CHICAGO (Sept. 10, 2024) – The UIC men's basketball team will play nearly half its 2024-25 non-conference games against programs that earned postseason berths last year — including three NCAA Tournament participants in a two-week span in mid-November — as part of the Flames' 11-game non-conference schedule that was released Tuesday. This year's UIC slate features five non-conference home games, as well as road trip to Windy City rival Northwestern and a pre-Thanksgiving appearance at the inaugural Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, Fla., a tournament that could result in two more matchups with postseason qualifiers from last spring.
 
"We're very pleased with the non-conference schedule we've put together this season," said UIC first-year head coach Rob Ehsan. "It provides us with a great opportunity to see a number of different teams and styles of play, which should set us up well for the conference season. We're going to be challenged early on with three NCAA Tournament teams in our first five games, so our team will have a feel for the level of expectation and commitment necessary to be a championship program in every facet.
 
"Also, with so many new players this year, this non-conference schedule will offer us an early chance to build our on-court chemistry and player development within our system," Ehsan added. "We're excited to get started and can't wait to see our loud and energetic Flames Family out at Credit Union 1 Arena this year — get your tickets now!"
 
UIC enters a new era this fall with Ehsan's arrival and a fresh, exciting new look that features one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the Missouri Valley Conference. UIC will also bring back two veteran starters in senior forward Filip Skobalj, who averaged 8.2 ppg. and ranked second in the MVC with a .418 three-point percentage (leading all MVC returnees for 2024-25), and senior guard Ethan Pickett, who added 6.0 ppg. and was second on the team with a .533 field-goal percentage last season.
 
Some of the key contests for UIC's non-conference schedule are outlined below, while the full docket can be found here. The Flames' MVC matchups, tipoff times and broadcast information are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
 
• Nov. 4 – vs. St. Francis (Ill.) — season and home opener
• Nov. 8 – vs. Yale — Homecoming game; Yale advanced to second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament
• Nov. 12 – at Northwestern — second meeting in three years at crosstown opponent; Wildcats also reached second round of 2024 NCAA Tournament
• Nov. 21 – vs. James Madison — first game in Boardwalk Battle at Daytona Beach, Fla.; JMU played in second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament
• Nov. 22-23 – Boardwalk Battle — bracket-style tournament continues in Daytona Beach, Fla.; other participants include East Carolina, Jacksonville State, La Salle, Stetson (Atlantic Sun Conference champion/NCAA Tournament qualifier), Toledo (Mid-American Conference regular-season champion), UC San Diego (CBI Tournament bid)
• Dec. 8 – vs. Dartmouth — final home non-conference game
• Dec. 15 – at Little Rock — UIC's first visit to the Arkansas capital; Little Rock is reigning Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion and competed in the CBI Tournament
• Dec. 20 – at Seattle — UIC's first-ever visit to the Emerald City; Seattle won 2024 CBI championship
 
All UIC home games are played at the Flames' historic Credit Union 1 Arena, with season tickets available for purchase now by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312.413.UIC1; athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC scholar-athletes through contributions to The Chicago Collective.
 
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).