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Bradley to provide exciting opener FLAMES DRAW QUALITY NAME TO PAVILION November 9, 2007
A Braves club that made the Sweet 16 two seasons ago should provide a good challenge for a Flames team working to find an identity. “We have to be in game shape,” said UIC coach Jimmy Collins, who promised to work his team harder in the days leading up to the game. “We know that Bradley runs and we know that they’re tenacious defensively.” To top it off, Bradley can flat out shoot, making 42 percent of their three-point attempts last season, ranking third in the nation. The Braves’ 9.9 treys per game average was fourth in the country. In Bradley’s two exhibition victories, it averaged 107.5 points and converted 46 percent (28-for-61) from three-point range. In recent season’s past, the Flames have struggled with three-point defense. “Their shooting is not as much of a concern as our defense,” Collins said. “We just have to tighten up on defense.” The Flames are playing the Braves for the second straight season with Bradley taking an 81-72 victory at Carver Arena in Peoria on Nov. 19, 2006. The Braves made 12 of 24 three-point attempts in that game. “We have a lot of respect for them,” said UIC’s 7-foot center Scott VanderMeer. “Last year in their house, they went up big on us and we came back and made it close. After watching the tape of [the Lewis exhibition game, a 59-57 UIC win], we know that we cannot beat Bradley if we play like that.” Bradley has won 22 games in each of the past two seasons. The Braves return two starters and seven total lettermen. The leaders are senior point guard Daniel Ruffin and senior shooting guard Jeremy Crouch. Ruffin is a pure point guard who averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 assists per game as a junior. However, Ruffin missed the game with UIC with a hip flexor injury. Crouch is a dead-eye perimeter shooter and has hit 41 percent from beyond the arc in his career. At 6-foot-5, Crouch will be a tough cover for the Flames, regardless of who UIC chooses to use. The Flames could opt to give minutes to 6-5 freshman Tori Boyd, who has good athleticism and an imposing wingspan. UIC, meanwhile, has to improve its offensive fluidity as only two players reached double figures in the exhibition win over Lewis. Junior guard Josh Mayo scored 21 points and hit six threes and VanderMeer contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds. Only four other players scored: Jeremy Buttell (9), Jermaine Dailey (9), Karl White Jr. (5) and Robert Kreps (3). Boyd and sophomore point guard Spencer Stewart combined to shoot 0-for-9, but Stewart did have six assists. Collins has faith that the Flames will be inspired in front of a big crowd against a quality opponent. “I’m confident that we can play at their level,” Collins said. QUICK FACTS Game time: 7 p.m., Saturday, UIC Pavilion All-time series: Bradley leads 2-0 Internet streaming: www.horizonleague.tv (video), www.uicflames.com (audio) Radio: WIND-AM 560 Notes: Collins is 8-3 in home openers with the losses coming to Illinois, Georgia Tech and St. Xavier. … This will be Bradley’s first visit to the UIC Pavilion and the first four road games against Horizon League opponents this season (Loyola, Butler, Wright State). … There will be a pre-game party as part of Melafusic at SSB, across the street from the Pavilion, starting at 4:30 p.m. There will be hot dogs and popcorn and entertainment from the UIC Cheerleaders, Dancing Flames and the UIC Pep Band. |
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