2017–18 UIC Flames men's basketball team

The 2017–18 UIC Flames men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Chicago in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Flames, led by third-year head coach Steve McClain, played their home games at the UIC Pavilion as members of the Horizon League. They finished the season 20–16, 12–6 in Horizon League play to finish in third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament to Milwaukee. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Saint Francis (PA), Austin Peay, and Liberty to advance to the championship game where they lost to Northern Colorado.

2017–18 UIC Flames men's basketball
CIT, Runner-up
Conference	Horizon League
2017–18 record	20–16 (12–6 Horizon)
Head coach	Steve McClain (3rd season)
Assistant coaches	Seth Cooper Tony Harvey Dee Brown
Home arena	UIC Pavilion

2017–18 Horizon League men's basketball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Northern Kentucky	15	–	3		.833			22	–	10		.688
Wright State †	14	–	4		.778			25	–	10		.714
UIC	12	–	6		.667			20	–	16		.556
Oakland	10	–	8		.556			19	–	14		.576
Milwaukee	8	–	10		.444			16	–	17		.485
IUPUI	8	–	10		.444			11	–	19		.367
Green Bay	7	–	11		.389			13	–	20		.394
Cleveland State	6	–	12		.333			12	–	23		.343
Youngstown State	6	–	12		.333			8	–	24		.250
Detroit	4	–	14		.222			8	–	24		.250
† 2018 Horizon League Tournament winner

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2016–17 season 17–19, 7–11 in Horizon League play to finish in sixth place. They defeated Green Bay in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament before losing to Milwaukee in the semifinals. They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they defeated Stony Brook and George Washington before losing in the semifinals to Coastal Carolina.

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Reason for departure
Michael Kolawole	1	G	6'5"	195	Sophomore	Rowelett, TX	Transferred to Lamar
K. J. Santos	2	F	6'8"	200	Freshman	Geneva, IL	Transferred to Tallahassee CC
Hassan Thomas	3	F	6'7"	210	Sophomore	Dallas, TX	Graduate transferred to Emporia State
Lance Whitaker	4	G/F	6'4"	210	RS Junior	Bartlett, IL	Left the team due to personal reasons
Kyle Guice	22	F/C	6'8"	225	Junior	Coeur d'Alene, ID	Left the team due to personal reasons
Josh Joiner	25	G	6'1"	170	Senior	Chicago, IL	Walk-on; graduated

Incoming Transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Naradain James	22	F	6'7"	205	Junior	Mansfield, OH	Junior college transferred from Garden City CC

Recruiting class of 2017

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Ralph Bissanthe SG	Hollywood, FL	MacArthur High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	May 26, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Jacob Wiley PF	Houston, TX	Sam Houston High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	N/A
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Michael Diggins SF	Las Vegas, NV	Durango High School	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	185 lb (84 kg)
	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: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.

Roster

2017–18 UIC Flames men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Dominique Matthews 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So St. Rita of Cascia High School Chicago, Illinois G 1 Marcus Ottey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So SPIRE Academy Ajax, Ontario, Canada F 2 Michael Diggins 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Durango High School Las Vegas, Nevada F 3 Jacob Wiley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center Houston, Texas G/F 4 Tarkus Ferguson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Althoff Catholic High School Belleville, Illinois G 5 Ralph Bissainthe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr McArthur High School North Miami, Florida F 10 Dikembe Dixson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So Mingo Central Comprehensive High School Matewan, West Virginia F 13 Jordan Blount 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So SPIRE Academy Cork, Ireland G 15 Godwin Boahen 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So The Hill Academy Toronto, Ontario, Canada F/C 21 Tai Odiase 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Homewood-Flossmoor High School Glenwood, Illinois F 22 Naradain James 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Mansfield Senior High School Garden City Community College Kalamazoo, Michigan F/C 32 Clint Robinson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Charles Herbert Flowers High School State Fair Community College Montego Bay, Jamaica	Head coach Steve McClain (Chadron State) Assistant coach(es) Seth Cooper (Edgewood College) Tony Harvey (Cameron) Dee Brown (Illinois) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: November 2, 2017

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
Oct 25, 2017* 6:30 pm		St. Francis (IL)	W 97–62		21 – Odiase	7 – Robinson	13 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion  Chicago, IL
Nov 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Olivet Nazarene Exhibition	W 107–83		23 – Ottey	7 – Blount	13 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (542) Chicago, IL
Non-conference season
Nov 10, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		North Carolina Central	W 65–55	1–0	15 – Boahen	8 – Odiase	5 – Blount	UIC Pavilion (2,788) Chicago, IL
Nov 13, 2017* 7:00 pm, NBCSC		Saint Joseph's	L 82–86 ^OT	1–1	23 – Dixson	9 – Odiase	7 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (3,175) Chicago, IL
Nov 16, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Delaware State Adolph Rupp Classic	L 55–95	2–1	16 – Dixson	7 – Blount	5 – Tied	UIC Pavilion (1,537) Chicago, IL
Nov 18, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3		Fort Wayne Adolph Rupp Classic	L 51–67	2–2	12 – Ottey	10 – Odiase	3 – Boahen	UIC Pavilion (1,947) Chicago, IL
Nov 26, 2017* 5:00 pm, SECN		at No. 8 Kentucky Adolph Rupp Classic	L 73–107	2–3	17 – Boahen	8 – Odiase	2 – Ferguson	Rupp Arena (20,212) Lexington, KY
Nov 29, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		at Troy Adolph Rupp Classic	L 66–87	2–4	14 – Matthews	7 – Boahen	4 – Ottey	Trojan Arena (1,093) Troy, AL
Dec 2, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3		at Loyola–Chicago	L 61–85	2–5	16 – Ottey	6 – Robinson	2 – Tied	Joseph J. Gentile Arena (3,024) Chicago, IL
Dec 6, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Wisconsin–Parkside	W 76–48	3–5	17 – Dixson	9 – Tied	4 – Boahen	UIC Pavilion (1,323) Chicago, IL
Dec 9, 2017* 3:00 pm, NBCSC		DePaul	L 55–65	3–6	13 – Matthews	8 – Blount	2 – Tied	UIC Pavilion (3,229) Chicago, IL
Dec 15, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Dartmouth	W 76–60	4–6	19 – Dixson	7 – Boahen	10 – Blount	UIC Pavilion (1,275) Chicago, IL
Dec 19, 2017* 7:00 pm, NBCSC		at Illinois State	L 70–71	4–7	23 – Ottey	11 – Blount	4 – Blount	Redbird Arena (4,062) Normal, IL
Dec 21, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN3		at Northern Illinois	L 63–69	4–8	17 – Tied	10 – Blount	4 – Blount	Convocation Center (889) DeKalb, IL
Dec 23, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN3		Trinity Christian	W 84–45	5–8	25 – Dixson	8 – Robinson	4 – Blount	UIC Pavilion (764) Chicago, IL
Horizon League regular season
Dec 28, 2017 6:00 pm, ESPN3		at Wright State	L 61–65	5–9 (0–1)	16 – Ottey	7 – Tied	3 – Ottey	Nutter Center (3,397) Fairborn, OH
Dec 30, 2017 6:00 pm, ESPN3		at Northern Kentucky	L 51–86	5–10 (0–2)	15 – Ottey	8 – Blount	2 – Boahen	BB&T Arena (3,688) Highland Heights, KY
Jan 4, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN3		at IUPUI	W 70–65	6–10 (1–2)	19 – Tied	7 – Blount	4 – Blount	Indiana Farmers Coliseum (815) Indianapolis, IN
Jan 10, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Green Bay	W 84–73	7–10 (2–2)	23 – Dixson	7 – Blount	12 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (1,595) Chicago, IL
Jan 12, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Milwaukee	W 88–73	8–10 (3–2)	22 – Dixson	7 – Ferguson	9 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (1,643) Chicago, IL
Jan 15, 2018 7:00 pm, NBCSC		Oakland	L 68–78	8–11 (3–3)	13 – Dixson	9 – Blount	6 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (2,080) Chicago, IL
Jan 18, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN3		at Youngstown State	W 92–78	9–11 (4–3)	28 – Ottey	8 – Blount	10 – Ferguson	Beeghly Center (1,686) Youngstown, OH
Jan 20, 2018 2:30 pm, ESPN3		at Cleveland State	W 87–80	10–11 (5–3)	18 – Boahen	11 – Blount	3 – Matthews	Wolstein Center (1,531) Cleveland, OH
Jan 27, 2018 3:00 pm, NBCSC		IUPUI	W 71–62	11–11 (6–3)	18 – Ottey	14 – Blount	7 – Blount	UIC Pavilion (3,373) Chicago, IL
Jan 29, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		at Milwaukee	W 74–56	12–11 (7–3)	19 – Ferguson	10 – Blount	5 – Ferguson	UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (1,057) Milwaukee, WI
Feb 2, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPNU		at Oakland	W 79–73	13–11 (8–3)	19 – Odiase	10 – Robinson	7 – Ferguson	Athletics Center O'rena (3,182) Rochester, MI
Feb 4, 2018 1:00 pm, ESPN3		at Detroit	W 78–69	14–11 (9–3)	23 – Dixson	11 – Ferguson	3 – Tied	Calihan Hall (1,113) Detroit, MI
Feb 8, 2018 7:00 pm, NBCSC		Youngstown State	W 100–75	15–11 (10–3)	22 – Dixson	8 – Ferguson	10 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (2,033) Chicago, IL
Feb 10, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Cleveland State	L 78–86	15–12 (10–4)	14 – Ottey	7 – Odiase	5 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (1,185) Chicago, IL
Feb 16, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPN3		at Green Bay	W 83–75	16–12 (11–4)	18 – Dixson	15 – Blount	4 – Ferguson	Kress Events Center (3,872) Green Bay, WI
Feb 19, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Detroit	W 94–87	17–12 (12–4)	20 – Tied	10 – Blount	5 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (1,206) Chicago, IL
Feb 23, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN3		Northern Kentucky	L 72–79	17–13 (12–5)	14 – Odiase	9 – Odiase	5 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (3,168) Chicago, IL
Feb 25, 2018 5:00 pm, NBCSC		Wright State	L 81–88	17–14 (12–6)	19 – Dixson	8 – Ferguson	8 – Ferguson	UIC Pavilion (3,091) Chicago, IL
Horizon League Tournament
Mar 4, 2018 5:00 pm, ESPN3	(3)	vs. (6) Milwaukee Quarterfinals	L 75–80	17–15	23 – Ferguson	7 – Blount	7 – Ferguson	Little Caesars Arena (6,771) Detroit, MI
CIT
Mar 14, 2018* 7:00 pm		Saint Francis (PA) First round	W 84–61	18–15	15 – Robinson	10 – Ferguson	9 – Boahen	UIC Pavilion (1,137) Chicago, IL
Mar 21, 2018* 7:00 pm		at Austin Peay Quarterfinals	W 83–81	19–15	21 – Ferguson	9 – Ferguson	4 – Ferguson	Dunn Center (1,121) Clarksville, TN
Mar 28, 2018* 6:00 pm, CBSSN		at Liberty Semifinals	W 67–51	20–15	16 – Ferguson	9 – Robinson	3 – Ottey	Vines Center (2,248) Lynchburg, VA
Mar 30, 2018* 6:00 pm, CBSSN		at Northern Colorado Championship game	L 71–76	20–16	25 – Ottey	10 – Ferguson	3 – Ferguson	Bank of Colorado Arena (3,198) Greeley, CO
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time[1].

References

1. "The Official Website of UIC Flames Athletics". uicflames.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.