Dec. 5, 2014
UIC GAME NOTES
HEADLINES
The Loyola Rivalry
Saturday's matchup will be the 52nd all-time meeting between Loyola and UIC, a rivalry that dates back to 1986, and the 22nd consecutive season the two programs have played each other. The Flames hold a 31-20 all-time series advantage against the Ramblers and have won the past two gatherings inside the UIC Pavilion (1/14/12 and 1/16/13). Games are usually decided in the final minutes when these two squads meet as 30 of their 51 overall contests have been decided by single digits, including the past seven affairs. Last season the Flames were edged at Loyola by a final of 73-70.
Double-Double Machine
Jake Wiegand collected his fourth double-double of the season last Tuesday night with a 12-point and 10-rebound performance. Wiegand is the only player in the Horizon League to have four double-doubles so far this season and one of just 20 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.
The Constant Scorer
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris has been a reliable source for points during his first five games at UIC as he is averaging 14.8 points per game. Dating back to his final four games at Wagner, Harris has scored double figures in eight of the last nine games with efforts of 10, 18, 15, 15, 16, 19, 16, 8 and 17. The Aurora, Ill., native is also averaging a team-high two three-pointers per game.
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 78.5 percent (139-of-177). That figure currently ranks fourth in the country and tops in the Horizon League, while UIC's 139 made free throws ranks tied-for-fifth 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 nine players that are shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Wiegand Filling it Up
Jake Wiegand tallied his fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season this past Tuesday night against Grand Canyon with 12 points. Wiegand is averaging a team-high 15.9 points per game, which is a drastic improvement from his season average last year of 7.5 points per game. Wiegand also owns three 20-point outings on the season, including a career-high 28 points versus Western Illinois (Nov. 17).
Career Night for Harris
Jay Harris had one of his best performances as a Flame this past Tuesday with career-highs of seven assists and seven rebounds. The fifth-year transfer also totaled a game-high 17 points, including 6-of-7 from the foul line. Seven assists also serves as a team-season high for UIC.
Cleaning Up the Glass
Jake Wiegand has tallied four double-digit rebounding efforts so far this season, standing as the only Horizon League player to do so. He ranks first in the conference in boards per game (8.5) and tied-for-24th in the nation in total rebounds (68). Wiegand also leads the conference in defensive rebounds (5.5) and ranks second in offensive boards (3.0).
Tai in the Sky
Tai Odiase continues to be one of the nation's best freshmen rim protectors as his 15 blocked shots ranks 11th among all first-year players in the NCAA this season. That total also ranks tied-for-45th overall in the country and second in the Horizon League to Valparaiso's Vashil Fernandez.
Solid Start for McClellan
Junior transfer Jason McClellan has appeared in the last two games for UIC after sitting out the previous six with an injured hip. McClellan has given the Flames quality minutes thus far with totals of 11 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes of action. The 6-foot-9 forward is also 2-of-5 from three-point range.
Deep Threats
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris, junior Gabe Snider and sophomore Markese McGuire have proven they are legitimate three-point threats for the Flames. All three players are averaging more than 37 percent from behind the arc this season and are a combined 23-of-59 (39%) from downtown. Snider boasts the best percentage of .444, which ranks sixth in the Horizon League.
D'Juan with the Dish
Junior D'Juan Miller equaled his Division-I career-high on Tuesday night with six assists against Grand Canyon. 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 3.6 per contest, which ranks tied-for-sixth in the Horizon League.
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 209 more points to reach 1,000 for his career as he currently owns 791 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.
