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In-state rivals on loaded schedule OPENER VS. BRADLEY, PLUS DePAUL August 28, 2007
The Flames open their campaign with a date against Bradley at the UIC Pavilion on Saturday night, Nov. 10. UIC will also play DePaul for the second time in four seasons at Allstate Arena on Saturday, Dec. 15. UIC also hosts NAIA Illinois-Springfield, coached by former Boston Celtic Kevin Gamble, and travel to Illinois State. Also, the Flames will travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the annual Paradise Jam tournament in mid-November. UIC opens the tournament against Winthrop, which upset Notre Dame in last season’s NCAA tournament. The Flames will face either Charlotte or Georgia Tech in the second round depending on results and will face a team from a pool of Notre Dame, Baylor, Monmouth or Wichita State in the final round. Selected games from the Paradise Jam will be broadcast of Fox College Sports. Other non-conference games of note, include a home game with Toledo (Dec. 19) and a road contest at Akron (Dec. 29) in addition to road BracketBuster game on Feb. 23. UIC opens Horizon League play on Thursday, Dec. 6 against Milwaukee and then Green Bay two days later – both games at the Pavilion. The conference slate shifts into full gear with a road game at Youngstown State on Jan. 3. The Flames host city rival Loyola on Jan. 12, defending Horizon League champion and NCAA tournament participant Wright State on Jan. 17 and Sweet 16 darling Butler on “Senior Night” on Feb. 20. League play will wrap with a trip to Wisconsin for games at Green Bay (Feb. 28) and Milwaukee (March 1).
Lowe, who was the director of basketball operations for UIC, replaces Lynn Mitchem, who was the centerpiece of a sexual harassment filed by former walk-on Luis Martinez. School spokesman Mark Rosati confirmed that Mitchem is no longer employed by the university, but could not comment further. “Bryant is a tremendous asset,” Collins said. “He’s still very much connected to these young guys that are playing. He can be the perfect liaison between the players and the [veteran coaches].” Lowe was the engine on the Flames’ 1998 NCAA tournament team, which won a then-school-record 22 games. RECRUITING UPDATE: UIC landed its first commitment for the Class of 2008 in Hope High School’s Zavion Neely, according to ChicagoHoops.com. The 6-foot-1 Neely is considered a sleeper in his class and can score in bunches. He has been playing AAU ball with the Chicago Express. ChicagoHoops.com also reported that Al Rapier of Chicago Perspective and Jelani Poston (formerly of Simeon and Boys to Men) of American Christian in Philadelphia took campus visits recently. Rapier is a versatile 6-foot-5 wing that can handle physical play on the inside, but can also handle the ball when needed. Poston is an athletic 6-foot-6 forward who finishes well in the post and rebounds well for his height. Poston also has interest from SMU and Illinois State, according to Rivals.com. Also, the Flames are one of the two schools that have offered 6-foot-10, 260-pound center Steve Goins of Curie High School, according to Scout.com. Goins, who played at Leo last season, has also been offered by new Horizon League member Valparaiso. Goins has a soft touch on the inside and can also shoot the ball from mid-range. DePaul, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Virginia and West Virginia have also shown interest. UIC has offered Whitney Young guard A.J. Rompza and have made the 5-foot-8 sparkplug a high priority, according to MidStateHoops.com. He had the skills of a good point guard and can also knock down shots from long range. Rompza also has offers from Northern Illinois, Green Bay, Howard and Idaho. Sources have also said the Flames are interested in Marshall senior small forward Ryan Hare and Driscoll forward/center Jake Lindfors. Hare is a 6-foot-5 wing who has been a major part of Marshall’s success since his freshman year. Lindfors is 6-foot-9, 200 pounds and can score from inside and outside. In addition, the Flames have reported interest in Whitney Young sophomore combo guard Anthony Johnson. The 6-foot-3, 160-pound Johnson had a great summer on the AAU circuit and is being watched closely by Illinois, Wright State, Bradley, Purdue, Iowa State, Georgia and Drake. FLAMES FLICKERS: Mike Naiditch, agent for Cedrick Banks and Jovan Stefanov, gave Whoosh! a brief update on the former Flames stars. Naiditch said that Stefanov is on a tryout with Anwil in Poland, while Banks is weighing offers from Orleans (France), Rishon (Israel) and Split (Croatia). … Othyus Jeffers has officially enrolled at NAIA Robert Morris, while T.J. Gray has elected to play his senior year at Division II Southern Illinois-Edwardsville after earning a degree from UIC. … Incoming transfer Billy Baptist will have three years of eligibility since he sat out one season with a medical condition in junior college. … Forward Byron Pickens, who had originally signed with UIC in the spring, will now play at Mineral Area (Mo.) Community College. |
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