BASKETBALL Middle Tennessee (3-2) vs UIC (3-1) (Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship), 3:30PM, Friday, November 24, 2023

[SpaceRaider]

Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship
The eight-team field features Brown, Delaware, George Washington, UIC, Kansas City, Middle Tennessee, UNC Greensboro and Ohio.
Action starts Friday, Nov. 24 with the following matchups:

• UNC Greensboro vs. Kansas City – 11 a.m. ET
• Brown vs. Delaware – 1:30 p.m.
• Middle Tennessee vs. UIC – 4:30 p.m.
• Ohio vs. George Washington – 7 p.m.

UIC
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: 34,199
Arena: Credit Union 1 Arena (8,000)
Website: uicflames.com Twitter: @UIC_MBB
Colors: Blue & Red Nickname: Flames
Conference: Missouri Valley
Head Coach: Luke Yaklich
Record at School: 35-49 (4th Season) Career Record: 35-49 (4th Season)
2022-23 Record: 12-20, 4-16 2022-23 Finish: 11th MVC 2022-23 Postseason: MVC First Round
Starters R/L: 2/3 Letterwinners R/L: 7/4


Roster: Flames


TV: FloHoops : FloHoops (subscription)(Jonny Wincott - pbp; Kevin Brown - color)
Radio: Classic Hits 93.3 - 95.1 - WGNS 101.9 FM/1450 AM/100.5FM
.

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[SpaceRaider]

62.0%

 

[SpaceRaider]

excerpt from a preseason preview:

...UIC is in a whole different stratosphere heading into 2023-24. There’s an added sense of confidence for a program with a year of Valley play under its belt and a renewed hunger from the multitude of returning players. Seven guys who averaged at least 10 minutes per contest are back, and Yaklich added four veterans from the transfer portal to bolster his depth.

ROAD TO SUCCESS​

Three of UIC’s top producers are back from last season and will be counted on to lead the team. Toby Okani withdrew from the NBA Draft to play his fourth collegiate season. Filip Skobalj returns after two solid years in the UIC frontcourt. And Christian Jones is back after being thrown into the fire as a freshman.

Okani is about as versatile a basketball player as they come. At 6-8, he can occupy and defend all five spots on the floor, handle the ball, and is working on developing his outside shot. Skobalj was UIC’s best shooter last season and has converted over 36% of his 3-point tries during his two-year career. Jones was forced into a lead guard role as a freshman, and though he struggled with efficiency, he showed flashes of his vast potential.

Okani and Skobalj have proven to be leaders this offseason, and Yaklich reinforced that veteran culture by bringing in two upper-classmen transfers in Isaiah Rivera (Colorado State) and Marquise Kennedy (Loyola Chicago).

Rivera had a breakout campaign last year at CSU, starting every contest and shooting over 37% from deep.

“He’s as hard a working player that I’ve been around,” said Yaklich, “right up there with the Duncan Robinson & Zavier Simpson & Charles Matthews guys. They put in work every day and there’s no B.S. with them.”

Kennedy gives UIC a fifth-year leader at the point of attack. Yaklich praised Kennedy this offseason, saying, “he’s experienced and a proven winner. He has a body and a type of athleticism that we didn’t have last year, just being able to take bumps and bruises. When the lights come on, he won’t be bothered by a game on the road, he understands how to approach that.” .....

 

[Matt Dossett]

UIC has an enrollment of 35k?

 

[Matt Dossett]

34….

 

[SpaceRaider]

Blue Raiders open Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship against UIC - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee men's basketball is spending Thanksgiving weekend in the Bahamas at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. The tournament

goblueraiders.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

UIC Hoops Discussion | The UIC Flames message board

Feel free to talk about anything related to UIC Flames basketball right here

uicflames.proboards.com

 

[MTFAN61]

UIC appears to be a pretty solid team with only loss a competitive 68-59 loss to Cincinnati.
The Raiders have shown the ability to look great lately, but for only 7-10 minute stretches. Other than that we have definitely had some troubled stretches. Much of that may be due to the competition, but they were also all at home. That opportunity is now gone this weekend.
Even though our last 2 holiday tournaments have gone well, this being our first trip away from comfort of home will slight favor UIC. We've yet to play a complete 40 minute game this year. If we could play a minimum of 30 minutes the way we've shown for those 7-10 minute stretches we would be comfortably 5-0 right now. If we haven't been able to do that early on in the comfortable confines of home don't think we can do it on the road just yet.

 

[SpaceRaider]

Men's Basketball Faces Middle Tennessee Friday in Bahamas Tourney Opener - UIC Athletics

Flames making their first trip to the Caribbean since 2012.

uicflames.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

This KenPom from a couple of days ago of the non-conference schedule

Nonconference Opponents
KenPom

76. Saint Mary's
91. Stephen F. Austin
92. UAB
96. Missouri State
99. UNC Greensboro
113. Ohio
132. Western Carolina
140. Delaware
155. George Washington
165. Murray State
177. UIC
180. Belmont
220. Northern Kentucky
235. Brown
251. Southern Utah
255. Wofford
299. UMKC

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[OliverLBaltz]

UIC was picked 10th in the MVC in both the coaches poll and The Almanac. Worth noting that the MVC is on the same tier as C-USA so the gap between expectations isn’t too different.

Like several of their opponents this year, the Flames have a similar identity to the Blue Raiders. Suffocated defense, ugly offense. Nationally they rank 20th on opponent eFG%, 5th in o3P%, 21st in block percentage. They play one player under 6’4 in their rotation. They are 286th in TO% and 272nd in OReb%.

Middle really needs a get right game on offense. It doesn’t look like today is going to be that day.

Center is my number one concern with this team and I think the biggest thing holding them back. Plan on writing on this more next week. I would really like to see Nick go small, playing Ozhell or Elias as somewhat of a pseudo center. I don’t expect to do this as I don’t think that’s his style but we’ll see.

This tournament should tell us a lot about this team. 0-8 in MTEs CNMs first three years. 5-0 the last two years. Despite any gripes that we may have on the style of play, these teams have done well in neutral tournament settings (both the holiday tournaments and the conference tournament) the last two seasons, playing mentally tough, determined, focused, etc… hopefully that trend continues these next three days.

 

[SpaceRaider]

UIC v Middle Tennessee State | The UIC Flames message board

UIC has their first of three gales over the next three days tomorrow, Friday, November 24th. The tournament consists of 8 teams - UIC, Middle Tennessee Stare, Ohio, George Washington, Delaware

uicflames.proboards.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

15:52

MT up 7-4, neither team particularly hot, Bufford all 7 for MT

 

[SpaceRaider]

11:17

MT up 11-9

Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	31%	4-13	0%	0-5	50%	1-2	1	4	6	1	2	4	2
MT	38%	5-13	25%	1-4	0%	0-0	4	0	12	3	0	0	2

 

[SpaceRaider]

7:17

UIC 16
MT 14

Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	35%	7-20	11%	1-9	50%	1-2	2	9	9	2	2	5	2
MT	38%	6-16	33%	2-6	0%	0-0	8	0	15	3	0	0	3

 

[SpaceRaider]

8 freaking turnovers, need some ball handlers, don't know if we have what is needed

 

[SpaceRaider]

3:52, MTS timeout

MT down 26-16, UIC with 15 points off TOs

Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	46%	11-24	27%	3-11	33%	1-3	3	15	11	3	4	7	5
MT	33%	7-21	29%	2-7	0%	0-0	10	0	18	6	0	1	3

 

[OliverLBaltz]

Really bad showing, no doubt.

 

[SpaceRaider]

Down 34-21 at the half

Team Comparison

TEAM
UIC	52%	14-27	38%	5-13	33%	1-3	5	15	15	3	7	7	8
MT	29%	9-31	27%	3-11	0%	0-1	10	3	23	11	0	2	3

 

[TrueBlue147]

We dont have anyone on this team that can score the ball and Mcdevit's offense isnt good enough to get us open looks.

 

[SpaceRaider]

Really bad showing, no doubt.

This is not a good team, do we have an upgrade anywhere over last years team? MT is on track to lose their 3rd straight D1 game

 

[SpaceRaider]

Getting blown out

44-25

14:24

 

[OliverLBaltz]

I believe in the talent still. I am starting to lose faith that they are going to be put in the best position to be successful this season.

 

[BRaiderDave]

Bring back Kermit.

 

[SpaceRaider]

11:43

46-27

This is a 'rick stockstill' level disappointment


Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	49%	19-39	33%	5-15	50%	3-6	8	17	23	6	8	9	9
MT	29%	12-41	21%	3-14	0%	0-1	15	5	29	13	1	5	3

 

[SpaceRaider]

MT scoreless for last 5 minutes

 

[MTTim]

This team is neither talented or coached well.

 

[SpaceRaider]

This team is neither talented or coached well.

Certainly not demonstrating anything to dispute that...

 

[SpaceRaider]

NO FGS LAST 8:50

 

[MTFAN61]

Very disappointing team. When does our hockey club start its season?

 

[TrueBlue147]

I believe in the talent still. I am starting to lose faith that they are going to be put in the best position to be successful this season.

Not trying to be argumentative but what talent? It appears we have a bunch of slightly below average D1 players with no stars on this team. They play hard on defense but our clueless on offense and can't shoot the ball.

 

[SpaceRaider]

64-33

3:30

Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	51%	27-53	39%	7-18	50%	3-6	12	21	32	10	8	10	12
MT	26%	12-47	17%	3-18	67%	6-9	19	7	32	14	1	6	3

 

[Hop45]

So, we are getting absolutely manhandled by a team picked 10th in a similar conference to our own. We suck.

 

[SpaceRaider]

Unfortunately for us, this seems like a team defining performance, a program defining peformance.

Not good.

 

[TrueBlue147]

So, we are getting absolutely manhandled by a team picked 10th in a similar conference to our own. We suck.

They look like an average mid major D1 team.

 

[SpaceRaider]

UIC

70


40

Team Comparison

TEAM	FG%	FG	3F%	3F	FT%	FT	TO	PtTO	REB	OR	B	S	A
UIC	53%	30-57	37%	7-19	50%	3-6	13	23	34	10	8	10	13
MT	29%	15-52	20%	4-20	67%	6-9	20	7	33	14	1	6	5

 

[SpaceRaider]

2-3 against D1 competition

Totally dominated by UIC

 

[MTFAN61]

Unfortunately for us, this seems like a team defining performance, a program defining peformance.

Not good.

Instead of a thumbs up probably just should have sadly said "agreed".

 

[MTFAN61]

There's such a disconnect between our administration & our fan base. Massaro & McPhee appear to be fine with the downward spiral our major athletics coaches are taking MT sports. In the mean time what's left of the fan base has totally given in to either total derision or apathy.
Sad thing is all of our athletics teams that really matter to people are under terrible direction. I'm almost keeping up more with Liberty & FAU basketball because I still love to see a solidly run G5 school put it to a Power 5. And I know bottom line that under direction of the Rick's or Nick here at MT that dream is just never going to happen.