“We need to be positive”

COACH’S CORNER: 5 MINUTES WITH JIMMY COLLINS

(as published in Whoosh! magazine Nov. 13, 2006)

File photo Jimmy Collins says this is the deepest team he has coached at UIC.

Whoosh!: You mentioned a while back about going with big lineup. Could you talk about that?

Collins: “There will be times that big lineup will be out there, by hook or crook. Someone might have some foul trouble, or we might be playing some zone out of necessity. For the most part, right now, I like our quick, athletic team. I like that team better, because they’re more experienced with what I wanted them to do.”

Whoosh!: Most of the players say there’s more unity on this team, do you agree?

Collins: “I see that. We talked about it from Day One, being positive. One of the problems we had last year is that we weren’t together. There were times when guys weren’t sure that we were giving them the right structure to win. It was discouraging to me, because I know positive thinking leads to winning.”

Whoosh!: Is there a player out there that will surprise Flames fans this season?

Collins: “I certainly think T.J. [Gray] can surprise people, because he’s a tremendous shooter. Nobody’s seen T.J. for awhile, so I think he’ll sneak up on some people. I think that if Scott [VanderMeer] picks his game up and buys into everything, he’ll be a surprise because he can be force defensively, and once he takes his time, he’ll be able to score some points.”

Whoosh: Is this the deepest team you’ve had in terms of talent?

Collins: “I think it is. The measuring stick will be how well they play against other teams. Once time is dished out, some people will go south on you and some people will continue to fight for time. Right now, I would think there are 10 or 11 people, that on a given night, can play quite a few minutes.”

Whoosh: In a few words, describe the 2006-07 UIC Flames.

Collins: “Energetic. Exciting. Aggressive. Smart. I think we’re a better scoring team.”