Exhibition season opens at Pavilion

(11/4/03)

UIC fans will get a first glimpse of the team in game action when the Flames entertain the Illinois All-Stars—an AAU team with former college and pro players—at the Pavilion at 7 p.m. Wednesday night.

Expect most of the roster to see action, giving UIC coach Jimmy Collins an opportunity to see what player combinations gel on the court.

Collins has been antsy to get this season started: “We’ve been thinking about this season since about 20 minutes after the loss [in the NIT]. We’re happy with we’ve got coming back. We’re happy with what we’ve got coming in. We think that after our showing last year, our kids will be hungry and want to go back to the Big Dance.”

The Flames will play a second preseason game next Tuesday against St. Francis of Joliet as part of women’s-men’s basketball doubleheader.

WHOOSH! OUT: The print edition of Whoosh! has been released in the Nov. 4 edition of the Chicago Flame. Copies are inserted in the Flame and are available on campus and in surrounding establishments. Stories will be on-line soon.

ESPN’S BILAS RATES FLAMES: ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas had his own “Mid-Major Top 10” on ESPN.com and ranked UIC No. 6 on the list. He has Gonzaga—not surprisingly—on top and Northern Illinois at No. 4.