Short-handed UIC Flames have plenty of work ahead
If you're wondering why UIC lost a home exhibition game to Div. II Lewis on Tuesday - a thorough beating that found the Flames trailing by 18 midway through the second half - then consider these conditions under which Jimmy Collins operates.
UIC lost its top two players, two-time all-Horizon League guard Josh Mayo and record-setting shot-blocker Scott VanderMeer, to graduation.
The Flames lost their second-best expected returnee when high-flying forward Tori Boyd (9.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) ditched his final two years of eligibility to focus on photography.
UIC spent the preseason without senior point guard Spencer Stewart (5.5 ppg, 4.8 apg), who received an indefinite suspension that could end during pre-conference play.
"If it was up to me, he would've been back a month ago," said Collins, who enters his 14th year as a head coach. "We're hoping Spencer will be back very soon."
Senior-to-be Robert Eppinger (5.4 ppg) left for NAIA Robert Morris while sophomore power forward Jelani Poston, the team's best athlete in the frontcourt, must sit out the first semester with grade troubles.
To make up for all of these departures and absences, UIC brought in two junior-college transfers, two freshmen and a whopping eight walk-ons.
Oh, one other thing: Collins spent the offseason teaching a new set of offenses including the hard-to-learn motion.
"There's a lot of pieces to this puzzle," Collins said. "Maybe I can throw them up in the air and they'll fall into place. Or, maybe, we can keep working hard."
Or, maybe, the Flames can hope junior guard Robo Kreps becomes superhuman.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Kreps served as Mayo's right-hand man last year. He finished second on the Flames in scoring (12.3 ppg) and 3-pointers (54). He'll handle the point in Stewart's absence while also trying to lead the team in scoring.
"We need to find someone to take some pressure off him," Collins said. "Most people are going to be teeing off on Robo."
Senior power forward Jeremy Buttell (4.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) should help. Though he was the team's No. 7 scorer last year, he's the No. 2 guy on the current roster.
Since the Flames have just nine scholarship players until Stewart and/or Poston become eligible, everyone's going to need to contribute.
Collins carries particularly high hopes for his freshmen, 6-9, 240-pound center Louis Green (St. Joseph's) and 6-6 sharpshooter Anthony Kelley (Aurora Central).
"Green wasn't taught in high school to be a scorer," Collins said. "I went to one of his high school games and he had 17 rebounds and no points. You'd probably think it's an impossibility, but I saw it. I've got a lot of confidence in his getting his offensive skills together."
The slender Kelley, a spring pickup from Aurora Central, was originally envisioned him as a redshirt candidate.
"He's talented and can do so many things that stand out," Collins said. "He's been a gym rat. He's always asking questions about how he can improve and putting them to use."
All in all, though, the Flames seemed to be in the right place when they turned up ninth in the Horizon League preseason poll.
"It definitely fuels us. There's no doubt about that," Kreps said. "At the same time, it really means nothing. My first year here, I think we were picked to finish eighth and we finished fourth."
"I can't wait to get to playing and prove some people wrong," Buttell said. "I don't think and we don't think we're going to end up down there."
Flames at a glance
Coach: Jimmy Collins (194-171, 13th year at UIC)
2008-09 record: 16-15 (7-11 Horizon, tied for sixth); Lost to Cleveland State in Horizon League tournament quarterfinal
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Projected starters
SF Brad Birton 6-7 220 Jr. Juco transfer is an "energy" guy, but needs to learn when to turn it down
PF Jeremy Buttell* 6-7 235 Sr. Finished strong last year (4.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg); No. 2 guy until Stewart returns
C Louis Green 6-9 240 Fr. Grabbed rebounds, played defense at St. Joe's; Collins wants more offense
PG Robo Kreps* 6-0 180 Jr. Top returning scorer (12.3 ppg; 54 3s) must be superhuman every night
SG Kris Harris 6-3 185 Sr. Flames' best perimeter defender must bring more to the table offensively
* Denotes returning starter
Reserves
PG Spencer Stewart* 6-4 185 Sr. Owns 51 career starts; suspended but should return in pre-conference play
PG Zavion Neely 6-1 170 So. Played little last year, but learned from going against Mayo and Kreps
SF Anthony Kelley 6-6 200 Fr. Relentless work ethic earns Aurora Central grad a spot in the rotation
SG Chris Buchanan 6-3 190 Sr. Fab shooter improved his defense, Collins wouldn't take him off the floor
C K.C. Robbins 6-11 270 Jr. Juco transfer has the size to play, but Collins wants his head the right size
F Jelani Poston 6-7 220 So. Superb athlete has subpar academics, so grounded for first semester
SG Austin Hood 6-2 190 Jr. York HS grad one of the best of 10 walk-ons; felled recently by the flu
PG Arthur Wiley 6-0 170 Fr. Thornwood walk-on handed out 4 assists in 8 minutes in Lewis exhibition
2009-10 schedule
Nov 14 UIS 3 p.m.
Nov. 18 at Central Michigan 6 p.m.
Nov. 23 ILLINOIS STATE 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Southern Illinois 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Milwaukee 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Green Bay 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 at DePaul 5 p.m.
Dec. 16 OREGON STATE 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3 p.m.
Dec. 22 at Akron 6 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Wisconsin 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 TOLEDO 7 p.m.
Dec. 31 DETROIT Noon
Jan. 2 WRIGHT STATE 3 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Youngstown State 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Cleveland State 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 LOYOLA 8 p.m.
Jan. 21 VALPARAISO 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 BUTLER 1 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Wright State 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 at Detroit 3 p.m.
Feb. 4 CLEVELAND STATE 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 YOUNGSTOWN ST. 3 p.m.
Feb. 8 at Valparaiso 7 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Loyola 3 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Butler 6 p.m.
Feb. 20 BracketBusters TBA
Feb. 25 GREEN BAY 7 p.m.
Feb. 27 MILWAUKEE 1 p.m.
March 2-9 Horizon League tournament TBA