Flames enter tourney with 4-game streak
A few days before UIC's season began, senior Josh Mayo unveiled his team's plans.
When you read them, keep in mind the 5-foot-8 Mayo - who was announced Monday as a Horizon League first-team pick for the second year in a row - stands as the furthest thing from a braggart or someone who chooses his words blithely.
"I believe our goal is first to win the conference," Mayo said. "Then get into the (NCAA) tournament. And then, tournament-wise, we want to at least go to the Sweet Sixteen."
UIC looked like it had potential to be a midmajor March Madness surprise when it won seven of its first 10 games, including wins at Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.
Then came a stretch where the Flames won just 4 of 16 as injuries and indifference to team play took a toll.
So why are they so excited to get Horizon League tournament play under way with Tuesday's trip to sixth-seeded Youngstown State?
Because seventh-seeded UIC goes in with its first four-game winning streak since December. The Flames (15-14) think they can reverse the 2 regular-season losses pinned on them by the Penguins (11-18).
"We know that they're a very, very good transitional team," UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. "We know we've got to come out and execute and do the things that we do. Sometimes you get to playing a game and the other team gets you to forget your game."
UIC has been best-served with a half-court style that allows 7-foot senior Scott VanderMeer - a three-time all-defensive team honoree - to alter games with blocks and rebounds and his improved post moves.
In addition, junior power forward Robert Eppinger seems finally to be making the transition from juco ball to Division I. He hit all 8 of his shots Friday at Loyola for a career-high 16 points.
"He's put a lot of the negative things off his shoulder," Collins said. "I think Eppinger's beginning to understand what his role is to this team."
Loyola, on the other hand, has a chip on its shoulder after joining last-place Detroit as the only schools without representation on any of the all-Horizon League teams.
The eighth-seeded Ramblers drive up to fifth-seeded Milwaukee on Tuesday in search of a fast start. Loyola dropped its last two games - both at home - after falling behind by a ton from the jump.
"I have no idea why we started this way," Loyola coach Jim Whitesell said. "Then you have to fight like crazy and you're always -"
Hoping against hope to make a run to the NCAA Tournament?
The first-round winners Tuesday head to top-seeded Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse for the quarterfinals Friday.
UIC (15-14) at Youngstown St. (11-18)
When: 6 p.m. at Beeghly Center
Net: horizonleaguenetwork.tv Radio: WIND 560-AM
Skinny: The Flames and the Penguins tied for sixth place in regular-season play, but Youngstown gets the home game because it swept UIC. The more recent loss, a 68-60 decision at UIC, happened Feb. 7 in point guard Spencer Stewart's tentative first game back from a foot injury. Since Stewart resumed playing at least 20 minutes per game, the Flames have gone 5-1 and allowed senior all-Horizon Leaguer Josh Mayo to resume his big-scoring ways. Youngstown wants to run early and often, so if the Flames can get a half-court game, they can exploit the Penguins' so-so defense (44.1 FG% defense).
Advancement: The winner plays the Cleveland State-Detroit winner Friday in Indianapolis.
Loyola (14-17) at Milwaukee (16-13)
When: 7 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Arena
Net: horizonleaguenetwork.tv Radio: WLUW 88.7-FM
Skinny: The eighth-seeded Ramblers lost both of their regular-season games to the fifth-seeded Panthers by 14 points, including their Jan. 28 meeting in Milwaukee, where Loyola somehow surrendered 34 offensive rebounds while grabbing just 2 of its own. Despite losing second-chance points 29-2 in that game, Loyola's veterans know they can win at Milwaukee. In last year's first-round tourney game - when the teams came in with the same seeds - Milwaukee native J.R. Blount scored 23 points to lead Loyola to a 57-51 win. This time around, Blount, Justin Cerasoli, Boomer Williams and Leon Young are playing to extend their college careers.
Advancement: The winner plays the Wright State-Valparaiso winner Friday in Indianapolis.