June 17, 2015 The 2015-16 academic year begins in 68 days and UICFlames.com counts down the Top 25 Flames over the summer months (June 8-July 31). Each sport will be featured over eight weeks as we preview the upcoming year in UIC Athletics. In this installment of `Top 25 Flames for 2015-16', we will look at men's basketball sophomore
Tai Odiase. Odiase had an impressive first season in a Flames uniform as he capped the year by being ranked as the No. 2 shot-blocker in the Horizon League with 1.7 swats per game, which also put him ninth nationally among freshmen and 73rd overall.
Odiase's efforts were highlighted by the 48 blocked shots he acquired across 28 games while averaging 18.7 minutes per contest. He registered four blocks on five separate occasions and his season total placed him second all-time among UIC freshmen and eighth in the single-season record book.
Odiase finished his freshman campaign averaging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. In his first collegiate start in the season-opener at DePaul, Odiase scored six points and brought down two rebounds. He followed up that performance by recording six points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the Flames' home-opening win against Western Illinois. He then posted his first career double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) in a win against Saint Xavier.
The season ended on a high note for Odiase as he produced back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts, including a career-high 14 points against No.2 Green Bay in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals. The Tournament proved to be effective for the 6-foot-9 big man, as his second double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) of the year came during a 72-69 win against No. 3 Oakland in the second round.
Odiase is one of seven to return for the 2015-16 season under the direction of new head coach Steve McClain. McClain brought in seven newcomers in
Dikembe Dixson, Drew Hackett,
Michael Kolawole,
Dominique Matthews,
Hassan Thomas, Julian Torres and Najeal Young.
TOP 25 FLAMES June 8 - Jake Dahlberg June 10 - Stephenee Yancy June 12 - Thomas Villamil June 15 - Elaine Heflin
