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ROSTER BREAKDOWN: Sizing up 2006-07 Flames
(as published in Whoosh! magazine Nov. 13, 2006 with additional content)
Although the last two seasons haven’t been incredibly successful, the UIC Flames are seeking their sixth consecutive winning season.
With four starters and key veteran reserves returning, the Flames should be one of the top contenders in the Horizon League. UIC also brings in four newcomers that should see minutes as well.
Coach Jimmy Collins could easily play an 11-man rotation and has the pieces to play a pro-style offense, along with varying defensive alignments. It should give UIC a solid chance to end its two-year postseason drought.
“We want to run a spread floor [offense],” Collins said. “I’ve never been a guy who wants to pass the ball 10 times before we take a shot. I like to score fast and play aggressive defense. The only way to do that is for our guys to be available, but don’t take bad shots or throw the ball away. We want to go “bam, bam, bam” and score, crash the boards, and if you’re not in contention for the rebound, I want to you to sprint back and help out on defense.”
Here’s a look at how the roster sizes up this season:
PROJECTED STARTERS
Stefanov Stefanov is the only Flame remaining on the roster to play in the 2004 NCAA tournament. He believes that he can bring the team leadership from being around players like Cedrick Banks, Martell Bailey and Armond Williams.
“I’m the oldest guy on the team and these guys expect me to lead them,” the fifth-year senior said. “When it gets tough, when the opposition makes a run, I’m the one that’s supposed to calm everyone down and bring us back up.”
Stefanov averaged 8.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior. He has the ability to stretch defenses with a three-point shot and can shoot over small defenders in the lane. He also has nose for the ball when it comes to rebounding.
“Jovan’s a hard worker,” junior swingman Othyus Jeffers said. “He’s more consistent with his outside shot.”
Bond “Nothing is for certain,” Bond said. “I just try to come out everyday and help prepare the team to get where we need to be.”
The Morgan Park graduate has rarely met a shot he didn’t like. Bond improved his shot throughout the year and Collins’ sixth man for much of the second half of last season. He averaged 4.7 points per game and shot 45 percent from the field as a sophomore.
The lanky 6-foot-5 Bond can rise up and shoot over defenders in the 10-to-15-foot range and has also extended his range to beyond the arc on occasion.
“Kevin has worked so hard,” Collins said. “He’s like a microwave. He can pop it in the hole. He’s an intelligent guy.”
Collins was impressed with Bond’s work ethic to improve his defense and rebounding.
“Me and Coach C went over my defense and I definitely being making an assertive effort to contain people more,” Bond said.
Zoric He averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season but upped his averages to 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in Horizon League play.
“I feel great,” Zoric said. “We’re ready. I’m trying to build on what I did at the end of last year. If do that, I can help the team a lot.”
Zoric is arguably the strongest post player on the team and gives the team a decent defensive threat. He is also talkative, especially helping his teammates by pointing out where they need to be.
“As a big guy, I’m the last line of defense,” Zoric said. “I can see the floor. I can help them play better.”
Jeffers Collins expects Jeffers to be a leader, especially with his improved jump shot, which will expand his game.
“O is our best driver,” Collins said. “In our offense, we’re going to allow Othyus to get the ball more in 1-on-1 situations.”
Mayo The native of Merrillville, Ind. was rarely rattled on the court even in a hostile environment of Georgia Tech or helping to break Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s vaunted press. Despite the appearance of his calm demeanor, Mayo felt some pressure.
“I was really nervous last year,” Mayo said. “This is D-I ball and it was a little nerve-racking.”
Mayo is known as a dynamite shooter – he was among the best free-throw shooter in the Horizon League. Although he shot only 35 percent from three-point range, he improved as the season went on. Expect Mayo to hit at least 40 percent from beyond the arc this season as a sophomore to go with improvements in other areas.
“My goal is to make the team better, distribute the ball, take shots when necessary,” Mayo said. I worked on my defense, on my speed and my ball-handling. We played pick-up games together over the summer. We usually played Monday through Friday at 3:30 – as long as they kept the lights on.”
Primary bench players
Junior guard Robert Bush started 14 games as a sophomore and played well in stretches, but he was benched late in the season as Collins tried a different look. He averaged 5.3 points per game and scored 16 points on two occasions last season.
“I’m not a very giving coach,” Collins said. “You have to take what you deserve. You have to earn playing time. Robert did that early last season. Now, I think Robert has developed a tougher skin.”
Bush looks ready to grab a prominent role on this season’s squad as he has looked more aggressive than ever in practice and scrimmage sessions.
“The coaching staff is really pushing me,” Bush said. “I’ll continue to listen and incorporate that into my game.”
Bush has good quickness and leaping ability, which should translate into a decent defensive weapon. When he’s playing well offensively, expect a decent three-point shot.
Karl White (right) has shown flashes of brilliance, but how much will he contribute? White worked hard during the summer, taking advice from his old teammate.
“I talk to Ced all the time,” White said. “Ced tells me to stay focused, listen to the coaches and keep my best interests and the team’s best interests in line.”
The ultraquick White is one of the Flames’ top defenders. On offense, he is not afraid to take a big shot. He averaged 3.6 points per game, dropping off from a 5.5 average in his freshman season.
“Karl is maturing and that was the only thing from his game that was missing. He’s certainly talented and athletic and he’s probably the best driver on the team.”
Collins hopes that the maturation process that White has endured in the last year translates into a big season.
“I worked on small things, like my decision making,” White said. “Try to work on my ball-handling and my court awareness.
“I try to apply instead of reply. Apply the things (Coach Collins) says. Work out with my teammates and keep a positive attitude.”
A few months ago, Collins envisioned a hulking lineup with sophomore center Scott VanderMeer anchoring the middle. While the Flames’ coach has backed off that notion, he won’t dismiss the possibility of it happening in some stretches.
VanderMeer, who ties Thor Solverson as the tallest player in school history at 6-foot-11, could well give the Flames the conference’s best post defense.
“Our post defense would be good, boxing out, getting rebounds and blocking shots,” VanderMeer said. “It would be a huge advantage in this conference.”
VanderMeer has a decent touch on a mid-range jumper, but he needs to become aggressive on offense.
“He can’t be a 7-foot midget,” Collins said. “Scott needs to make statements and sending messages to people. He needs go up and dunk the ball.”
VanderMeer admitted as much.
“I have to take my time when I catch the ball in the paint,” he said. “Sometimes I get flustered. I need to start jumping over people, using my height to my advantage. It’s all about being an authority and wanting the ball.”
VanderMeer started 11 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in just under 10 minutes per game as a freshman at Bowling Green two years ago before decided to move closer to home.
Western Illinois transfer T.J. Gray may not be talked about much in conference circles, but he could become the Flames’ gunner off the bench. The 5-foot-9 Gray could give the Flames the same dimension that Rocky Collum gave them when healthy – a deadly three-point shot. He shot 43 percent from three-point range for the Leathernecks as a sophomore.
“You can’t sleep on T.J.,” Collins said. “Otherwise, you’ll look up and he’ll have 20 points on you. He shoots the ball that well. He’s also got some great leadership skills.”
Gray played two years at Western and earned a spot on the Mid-Continent Conference All-Newcomer Team. Collins has not dismissed Gray for the starting lineup conversation.
In Jermaine Dailey, the Flames have a 6-foot-7 athlete who can run the floor and rebound with a passion. While his offensive game will likely prevent him from extended minutes, Dailey will be a key factor when UIC needs to go with an athletic, pressing lineup.
Collins calls Dailey a crowd-pleaser and likens him to Phoenix Suns’ star Shawn Marion.
“I look forward to rebounding, running the floor, getting a whole lot of dunks and putbacks,” Dailey said. “I love pressing and playing defense.”
Dailey, who averaged 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds as a sophomore at Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College, will get minutes in the post backing up Zoric and Stefanov.
Like Mayo before him, freshman Spencer Stewart could be an impact player from Day 1. The 6-foot-4 point guard out of Edwardsville gives Collins some interesting options.
At Edwardsville, he was a team-first player and simply, a winner. He averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.1 assists as a high school senior. When playing the point, his height will help him see over the defense. Collins could use Stewart at the point, freeing up shooters like Mayo and Gray.
“We’ve got a lot of good team camaraderie,” Stewart said. “A lot of the older guys have been helping me out. I’m just trying to find a way to help the team.
“I like to do whatever it takes to win a game, whether it’s getting 10 assists or hitting a shot to win a game. All that really matters is winning the game.”
Working for minutes
Veteran D.J. Smedley started last season at the point before injuries and an offensive slump put him on the bench. Collins credits the 5-foot-10 Philadelphia native with helping in the development of Mayo.
“Josh [Mayo] got so much better because he had to face D.J. in practice everyday,” Collins said. “D.J. never stopped trying defensively.”
When Smedley does play, he brings a team-first presence on offense and solid defense.
Senior walk-on Greg Zimny is probably one of the hardest workers on the team. The 6-foot-1 guard from Stevenson High gave the Flames some minutes when Mayo tired last season. Zimny even injured his shoulder diving for a ball at mid-season.
Collins likes the potential of his third 6-foot-9 Serbian forward, Jovan Ignjatovic. “Iggy” as the coaching staff calls him played in three games as a freshman last season before redshirting because of appendicitis. In his limited time, he showed a nose for the ball and decent long-range touch, but he will likely spend much of the season getting stronger, mixing it up with Zoric and VanderMeer in practice.
Rounding out the roster is walk-on forward Eb Noonoo. The Loyola Academy grad brings a positive attitude to the floor, but he likely won’t play for awhile because of a left-wrist injury he suffered in an Oct. 31 practice.
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