Oct. 26, 2001
Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago Athletic Department will host the Flames Tip-Off Gala on Friday, November 9, 2001, at 5:30 p.m. to formally kick off the 2001-02 men's and women's basketball seasons.
The Tip-Off Gala, which will take place at the Flames Athletic Center at 839 W. Roosevelt Road, will feature two well-known Chicago sports personalities in John Paxson and Mark Giangreco.
Paxson, the former Chicago Bulls great and current broadcaster for his former team on ESPN Radio 1000, will be the featured guest and after-dinner speaker. Giangreco, currently the sports director and anchor at ABC-7, will serve as the emcee for the evening's festivities.
Giangreco will also host a question and answer session with UIC head basketball coaches Jimmy Collins and Tim Eatman along with Paxson.
A silent auction featuring sports memorabilia will take place during the cocktail hour (5:30 - 6:30 p.m.) with all proceeds benefiting the University of Illinois at Chicago Athletic Scholarship Fund. Dinner will be provided by Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants. Cost is $1,000 for a table of 10 or $100 per individual ticket.
Both teams have plenty to be excited about, as the men's team will see the debuts of 2000 Chicago Sun-Times first-team All-State selections, Cedrick Banks and Martell Bailey. Banks also took home Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year honors in 2000 as he averaged 21.2 points and 8.4 rebounds as a senior.
Banks and Bailey, who both attended Westinghouse High School, helped key the Warriors to a record of 132-3 during their four years together.
The women's team, will also welcome a talented group of newcomers, as UIC will feature the 19th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, to help the Flames challenge for their first ever Horizon League championship.
