2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball team

The 2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball team represents the University of Illinois at Chicago in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Flames, led by first-year head coach Luke Yaklich,[1] play their home games at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Horizon League.

2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball
ConferenceHorizon League
2020–21 record8–7 (5–5 Horizon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Dee Brown (4th season)
  • Brock Erickson (1st season)
  • Will Veasley (1st season)
Home arenaCredit Union 1 Arena
2020–21 Horizon League men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Cleveland State14–2 .875  14–5  .737
Wright State13–3 .813  15–4  .789
Northern Kentucky9–5 .643  11–8  .579
Detroit Mercy7–5 .583  8–8  .500
Oakland8–8 .500  8–15  .348
Milwaukee6–7 .462  7–8  .467
UIC5–7 .417  8–9  .471
Youngstown State6–10 .375  10–10  .500
Green Bay6–10 .375  6–14  .300
IUPUI4–8 .333  5–8  .385
Purdue Fort Wayne5–11 .313  6–11  .353
Robert Morris2–9 .182  3–11  .214
† 2021 Horizon League Tournament winner
As of February 6, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The finished the season 18–17, 10–8 in Horizon League to play to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League Tournament, they defeated IUPUI, Youngstown State, and top-seeded Wright State to advance the to the championship game. There they lost to Northern Kentucky.[2]

Offseason

Departures
UIC Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Jordan Blount13F6'8"220SeniorCork, IrelandGraduated, went professional overseas signing with Basket Navarra Club[3]
Godwin Boahen22F5'11"180SeniorToronto, ONGraduated
Tarkus Ferguson4G6'4"190SeniorBelleville, ILGraduated, went professional overseas signing with Vevey Riviera Basket[4]
Marcus Ottley1G6'2"185SeniorAjax, ONGraduated
Travell Washington32F6'9"230JuniorSan Bernardino, CA

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Maurice Commander1G6'0175JuniorChicago, ILChattanooga
Zion Griffin35F6'6215JuniorDarien, ILIowa State
Jalen Johnson5G6'1180JuniorHopkinsville, KYJohn A. Logan College
Teyvion Kirk4G6'4185JuniorJoliet, ILColorado State
RayQuawndis Mitchell21G6'5205JuniorAtlanta, GAOtero Junior College

Recruiting class of 2020
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Demetrius Calip II
SG		 Woodland Hills, CA Taft High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Aug 3, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Brad Bowditch
G		 Milton, WI IMG Academy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Aug 3, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Griffin Yaklich
SF		 Joliet, IL Saline High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jun 17, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

    Roster
    2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
    G 0 Brian Taylor 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) So Detroit, Michigan
    G 1 Maurice Commander 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) Jr Chicago, IL
    F 2 Michael Diggins 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg) Sr Las Vegas, Nevada
    F 3 Jacob Wiley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) Sr Houston, Texas
    G 4 Teyvion Kirk 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) RS Sr Joliet, IL
    G 5 Jalen Johnson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) Jr Hopkinsville, KY
    F 10 Deon Ejim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS So Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    G 13 Demetrius Calip II 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)165 lb (75 kg) Fr Woodland Hills CA
    G 14 Brad Bowditch (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) Fr Milton, WI
    G 15 Griffin Yaklich (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)200 lb (91 kg) Fr Joliet, IL
    G 20 Jamie Ahale 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) Sr Montrose, Australia
    G 21 RayQuawndis Mitchell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) Jr Atlanta, GA
    F 22 Rob Howard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS Sr Gary, Indiana
    F 23 Braelen Bridges 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS Jr McDonough, Georgia
    F 25 Treavon Martin (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) Jr Chicago, IL
    F 35 Zion Griffin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) Jr Darien, IL
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster
    Last update: November 26, 2020

    Schedule and results

    On November 25, 2020, UIC announced that fans would not be permitted to attend home games for their first two home games.[5] However, they did leave open the possibility to allow fans for future events.

    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    November 25, 2020*
    6:00 pm    		 at Northern Illinois W 65–61  1–0
    		  12 – Tied  6 – Kirk  9 – Kirk  Convocation Center 
    DeKalb, IL
    November 28, 2020*
    6:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Central Michigan
    UIC Baksetball Invitional    		 W 74–72  2–0
    		  23 – Mitchell  13 – Bridges  6 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    December 1, 2020*
    6:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Valparaiso
    UIC Baksetball Invitional    		 W 66–50  3–0
    		  14 – Kirk  8 – Kirk  14 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    December 5, 2020*
    1:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Ball State L 66–68  3–1
    		  13 – Tied  8 – Kirk  6 – Kirk  Worthen Arena 
    Muncie, IN
    December 13, 2020*
    1:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Loyola–Chicago L 66–77  3–2
    		  17 – Kirk  9 – Diggins  5 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    Horizon League regular season
    December 19, 2020
    6:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Oakland W 74–72  4–2
    (1–0)    		  25 – Ahale  9 – Howard  11 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    December 20, 2020
    4:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Oakland W 90–73  5–2
    (2–0)    		  23 – Howard  11 – Kirk  11 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    December 26, 2020
    2:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Milwaukee Cancelled due to COVID-19 issues [6] Klotsche Center 
    Milwaukee, WI
    December 27, 2020
    2:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Milwaukee Cancelled due to COVID-19 issues [7] Klotsche Center 
    Milwaukee, WI
    January 1, 2020
    3:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Detroit Mercy Cancelled due to mental health reasons [8] Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    January 2, 2020
    3:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Detroit Mercy Cancelled due to mental health reasons [9] Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    January 8, 2020
    6:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Purdue Fort Wayne L 89–96 OT 5–3
    (2–1)    		  31 – Kirk  11 – Diggins  6 – Kirk  Hilliard Gates Sports Center 
    Fort Wayne, IN
    January 9, 2020
    4:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Purdue Fort Wayne L 55–88  5–4
    (2–2)    		  23 – Diggins  4 – Tied  5 – Kirk  Hilliard Gates Sports Center 
    Fort Wayne, IN
    January 15, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Robert Morris W 67–53  6–4
    (3–2)    		  16 – Diggins  10 – Kirk  4 – Kirk  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    January 16, 2020
    5:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Robert Morris W 66–62 OT 7–4
    (4–2)    		  18 – Howard  8 – Tied  3 – 3 Tied  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    January 22, 2020
    4:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Youngstown State W 67–66  8–4
    (5–2)    		  15 – Kirk  10 – Tied  5 – Kirk  Beeghly Center 
    Youngstown, OH
    January 23, 2020
    4:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Youngstown State L 77–85  8–5
    (5–3)    		  18 – Commander  7 – Kirk  5 – Kirk  Beeghly Center 
    Youngstown, OH
    January 29, 2020
    5:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Northern Kentucky L 68–72  8–6
    (5–4)    		  15 – Griffin  8 – Howard  5 – Griffin  BB&T Arena 
    Highland Heights, KY
    January 30, 2020
    4:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Northern Kentucky L 67–69  8–7
    (5–5)    		  17 – Bridges  8 – Bridges  4 – Commander  BB&T Arena 
    Highland Heights, KY
    February 5, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Wright State L 47–72  8–8
    (5–6)    		  10 – Commander  7 – Bridges  2 – 3 Tied  Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    February 6, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Wright State     Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    February 12, 2020
    12:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at IUPUI     Indiana Farmers Coliseum 
    Indianapolis, IN
    February 13, 2020
    11:00 am, ESPN+    		 at IUPUI     Indiana Farmers Coliseum 
    Indianapolis, IN
    February 19, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Green Bay     Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    February 20, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Green Bay     Credit Union 1 Arena 
    Chicago, IL
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time Zone.

    Source[10]

    References
    1. "Luke Yaklich Named UIC Men's Basketball Head Coach". UIC Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    2. "UIC vs. Northern Kentucky - Game Recap - March 10, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
    3. "Navarra signs Blount just out of college". Eurobasket. August 14, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
    4. "Vevey Riviera tabs rookie Tarkus Ferguson". Eurobasket. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
    5. "Flames Announce Schedule Change for Saturday". UIC Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    6. "Flames Pause Basketball Activities, Series at Milwaukee Canceled". UIC Flames. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
    7. "Flames Pause Basketball Activities, Series at Milwaukee Canceled". UIC Flames. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
    8. "Flames' Series Against Detroit Mercy Canceled". UIC Flames. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
    9. "Flames' Series Against Detroit Mercy Canceled". UIC Flames. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
    10. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". UIC Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.