Dec. 10, 2014
UIC GAME NOTES
HEADLINES
About UCF
UCF enters Thursday's matchup with a 5-2 overall record as they make its first trip out of Florida this season. The Knights were defeated this past Saturday (Dec. 6) in their first road game at Florida State by a final of 96-73. The American Athletic Conference member is paced in scoring by the freshmen duo of B.J. Taylor (13.0) and Adonys Henriquez (12.0). Thursday's contest will be the third all-time meeting between the two schools with each program earning a home victory. The Flames won the most recent outing on Dec. 15, 1989, by a final of 86-66, at the UIC Pavilion.
Tough Non-League Schedule
UIC's 2014-15 non-league schedule is highlighted be several quality opponents with winning records. The Flames' 13 Division I non-conference opponents are a combined 64-37 (.634) this season as 11 of those 13 programs tout records of .500 or better. The following are UIC's D-I opponents and records: Dayton (6-1), DePaul (6-1), Yale (8-3), UCF (5-2), Kent State (5-2), Loyola (5-2), UT-Martin (5-2), Northwestern (5-3), SMU (5-3), SIU (5-3), Grand Canyon (4-4), Bradley (3-6) and Western Illinois (2-5).
Career Night for Paris Burns
Junior newcomer Paris Burns scored a career-high 26 points against city-rival Loyola this past Saturday as he exploded for 24 in the second half. The last UIC player to score more than 24 points in second-half action was Daniel Barnes (25) on March 2, 2013 at home against Detroit. The UIC Pavilion record for most points scored in one half is 26 by Wright State's Keion Brooks on Jan. 4, 1999. Burns also set career-bests for made free throws and field goals with nine and eight, respectively. Burns scored 14 of his 24 points in the final 5:01 of the contest.
The Junior Jump
Junior Jake Wiegand has made tremendous strides from his sophomore to junior season as he leads UIC in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (8.6). Those numbers are drastic increases from the 2013-14 season when he averaged 7.5 points and 5.1 boards per game. Wiegand is the only player for UIC to start all nine games this season and was also named a team captain prior to the 2014-15 campaign.
The Constant Scorer
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris has been a reliable source for points during his first six games at UIC as he is averaging 14.3 points per game. Dating back to his final four games at Wagner, Harris has scored double figures in nine of the last 10 games with efforts of 10, 18, 15, 15, 16, 19, 16, 8, 17 and 12. The Aurora, Ill., native also leads the team in made three-pointers with 11.
Double-Double Machine
Jake Wiegand collected his fourth double-double of the season on Dec. 2 versus Grand Canyon with a 12-point and 10-rebound performance. Wiegand is one of three players in the Horizon League to have four double-doubles so far this season and one of just 28 players in the nation. The junior began the season with back-to-back double-doubles, becoming the first UIC player to start the year in such a manner since 1998 (Bryant Notree). Last season, then-senior Jordan Harks paced the Flames with three double-doubles for the entire year.
One of the Nation's Best
The Flames have been one of the nation's best free-throw shooting teams so far this season as UIC is averaging 76 percent (155-of-204). That figure currently ranks 17th in the country and tops in the Horizon League, while UIC's 155 made free throws ranks tied-for-12th in the NCAA. At their current pace, the Flames are on track to shatter the program record for single-season free-throw percentage (.752). UIC touts eight players that are shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Your Rebounding is Offensive
UIC ranks second in the Horizon League in offensive rebounds with an average of 12.7 boards per game. The Flames grabbed a team-season high 22 offensive caroms versus Loyola this past Saturday compared to six for the Ramblers. UIC has out-rebounded its opponent on the offensive glass in seven of nine games this year. Junior Jake Wiegand ranks second in the HL in offensive rebounding (3.2), while freshman Tai Odiase ranks seventh (2.1).
Cleaning Up the Glass
Jake Wiegand has tallied four double-digit rebounding efforts so far this season, standing as one of four Horizon League player to do so. He ranks first in the conference in boards per game (8.6) and 28th in the nation in total rebounds (77). Wiegand also leads the conference in defensive rebounds (5.3) and ranks second in offensive boards (3.2).
Tai in the Sky
Tai Odiase continues to be one of the nation's best freshmen rim protectors as his 16 blocked shots ranks 10th among all first-year players in the NCAA this season. That total also ranks tied-for-63rd overall in the country and second in the Horizon League to Valparaiso's Vashil Fernandez.
Quality Minutes for McClellan
After sitting out the first six games due to a hip injury, junior Jason McClellan has given UIC quality minutes during his three games played. Through 48 total minutes of court time, McClellan has posted 15 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and three assists. The 6-foot-9 forward transferred to UIC after spending two seasons at Eastern Wyoming junior college.
D'Juan with the Dish
Junior D'Juan Miller equaled his Division-I career-high on Dec. 2 against Grand Canyon with six assists. Miller also dished out six helpers in the home-opener versus Western Illinois on Nov. 17. The 5-foot-8 point guard paces the team in assists with an average of 3.4 per contest, which ranks seventh in the Horizon League.
Former Flames Excel in NBA D-League
Former UIC men's basketball players Gary Talton (2011-13) and Kelsey Barlow (2013-14) are off to great starts in the NBA D-League this season. Talton is in his second season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and is averaging 14.2 points, 13.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. Barlow is in his first professional season as a member of the Grand Rapids Drive. He is averaging 5.7 points per game and shooting more than 60 percent from three-point range. Barlow burst on to the scene with a 14-point effort in a home win against the Iowa Energy on Nov. 29.
Jay Parker to Have Ankle Surgery
Senior guard Jay Parker is scheduled to have season-ending ankle surgery on Dec. 23. Parker has been suffering from chronic impingement on his right ankle and has been sidelined since Nov. 24.
2015 Signing Class
Head coach Howard Moore recently announced the addition of three signees to the 2015-16 UIC roster. Those players include junior college transfer Burak Eslik (G, 6-4, 185, Istanbul, Turkey/Lewis and Clark CC) and soon-to-be freshmen Drew Hackett (G, 6-2, 170, Munster, Ind./Munster HS) and Garrett Bye (F/C, 6-10, 210, Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs).
Marc Brown Eyes 1,000 Career Points
Senior guard Marc Brown needs 207 more points to reach 1,000 for his career as he currently owns 793 points. He would become the 21st player in program history to do so and the first since current graduate manager Robo Kreps (2007-11). Brown scored 349 points last season which nearly doubled his 188 total from his sophomore campaign.
Eleven Buckets for Jake
Jake Wiegand recorded a career-high 11 made field goals against Kent State on Nov. 22, which ties for the highest mark in the Horizon League this season and the highest total for UIC in the Howard Moore-era.
In-State Play
Eight of UIC's 15 non-league games this season will be against in-state opponents. That total is the highest among all 13 D-I men's basketball teams in the state of Illinois. DePaul, SIU-Carbondale and Chicago State will play four in-state teams, while Northern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville are schedule to play three. Bradley, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, Loyola, and Western Illinois have two in-state games on the slate as Big Ten members Northwestern and Illinois have one and zero, respectively.
Wiegand Earns All-Tournament Honors
Junior Jake Wiegand was named to the Men Against Breast Cancer Classic All-Tournament Team earlier this season. The junior forward averaged 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the field during the weekend's three games. He scored a game-high 26 points against tournament-host Kent State this past Saturday, his second career 20-point effort, while hitting a career-best 11 field goals. Eleven buckets ranks tied-for-14th in the country so far this season in single-game performances.
