onto the Illini’s slate. At least play the game because of all the hard work and dedication that Collins and Mark Coomes put in down there.

Another thing about the rivalry that sickens is some of the uninformed folks who believe that UIC is just a joke. Never mind that the Flames have been in postseason in three of the last five seasons. Here’s a just a sample of what these Illini fans said on the internet leading up to the game:

“Sorry Belmont (whoever they are) and UIC are two more cupcakes.”

“And who do we have to look forward to playing? UIC in the December to Forget Classic. I'm glad I'll be putting in OT that day!”

“Boy, this week is just silly, IUPUIDKWTI followed by the worst UIC team in a generation.”

Maybe some of the Illini players were on-line and decided to put themselves on “cruise control” last Saturday.

“Even though they were close, the bad part about it was, we always felt we were in control of the game,” Illini forward Warren Carter told the Sun-Times’ Herb Gould. “When you’re not fearing your opponent, your team’s going to be in trouble. And I think that’s what we did today.”

Another issue on the “chat boards” as Collins likes to call them is the incessant whining about the Illini’s “treasured United Center” game. People say that Illinois shouldn’t “waste it” on UIC. Why not? This could be a great rivalry if Illinois allows it. Also, there’s no rule against playing another game at the United Center.

A recent post on a message board also said: “UIC has not earned the right to play us again on any sort of annual, biannual or triannual basis.” Oh, sorry, your highness, how did we offend you? If Spencer Stewart hits a couple of those open shots he missed, you’d probably be launching www.firebruceweber.com right about now.

Not everything coming from the Illinois camp was disrespectful. Weber, after some prodding, admitted that UIC had a good team.

“When I saw them against Northern Illinois, I said, ‘Man, these guys are pretty good. Jeffers is a tough critter and they can shoot the ball,’ ” Weber said. “I love Jeffers – he’s a warrior. He loves to play. He’s a mid-major nightmare. If their bench play is productive, I think they have a chance to be pretty good in their league.”

UP NEXT: The Flames entertain MAC East Division favorite Akron at the UIC Pavilion this Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

UIC is 5-5 after taking a week off for final exams. The Flames took the time to work on some new wrinkles and rest of some minor nagging injuries.

“It’s a chance to recover from some nagging injuries that we’ve had,” Collins said. Othyus has had a foot problem. Josh Mayo’s foot is still a little injured. It gives a chance to regroup for our conference and to be healthy. It also gives a chance to put some more offense in. Some other things that we think we can do to be a better ballclub.”

The Zips are 6-1 and are led by two of LeBron James’ high school teammates. Romeo Travis, arguably the top player in the MAC, is a 6-foot-7 forward that is a force. Travis averages 14.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and shoots 54 percent from the field. James’ other ex-teammate, guard Dru Joyce, is the team’s top perimeter player, shooting 46 percent from three-point range.

Sophomore forward Jeremiah Wood is a threat in the post, averaging 11.0 points and a team-best 7.4 rebounds per outing. The Zips’ Chicago representative is junior guard Cedrick Middleton (Marian Catholic). He’s averaging 9.9 points and shooting 45 percent from three-point range.

Fury members are encouraged to go wild as it is a televised game. There will be free postgame pizza for Fury members wearing their fury T-shirts! As usual, student admission is free with valid I-card.

For those who can’t be at the Pavilion, game coverage will be available on ESPN Radio 1000, starting with a special two-hour pregame show at 1 p.m. The game will also be aired on Comcast SportsNet in Chicago.

FLAMES FLICKERS: The Sun-Times reported Thursday that Loyola Academy senior guard Jeff Jordan’s current list of schools is Loyola, Davidson, Illinois State and UIC, with Loyola as the likely favorite.

Flames assistant coach Mark Coomes told Whoosh! that there was one scholarship available, but that was before the Tori Boyd signing was made public. …

There was also word that Flames’ representatives attended the Hales Franciscan-Fenwick game on Tuesday night to watch prospective recruits.