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Flames sizing up their options
COLLINS SAYS UIC COULD GO BIG
(8/13/06)
UIC coach Jimmy Collins thinks the Flames might opt for a bigger starting lineup. Seniors Jovan Stefanov and Danijel Zoric, junior Othyus Jeffers and sophomore Josh Mayo are currently penciled in, even though that might change slightly. Three obvious candidates for the open spot are juniors Karl White, Kevin Bond and Robert Bush.
Collins won’t dismiss the chances of any of those three players earning the starting nod, but salivates at the chance to run out a huge lineup with 6-foot-11 Scott VanderMeer as the anchor in the middle.
“That’s a big lineup,” said Collins last Monday in an interview at the Flames Athletic Center. “That’s a talented, athletic and experienced lineup. It certainly can give us an advantage in this league.”
VanderMeer would be the center with Zoric at power forward, Stefanov at small forward, Jeffers at the two guard and Mayo at the point.
“The guy who looks like that he can fill that spot and make us look like a big-time team is Scott VanderMeer,” Collins said. “You’re talking about a guy that’s [practically] seven-foot tall, who is a force in the paint when it comes to defense.
“It’s certainly no easy task to lay the ball up on Scott VanderMeer. He takes a lot of pride in blocking shots and deterring shots.”
As for the veteran guards and wings, Collins thinks White could finally be ready for major minutes after a couple of seasons of growing pains.
“Karl has been listening better, but I can’t be upset with him, because as a player myself, I thought I had all the answers before I heard the questions,” Collins said. “The thing with Karl is he watches a lot of ESPN highlights, a lot of Kobe Bryant and guys like that. He never takes into consideration that those guys got good by listening and by doing what the coaches asked him.
“Karl is maturing. That was the only thing from his game that was missing. He’s certainly talented and athletic and he’s probably the best driver on the team.”
Bush started 14 games last year, most of them early in the season, and made a decent impression on the coaching staff.
“Robert Bush certainly has some experience and could nail down that spot depending on what happens in the preseason.”
Collins thinks Bond is the wild-card possibility to crack the starting five at either the small forward or shooting guard position.
“Kevin Bond is like a microwave,” Collins said. “He scores with ease and has worked so hard on his game.”
Collins said Bond has improved his defense, but that he needs to play smarter as a defender – things like keep drivers in front of him and not reaching in for silly fouls.
The competition for minutes should be fierce, especially with the core group and quality newcomers like Spencer Stewart, T.J. Gray and Jermaine Dailey, but Collins said that someone needs to show they deserve to start.
“I’m not a very giving coach,” Collins said. “You’ve got to take what you deserve.”
SCHEDULE NEWS: According to UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt, the 2006-07 schedule should be released within the next few weeks.
Schmidt said that the team is still looking for a home game, hoping to start a home-and-home series.
“We’ve been talking to UMass, Virginia Commonwealth and Canisius,” Schmidt said Monday.
Schmidt also clarified the contract with Illinois State. He said it is a 2-for-1 deal, starting in Chicago this season on Dec. 23 with a return game in Normal next season and then a guarantee game in Normal, so UIC will receive compensation from ISU for the third game.
“It wasn’t an act of desperation,” Schmidt said. “We needed a home game [this season] and we took a look and saw it was August already.”
Schmidt also said that the Bracket Buster game on Feb. 17 will be at the UIC Pavilion, giving the Flames at least four non-conference home games: Murray State, Illinois State, Bracket Buster and the game to be announced.
As for the 2007-08 slate, the Flames will play 18 conference games with the addition of Valparaiso to the Horizon League. They will also play at Georgia Tech, Illinois State and return the Bracket Buster game. There are no other carryover games scheduled from the current contracts.
GYM RATS: Mark Miller wasn’t the only one working out at the Flames Athletic Center on Monday. Also seen at the FAC: VanderMeer was working on his post moves at one of the baskets. … Bond was practicing his shooting and engaged in a 2-on-2 game. … Former Flames forward Anton Collins, who played two years for Bob Hallberg and two years for Collins, was also in on the action.
FLICKERS: The first print edition of Whoosh! will feature an in-depth preview of the 2006-07 squad with a main feature on Jeffers. It will appear in the Nov. 13 Chicago Flame. …
Kenny Williams Also former Loyola players Chris Logan and Anthony Smith were present at the Rockstars’ third tryout camp at Joy of the Game in Deerfield on Saturday. Logan was trying out for the team, while Smith was encouraging him and watching the action from the sidelines. Smith was diagnosed with leukemia last year and had a bone marrow transplant. He said that he feels much better. …
For the fourth consecutive year, I will be putting together a Horizon League men’s basketball preview for the November-December edition of UIC Alumni Magazine. Members of the Alumni Association receive the magazine as part of their membership.
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