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Flames picked eighth in preseason poll MAYO GETS INDIVIDUAL HONOR October 12, 2007
The coaches, media and school representatives from the Horizon League have spoken and the preseason poll has the Flames projected for an eighth place finish for the 2007-08 campaign. “It’s something to hang on the bulletin board,” Collins said. “It will give us some motivation.” Coming off a turmoil-laden season, the Flames received votes to finish anywhere from second to 10th place in the conference from the 46 ballots. “You figure that we could have been that low without Othyus [Jeffers] and T.J. Gray,” Collins said. “They just figured without them, we couldn’t finish any higher. It means nothing right now. I haven’t even seen a striped shirt yet.” Individually, Flames junior guard Josh Mayo was selected to the Preseason Second Team All-Horizon. Mayo averaged 12.2 points per game and hit 49 three-pointers and was among the national leaders in free-throw percentage. He hit the game-winning shot in UIC’s 51-50 win at Loyola to close the regular season. “I think Josh is at least [that good],” Collins said. “Josh is one of those kids that gets out and plays. He will be motivated.” Butler received 42 of 46 first-place votes and is the runaway favorite to win the Horizon League. Wright State was voted second, followed by Green Bay, Milwaukee, Loyola, Valparaiso, Detroit, UIC, Cleveland State and Youngstown State. Green Bay and Loyola each received two first-place votes. Every one of the 46 voters placed Butler either first or second, a far cry from last year’s sixth-place projection. “Butler is always good,” Collins said. “The names change, but the players stay the same.” In predictions from national publications, UIC was picked fifth in Athlon, sixth in Lindy’s and sixth in the Sporting News. CBS Sports preview magazine doesn’t have conference predictions, but they said that UIC will “contend.” Collins’ Flames will hit the practice floor for the first time officially Friday evening and the coach has seen some good things. “I’m so happy with the effort we’ve been putting in,” Collins said. “I think this team is the hardest working team in terms of getting in the weight room and conditioning themselves.” Complete Horizon League picks and the Whoosh! vote are at the bottom of this page. POSTON VERBALS: Forward Jelani Poston became the second Class of 2008 player to make an oral commitment to UIC. The former Lincoln Park and Boys To Men star, now at American Christian in Philadelphia, is an athletic 6-foot-6 player who finishes well in the post and rebounds well for his size. The Flames beat SMU and Illinois State for Poston’s services. Poston joins Hope High guard Zavion Neely as 2008 commitments and both will likely sign Letters of Intent in November. In more recruiting news, UIC has been keeping tabs on several post prospects, including Robert Eppinger of Highland Community College, Jawan Nelson of Bloom High School and Ryan Connolly of Springfield Lanphier High. Eppinger played his prep ball at Rockford Jefferson and Minneapolis Patrick Henry before ending up at Highland. The 6-foot-7 Eppinger, who originally verballed to Fresno State, is a physical presence and is also skilled in scoring with his back to the basket and converting mid-range jumpers. Nelson, a senior at Bloom, has made strides on his game and his conditioning and has scholarship offers from UIC and Miami (Ohio). The 6-foot-8 star is a tough cover in the post and has a soft touch on a mid-range shot. Connolly is a burly 6-foot-9, 265 pounds and can run the floor well for someone of his size. He is also a good rebounder and shot blocker. He attends the same high school as former Flame Leonard Walker. Recruiting info from chicagohoops.com and midstatehoops.com. FLAMES FLICKERS: Collins said that junior center Scott VanderMeer and sophomore forward Jeremy Buttell are two very highly regarded leaders in helping the team work on their conditioning and on their game during the off-season. … One Flames assistant coach said recently that he expects two players to contend for Newcomer of the Year honors: forwards Billy Baptist and Tori Boyd. … Observers have said the addition of Tracy Dildy as an assistant and the improving health of Jimmy Collins has helped immensely in getting UIC some good looks from recruits. This is in addition to the hard work of Mark Coomes and Bryant Lowe. … Windy City Hoops is reporting on their Web site that former Flames forward Elliott Poole has joined Othyus Jeffers at NAIA Robert Morris. … Mike Cassidy has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Marketing, while John Jaramillo was bumped up to Director of Sports Information and Media Relations. … There will be no Basketball Madness this year. In its place, UIC athletics has introduced “Melafusic,” which will consist of numerous events around campus leading up the season opener against Bradley on Nov. 10.
Whoosh!’s others considered: J.R. Blount, Loyola; Todd Brown, Wright State; J’Nathan Bullock, CSU; Samuel Haanpaa, Valparaiso; Josh Mayo, UIC; Paige Paulsen, Milwaukee, Avery Smith, Milwaukee; Ryan Tillema, Green Bay. |
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