[February 1, 2025] Indiana State (10-12) at UIC (14-7)

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Jason Svoboda

Jason Svoboda

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Indiana State Sycamores (10-12, 4-7) vs. UIC Flames (14-7, 7-4)

Credit Union 1 Arena - Chicago, IL
Saturday, February 1st, 2025
Tip: 2:00pm EST​
 

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For those who didn't see last night's scores, UIC beat Bradley pretty bad.

We will either get destroyed or UIC rests on their giant-killer laurels and gets beat by a 4-7 team....unfortunately, I'm thinking the former.
 
Me-thinks there will be an uptick in UIC fans with their recent win and season they are having with a new coach.

I really don't know jack-shit about UIC, they've flown under the radar all season. But the word around MVC boards are they probably are the most talented squad in the league. We shall see
 
treeman said:
Me-thinks there will be an uptick in UIC fans with their recent win and season they are having with a new coach.

I really don't know jack-shit about UIC, they've flown under the radar all season. But the word around MVC boards are they probably are the most talented squad in the league. We shall see
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I'm all for them having better crowds. This league needs everyone to have some sort of following. I think I read they have around 250,000 alumni living in the Chicagoland region, so if only a fraction of them got engaged with the program they could potentially have a great fan base and be a sleeping giant, plus their arena would actually accommodate a large following, unlike Loyola.
 

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UIC's issue besides they not winning prior to this season is that they are a commuter school in a big city. UIC needs to ride the momentum and start marketing their team. They are the best team in Chicago and that includes counting the Bulls (Trash). I had this marked down as a L and what's more impressive they beat down Bradley without their big guy Ciani who's really good. They have another guy who is going to give us fits probably and he is like a Grant Nelson body type from Alabama.
 

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jturner38 said:
UIC's issue besides they not winning prior to this season is that they are a commuter school in a big city. UIC needs to ride the momentum and start marketing their team.
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Chicago has historically shown that they just do not give a shit about college athletics. But UIC has multiple buildings with a ton of dead space on them right next to some of the busiest/congested roads in the city and entire Midwest. The fact that they don't have marketing on those buildings is beyond insane. A ribbon board, a billboard, hell throw a giant tarp on the side with an enormous picture of the basketball team, just do something. I used to drive by it multiple times a week and would just shake my head
 
jturner38 said:
UIC's issue besides they not winning prior to this season is that they are a commuter school in a big city. UIC needs to ride the momentum and start marketing their team. They are the best team in Chicago and that includes counting the Bulls (Trash). I had this marked down as a L and what's more impressive they beat down Bradley without their big guy Ciani who's really good. They have another guy who is going to give us fits probably and he is like a Grant Nelson body type from Alabama.
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This is true, but they are 100% set up for hoops success. 35K enrollment, no football expense, fertile recruiting grounds. If they don't end up at the top of the Valley, it won't be structural.
 
It's the day before game day and I have to wonder...

Is UIC overconfident after their beat down of Bradley?
Could we steal this game?
How strange of times are we living in where I'm wondering if WE could steal a game from UIC?
They lost by 27 points to UNI at home, should that give me hope?
They lost to Evansville and we beat Evansville, should that give me hope?
Could Teel score 20 points in the first half AND then ALSO in the second half?
Will they have 3,102 in attendance like they did vs Yale, or will they have 728 in attendance like they did vs Dartmouth?
Will their five guys who all average double-digits a game each score in double-digits against us?
If not, which of those guys will score single-digits against us?
Can we keep Ciani off the boards, or is he still out with an injury?
Could the final two minutes that we played vs Missouri State propel us to win the next nine games?
 
Jason Svoboda said:
This is true, but they are 100% set up for hoops success. 35K enrollment, no football expense, fertile recruiting grounds. If they don't end up at the top of the Valley, it won't be structural.
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On the flip side I don't think a dominate UIC would be good for the Valley. Someone is going to fill that void at the top. Right now it's Drake and Bradley. Bradley has a great fanbase and travels real well. Drake doesn't nearly have the numbers but the Knapp center is a good environment. If UIC is able to be what Drake and Bradley have been for the last 5 seasons is that going to reflect well for the Valley? Maybe 3,000 people to watch the top team in the conference at home in an aging arena? I can't imagine UIC ever having a good following down in St. Louis; Hell a championship game of Belmont vs. UIC in STL would be a pretty bad look for the conference on CBS. If we are being honest with ourselves for the health of the conference a dominate UIC, Valpo, or Belmont would be worst case scenario. I'll give Eville some credit, if they ever do produce a winner I have no doubt Ford would be packed and they would bring a healthy contingent to STL.
 
treeman said:
Chicago has historically shown that they just do not give a shit about college athletics. But UIC has multiple buildings with a ton of dead space on them right next to some of the busiest/congested roads in the city and entire Midwest. The fact that they don't have marketing on those buildings is beyond insane. A ribbon board, a billboard, hell throw a giant tarp on the side with an enormous picture of the basketball team, just do something. I used to drive by it multiple times a week and would just shake my head
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I would disagree with the word historically. Consistently may be a better word. They Supported Ray Meyer through his years at DePaul especially when Mark Aguire was there. Youngsters may not remember this era.
 

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EvilleSycamore said:
I would disagree with the word historically. Consistently may be a better word. They Supported Ray Meyer through his years at DePaul especially when Mark Aguire was there. Youngsters may not remember this era.
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given the talent across the Chicago metro area; it's SHOCKING that DePaul, Loyola, UIC, Chicago State and No. Illinois don't have a consistent winning MBB team; DePaul, Loyola and UIC all have deep, DEEP pockets and very sizable enrollments AND alumni bases AND no football expenses as an albatross; Chicago State has no money, no fan base, small enrollment and No. Illinois views themselves as a football school but the Rambling, Flaming Demons SHOULD field competitive, well-funded teams.

I've ignored Northwestern b/c they've deliberately chosen for DECADES to NOT use sports as their front porch; they changed that under Barnett and Fitzgerald; add Collins' tenure and Northwestern seems to have decided they don't have to suck in football and MBB at historic levels JUST to maintain top tier academic programs.
 
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CHICAGO, Ill. - Indiana State men's basketball travels to Chicago on Saturday afternoon to battle the Flames of UIC. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

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I sure hope our performance today is better than the last game. That was (at times) a comedy of errors by BOTH teams. It's puzzling how much we have regressed lately while other MVC teams have improved. This coaching staff needs to figure it out. Not holding my breath.
 
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