Sept. 15, 2009
2009-10 UIC Men's Basketball Schedule in PDF Format 
CHICAGO- UIC head men's basketball coach Jimmy Collins took the veil off of the Flames' 2009-10 schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 15, with a huge home game against emerging Pac-10 team Oregon State headlining a 29-game regular season slate.
"We want our players to play the best and be tested night in and night out," said Collins. "The challenging schedule we face this season will do just that."
Complete radio and television information will be released at a later date.
Fans will get their first peek of this season's UIC squad when the Flames host Lewis in an exhibition at the UIC Pavilion on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The Flames officially open the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14 when they host their sister school to the south, the University of Illinois at Springfield, at 3 p.m.
UIC's first road test comes up on Nov. 18 when the Flames tangle with Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Mich. UIC returns to the Pavilion on Nov. 23 to host Missouri Valley Conference power Illinois State in a Monday night contest at 7 p.m. before embarking on a four-game road stretch that begins on Saturday, Nov. 28 against Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill.
That takes UIC into December and the beginning of the Horizon League schedule. The Flames head north to Wisconsin for road tests at Milwaukee on Dec. 3 and at Green Bay on Dec. 5. The road swing concludes on Dec. 13 with a Sunday evening crosstown clash against DePaul at the Allstate Arena.
Oregon State, coached by Chicago native and President Barack Obama's brother-in-law Craig Robinson, makes its inaugural venture to the Pavilion when the Beavers face the Flames on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
"We're looking forward to hosting Oregon State, an emerging team in the competitive Pac-10 Conference," said Collins.
In-state rival Northern Illinois is next up on the docket, with the Flames and the Huskies squaring off on Dec. 19.
UIC makes the first of three regular season treks to the state of Ohio on Dec. 22, when the Flames renew their series with the Akron Zips. That precedes a trip to Madison, Wis., for an encounter against former Milwaukee coach and current Wisconsin mentor Bo Ryan and his Badgers inside the Kohl Center on Dec. 27. That game is slated to air on the Big Ten Network live at 2:30 p.m.
The Flames come back to the Pavilion for a three-game homestand, beginning on Dec. 29 with a reunion with former UIC assistant and current Toledo head coach Gene Cross and the Rockets. Two days later the Flames host a New Year's Eve matinee against league foe Detroit at noon.
Wright State rings in the new year for the Flames with a league game on Jan. 2 before UIC makes its annual journey east for the Youngstown State/Cleveland State double-dip. The Flames meet the Penguins inside the Beeghly Center on Jan. 7, followed by a Wolstein Center meeting with the defending league champion Vikings on Jan. 9.
Another three-game homestand commences on Jan. 15 with the 2010 edition of the city rivalry between UIC and Loyola at 8 p.m. Valparaiso comes into the Pavilion on Jan. 21, and defending league regular season champion Butler follows on Jan. 23.
UIC will play six of its next eight games on the road following the Butler game. On Jan. 28 the Flames face Wright State in Dayton and head to Detroit to play the Titans on Jan. 30. A quick two-game Pavilion stay featuring a Feb. 4 game against Cleveland State and a Feb. 6 showdown with Youngstown State serves as a prelude to another four-game string of away games for the Flames.
Valparaiso hosts UIC on Monday, Feb. 8. Later that week the UIC-Loyola rivalry hits the Gentile Center with a Feb. 12 meeting between the Chicago teams.
Hinkle Fieldhouse is the next destination for the Flames, with a Feb. 17 tilt on tap against the Bulldogs. The road streak wraps up on Feb. 20, with an ESPNU BracketBuster game against a yet-to-be-determined foe.
Regular season play ends in late February at the Pavilion. Green Bay comes to Chicago on Feb. 25, and Milwaukee will be the Flames' final regular season opponent on Feb. 27.
The 2010 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship starts with opening round action on Mar. 2, followed by the quarterfinals on Mar. 5. The semifinals take place at the home of the league regular season champion on Mar. 6, and the championship game will occur on Tuesday, Mar. 9 at the home of the highest remaining seed.
Veteran leaders Spencer Stewart, Jeremy Buttell and Robo Kreps team with a slew of fresh, athletic faces to lead the 2009-10 Flames.
Fans can listen to podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with UIC head coaches, staff and student-athletes in two ways:
1. Download the free UIC Athletics Widget and click on the "UIC Flames Podcasts" link
2. Download podcasts for free on iTunes by searching "UIC Flames."
Fans wishing to learn more about affordable and flexible UIC ticket plans are encouraged to call 312-413-UIC1 or visit www.uicflames.com and click on the "Tickets" tab on the Flames home page.
