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OPENING TIP: Who are these guys? They’re pretty good
(as published in Whoosh! magazine Nov. 7, 2005)
Cedrick Banks and Armond Williams are gone.
Oh, the calamity! Now everyone expects the UIC Flames to fall off the face of the earth.
Take solid returning veterans like Elliott Poole (pictured), Jovan Stefanov, Justin Bowen, Karl White and Rocky Collum and add four outstanding newcomers in Othyus Jeffers, Danijel Zoric, D.J. Smedley and Josh Mayo, and you have a bonafide contender in the Horizon League and an opportunity to continue an era of greatness started by Banks, Williams and Martell Bailey.
Poole has the potential to breakout this season with his offensive skills in the post. Stefanov and Bowen are solid role players with the potential to be decent scorers. White has had a year to adjust to Division I basketball and should improve greatly. Collum is one of the team’s better shooters and will provide some maturity.
Jeffers and Zoric, like Poole before them, were recruited by high-major programs and could be starters from Day One. Smedley is a true point guard and a natural leader, who coach Jimmy Collins just loves. Mayo has already been labeled as the team’s best shooter before the Flames even played a game.
I can see the Flames right in the thick of the Horizon League race with defending champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee, crosstown rival Loyola, always-tough Detroit and a Wright State team loaded with potential breakout stars.
I was interviewing some of the players last week and saw the hunger to prove the critics wrong. I saw the enthusiasm and commitment to win during a three-hour practice.
For the Flames to truly be successful, they need the burly Elliott Poole to take charge this season. “Butch” flashed some signs of greatness at the end of last season.
Now he seems to ready to be one of the leaders on a team in transition and he’s hungry to make the Flames a contender.
Another key to the season is the play of the backcourt. The combination of White, Smedley, Mayo and Collum will be exciting to watch and should cause problems for the rest of the Horizon League.
For an in-depth look at Poole and UIC’s fun backcourt, check out my season preview.
Now more than ever, the Flames will need student fan support. One way is to join the Fury. You can contact Jeremy Makins (312-996-1238, jmakin2@uic.edu) or Samantha DeMaria (312-996-5633, demaria@uic.edu) in the UIC athletic department for more information.
Finally, best wishes to Andrew Haring and Matt Brendich, both of whom have accepted positions in the athletic department at Northern Illinois. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to both men in helping make my work with Whoosh! much easier.
May the Flames burn brightly forever!
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Not so fast, my friends. Not to take anything away from Cedrick and Armond – two of the best players to ever put on Flames uniforms, but the cupboard is not exactly bare.