CHICAGO – As the second season of UIC men's basketball under the direction of head coach Steve McClain begins, the Flames will host the Judson College Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. in an exhibition game at the UIC Pavilion.
 
UIC's roster features a strong mix of talented returning players and promising newcomers. The roster features four returning starters and a total of six returning lettermen. In addition, McClain and his coaching staff have recruited and welcomed seven newcomers into the fold.
 
Here are some of the headlines heading into the 2016-17 campaign:
 
WATCH OUT
Sophomore Dikembe Dixson was named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List last month. Presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the honor annually goes to the top small forward in Division I. The Freeport, Ill., native was one of 20 players nationwide to make the list, and one of only six underclassmen. Of the underclassmen, only two do not play for Power 5 conference teams.
 
PRESEASON PRAISE
Two of UIC's veteran leaders were named to Preseason All-Horizon League Teams. Sophomore Dikembe Dixson, the 2016 Horizon League Freshman of the Year, was named to the First Team, while junior Tai Odiase, a 2016 All-Defensive Team honoree, earned a spot on the Second Team. Dixson and Odiase were the only players to start all 30 games for the Flames in the first season under head coach Steve McClain.
 
FOUR SCORE
UIC was chosen to finish fourth in the preseason Horizon League poll as voted upon by the conference's head coaches, media and sports information directors. Defending regular-season champion, Valparaiso (385 points), was tabbed to finish atop the table. Oakland (337) was selected to finish second, while the 2016 NCAA Tournament participant, Green Bay (309), was slotted third. Just behind the Flames, two teams with new head coaches – Wright State (202) and Detroit Mercy (195) – were selected fifth and sixth, respectively. Northern Kentucky (153), Cleveland State (150), Youngstown State (125) and Milwaukee (72) round out the predicted order of finish.
 
BLOCK PARTY
Tai Odiase established himself as one of the nation's top rim protectors during his sophomore season. The Glenwood, Ill., native lead the NCAA in blocks per game during the regular season with 3.23. Odiase's 97 rejections a year ago were the second-best single-season total in program history. Through only two seasons he ranks fifth all-time in Flames history with 145 blocks. He enters this season needing one block to match Derrick Johnson (1985-89) for fourth place and 20 to pass the legendary Sherrell Ford (1992-95) to claim sole possession of second place.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Head coach Steve McClain and his staff have brought in four players from outside the United States. Guards Godwin Boahen and Marcus Ottey hail from Canada. The pair played AAU basketball together in the Toronto area. Ottey finished his prep career at SPIRE Academy, where he was teammates with another new Flame, Jordan Blount. Blount, who calls Cork, Ireland home, will take an academic redshirt this season. The final member of the international quartet is Clint Robinson. Robinson is a junior and a native of Montego Bay, Jamaica. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at State Fair Community College in Missouri.
 
WINDEX MEN
UIC set the single-season program record for rebounds in 2015-16 with 1,235 caroms. As a freshman, Dikembe Dixson grabbed a team-high 220 rebounds last year, while Tai Odiase corralled 193. Guard Lance Whitaker also contributed on the boards with a career-high 114 rebounds.
 
CATCH THE FLAMES
Season tickets remain on sale to see the Flames in action at the UIC Pavilion this season. Plans start as low as $99. For more information, and to purchase today, please click here.