Jan. 6, 2016
CHICAGO -- UIC will continue its conference-opening three-game road trip this weekend with a pair of games in and around the Motor City as it first takes on the Detroit Titans on Friday, January 8 at 8 p.m. CST.
Friday's clash with the Titans will be broadcast live on ESPNU, and it will also be available online through WatchESPN. Jordan Bernfield will handle the play-by-play call with Brooke Weisbrod offering her analysis throughout. On the radio side, the Voice of the Flames, Jonathan Hood, will join UIC Hall of Famer Kenny Williams for the broadcast on ESPN1000 Chicago.
Below are a few headlines and notes as UIC preps to do battle in Detroit in front of national television audience on Friday night:
LINEUP SHUFFLE
UIC head coach Steve McClain has used 10 different starting lineup combinations in 12 games after mixing it up once again at Valparaiso on Jan. 2. In total, ten different Flames have received at least one starting nod this season, and six have opened at least five games. Sophomore Tai Odiase and freshman Dikembe Dixson have opened all 12 games thus far. The quintet used to open against the Crusaders (listed above) owns a combined 42 starts this season, and 78 in its collective career.
FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Statistically speaking, UIC has been a more productive team in the second half this season. The Flames have scored an average of 7.1 more points per game in the final period, while shooting better percentages from the floor, the free-throw line and beyond the arc. Individually, sophomore Tai Odiase has had a significant impact down the stretch as he averages 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in the second half this season compared to 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in the first. Freshman Dikembe Dixson has also provided late contributions with an average of 7.8 points in the final 20 minutes. He has also made 10 of his 13 3-pointers on the season in the second half this year.
WINDEX MEN
On the offensive end, the Flames average 14.8 rebounds per game, ranking 12th in the country in that category. Those boards have helped UIC average 12.8 second-chance points per game. Tai Odiase ranks fourth in the conference with 2.4 offensive caroms per contest, while Jake Wiegand is just outside the top in the Horizon League with 1.8 per game. Defensively, UIC ranks second in the Horizon League and 28th in the NCAA with 41.7 rebounds per game. Freshman Dikembe Dixson paces the squad and ranks ninth in the conference (tops among freshmen) with 6.6 boards per game.
HORIZON LEAGUE'S FINEST FRESHMAN
UIC newcomer Dikembe Dixson has not only been one of the most prolific freshmen in the Horizon League, but one of its top players overall. The Freeport, Ill., native ranks seventh overall in scoring with 13.9 ppg, and ninth in both rebounding (6.6 rpg) and shot blocking (0.9 bpg). The forward is currently the only player from any class to rank in the conference's top 10 in all three of those categories.
SIR LANCE-DOES-A-LOT
Redshirt sophomore Lance Whitaker has shown marked improvement in his second full season at UIC. After suffering a torn ACL only three games into his collegiate career in 2013, the Bartlett, Ill., native has been one of the most improved players under Steve McClain. Whitaker has appeared in all 12 games with eight starts; he's upped his scoring average from 2.9 ppg a year ago to 5.6 ppg this season, while also more than doubling his work on the boards from 2.0 rpg to 4.2 rpg. Whitaker already has a career-high 38 assists on the year as he leads the Flames with 3.2 apg.
NAJEAL FITS NICELY
Junior transfer Najeal Young returned to court at Valparaiso on Jan. 2 after missing nearly 2.5 games with an injury he sustained at Loyola on Dec. 19. The Milwaukee, Wis., native was inserted into the starting lineup for the second time this season at Valpo, and he delivered six points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal in a career-high 24 minutes of action. He currently ranks third on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game this season.
For more information about Friday's game, please click the Game Notes PDFs above.
The Flames will concluded the three-game road trip on Sunday in Rochester, Mich. UIC will face Oakland on Sunday, January 10, to take on the Golden Grizzlies at 2 p.m. CST in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN3. The squad will be back at the UIC Pavilion on Thursday, January 14 to host the Green Bay Phoenix in the Horizon League home opener. Tickets are still available by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or visiting Ticketmaster today.
