Pardon the pun, but Kansas University’s men’s basketball team is running into an Illinois-Chicago squad that’s … well, on fire.
The Flames — yes, that’s their mascot — have won 12 straight games heading into Friday’s showdown with KU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. UIC clinched a spot in the Big Dance by beating top-seeded Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 65-62, in the Horizon League tournament championship game Tuesday in Milwaukee.
It was a big win for the Flames in a hostile environment, where many of the 10,254 fans in attendance were rooting for their hometown team rather than Illinois-Chicago.
UIC coach Jimmy Collins can expect more of the same this week — especially since Friday’s game will be played at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., less than 40 miles from KU’s campus.
“We are going to be facing a talented team in Kansas,” Collins said. “A squad with both great quickness and great size. Those are two great qualities to have, but they are two extremely tough qualities to go up against.
“We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Regardless, the Flames can feel good about what they’re going to battle with this weekend. UIC (24-7) is a senior-dominated squad making its second NCAA appearance in three seasons. As a 15 seed, the Flames lost to Oklahoma in the first round of the 2002 tourney in Dallas by a closer-than-anticipated 71-63 score.
Many of this season’s impact players on UIC already have been exposed to the NCAA Tournament, a big plus in Collins’ eyes.
“We’ve got experience now,” Collins said after winning the tournament title. “I think this time we’ll go into the game a little more confident.”
After a 21-9 season and NIT bid last year, the Flames struggled during a 12-game stretch in midseason this year. They slipped to 12-7 with a one-point loss to Wright State way back on Jan. 21.
They haven’t lost since.
Led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Cedrick Banks, an All-Horizon League pick who has averaged 18.5 points a game this season, UIC started an impressive streak that helped set a school record for wins in a season. Included in the streak is two victories over Wisconsin-Milwaukee, three victories over Butler and a 75-71 revenge win over Wright State on Feb. 26.
As far as big-name opponents, UIC has a 1-1 mark against Big Ten schools — beating Northwestern, 90-71, Dec. 20, and losing to Illinois, 75-60, Dec. 30. The Flames also have beaten Texas-San Antonio and Eastern Washington, two of the 65 teams invited to the NCAA Tournament.
“I know about them from being at Illinois and following them and Jimmy Collins,” said KU’s first-year coach Bill Self, who previously coached at Illinois. “I know a lot of players on their team from recruiting in Chicago and getting a chance to get to know those guys. I know they can play, and they are tough. All their teams are tough to guard.”
