SIU resumes Valley play with a home game against UIC on Saturday.
The Salukis swept the 2 game series last season by a combined 5 points. They had a 68-66 home win on February 8th which saw them nearly blow a 15 point lead with 8:27 left. On February 26th, SIU clinched a bye in Arch Madness with a 68-65 road win.
Meet the Flames:
UIC has been one of the surprising teams in the Valley this year. They started the year #243 in KenPom and got as high as #113 before their Illinois State loss and currently sit at #148. The Flames are currently #129 in NET. Their highest ranked KenPom win is a road win at #139 Loyola Chicago. 2 of their last 3 games though have been losses to #296 Green Bay and #318 Incarnate Word at home.
On the offensive end, the Flames are 49th in the country in 3 point % (37.1%) and 83rd in the country in effective field goal % (52.8%) but they've really struggled to take care of the ball. The Flames are 300th in the country in steal % on the offensive end (11.1%) and 254th in the country in turnover % (19.0%).
Defense has carried UIC this season, they're 72nd in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (99.3). The Flames are 1st in the country in 3 point % against (24.9%), 53rd in the country in 2 point % against (45.6%), and 8th in the country in effective field goal % against (43.0%). They're also 9th in the country in block % (16.6%).
The leading scorer for the Flames is 6-5 Senior Isaiah Rivera averaging 14.8 points per game. Rivera was a 3 star recruit out of Geneseo, IL and chose Colorado State over offers from Loyola Chicago, Drake, and St. John's. After 3 seasons at Colorado State where he saw action in all 92 games, he transferred to UIC this offseason. This season, Rivera has been UIC's most effective 3 point shooter. Rivera is 122nd in the country in 3 point % (20-45, 44.4%), 169th in the country in effective field goal % (59.0%), and 192nd in the country in true shooting % (61.3%).
The Flames' leader in rebounding, steals, and blocks is 6-8 Senior Toby Okani averaging 8.1 rebounds per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 2.3 blocks per game. Okani spent 2 seasons at Duquesne before transferring to UIC where he's turned into a big pick-up for them. He's 212nd in the country in 3 point % (13-31, 41.9%), 152nd in the country in defensive rebounding % (21.7%), and 94th in the country in block % (6.9%).
UIC's leader in assists is 6-5 Sophomore CJ Jones averaging 5.5 assists per game. Jones was a 3 star recruit out of East St. Louis, IL and was originally committed to Missouri before opening up his recruitment and ending up at UIC. Jones struggled shooting in his Freshman year, shooting 33% from the field but has been much improved this season. He's 345th in the country in 3 point % (11-28, 39.3%) and 79th in the country in assist rate (30.5%).
Other names to watch out for include 6-4 Junior Ethan Pickett. Pickett spent one year at Northwest Mississippi CC and one year at Triton College before ending up at UIC. He's 332nd in the country in 2 point % (28-47, 59.6%), 312nd in the country in effective field goal % (55.7%), and 393rd in the country in true shooting % (57.7%). 6-7 Forward Filip Skobalj from Serbia has missed the last 2 games so not sure on his status but he's been a factor for the Flames this season. Skobalj is 365th in the country in block % (3.4%) and 414th in the country in offensive rebounding % (8.1%). 6-4 Sophomore Steven Clay was a 3 star recruit out of Menomonee Falls, WI and was being recruited by Maryland, Arizona State, and Colorado State among others. Clay is 272nd in the country in steal % this season (3.1%). 6-1 Senior Marquise Kennedy is a familiar name from his 4 years at Loyola Chicago. Kennedy has been in and out of the Flames lineup this season due to injury.
Links:
SIU Game Notes
UIC Game Notes
Thanks for the run down on the Flames, Slauki World, your usual fine job. The Flames certainly could pull and upset here, after all, it's the Valley and anything is possible. This by no means is a gimme, but we should win. Any word on the status of A. J. Ferguson?
I gotta think SIU wins by double digits. UIC has been lackluster from what I have seen. Yeah, anything can happen and all that but there really is no excuse for a loss here and it would be beyond deflating. Dawgs by 15. UIC may actually play worse at home otherwise I would say 20. No idea on AJ. And likewise, thanks for the informative game intro, always spot on and takes dedication.
Given that games are played by humans and not computers I am a bit cautious to post this, but KenPom projects us winning 10 of next 12 games. I would take that.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Given that games are played by humans and not computers I am a bit cautious to post this, but KenPom projects us winning 10 of next 12 games. I would take that.
I hope KP is correct, but I would be shocked (pleasantly of course) if they beat both Drake and Bradley (if and only if Hickman is playing) at home. Other than that, I wouldn't be surprised at any of the other W's.
UIC should be a comfortable win as long as we don't Peay our pants in the 2nd half again (1 - 8 from three and 30% shooting).
UIC isn’t a pushover. If SIU overlooks them and doesn’t come prepared to play they’ll embarrass themselves. Play Hensley and Ebube and good things happen. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound!
It could easily be another Austin Peay disaster. These guys (and the coaches) need to bring their game every night.
(Inflammatory political snark)
UIC is a lot better than Austin Peay. Their NET is 129, ahead of both Bradley and Oklahoma State. They have played poorly lately, but started off the season playing very well. They have talent. I'm guessing the line is no more than SIU -7.It could easily be another Austin Peay disaster. These guys (and the coaches) need to bring their game every night.
UIC isn’t a pushover. If SIU overlooks them and doesn’t come prepared to play they’ll embarrass themselves. Play Hensley and Ebube and good things happen. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound!
If memory serves me right, we defeated the UIC Flames by 2 last year at home, and were in a decisive battle at their place. UIC ( 7-5 ) has won some good games this season, but have recently fallen off some. It is also the start of league play, so most certainly anything can happen. There's going to be some rust after not playing for over a week. I just hope when the Salukis win by only 7 or 8 points people on this fan message board don't do the usual complaining.
SIU 74 UIC 65
GO DAWGS!
The Dawgs could win every game by 20 and people would find something to complain aboutUIC isn’t a pushover. If SIU overlooks them and doesn’t come prepared to play they’ll embarrass themselves. Play Hensley and Ebube and good things happen. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound!
If memory serves me right, we defeated the UIC Flames by 2 last year at home, and were in a decisive battle at their place. UIC ( 7-5 ) has won some good games this season, but have recently fallen off some. It is also the start of league play, so most certainly anything can happen. There's going to be some rust after not playing for over a week. I just hope when the Salukis win by only 7 or 8 points people on this fan message board don't do the usual complaining.
SIU 74 UIC 65
GO DAWGS!
The Dawgs could win every game by 20 and people would find something to complain aboutUIC isn’t a pushover. If SIU overlooks them and doesn’t come prepared to play they’ll embarrass themselves. Play Hensley and Ebube and good things happen. Rebound! Rebound! Rebound!
If memory serves me right, we defeated the UIC Flames by 2 last year at home, and were in a decisive battle at their place. UIC ( 7-5 ) has won some good games this season, but have recently fallen off some. It is also the start of league play, so most certainly anything can happen. There's going to be some rust after not playing for over a week. I just hope when the Salukis win by only 7 or 8 points people on this fan message board don't do the usual complaining.
SIU 74 UIC 65
GO DAWGS!
They literally do. Playing time! WAHH!! Lol
Given my betting history with the flames this year, no one will convince me this team has a heartbeat. That said, who knows what officiating crew the dawgs will draw tomorrow night? That in itself has been an abysmal reality this year, that they could catch a worthless crew and the game be ruined. And yes, the Austin Peay loss makes this game look like it could go either way I guess. I do expect the team to come out and set the tone for the rest of conference play and blow this one wide open at some point. Hope I am not wrong but I will take SIU to cover regardless of what it is.
I think criticism is fair until this program can get over the top again and back to a postseason tournament. We're approaching 16 years now without a postseason tournament and that's far too long.
If anyone else was looking for the game tonight, the game is tomorrow night. HAHAHA.
