The UIC Flames basketball season played out like a FOX television drama last year with infighting, accusations of sexual misconduct, the coach falling ill and blacking out on the bench, and a shooting of the star player.  Just about the only thing missing was a short kind of chubby British guy criticizing the team all season.  Unlike Hollywood though, the Flames didn’t overcome and leave everyone feeling good.  Instead they floundered to a 14-18 record with eight of those losses by ten or more points and then fell in the second round of the Horizon League Tournament.

Head coach Jimmy Collins is back this season and healthy, there’s been some shakeup on the coaching staff and the roster, and the Flames feel they are in good position to right the ship and have a successful campaign.  It will be tough with the loss of star forward Othyus Jeffers and slick shooting guard TJ Gray, but maybe addition by subtraction will work.

The leading returning scorer is Josh Mayo, a 5’11” junior guard.  Mayo scored better than 12 points a contest while hitting three-pointers at a 41.2% clip and leading the team in assists.  Mayo is also an excellent free-throw shooter and an underrated defender.  With the team squarely on his shoulders he is poised to become a first team all league selection.

If the Flames are to return to their winning ways of the past Robert Bush will have to step up and become a leader night in and night out for the Flames.  Bush started nine games last season and hit three-pointers at nearly a 40% clip.  He showed flashes of potential last season, torching Milwaukee for 21 points in the first round of the Horizon League tournament and finishing the season with double digit scoring efforts in five of the Flames last eight contests.  Bush recently injured his knee in practice and is rumored to be out for several weeks.

Senior Karl White has all the speed and leaping ability in the world, but has to evolve into something more than a circus side show this season.  Freshman Robert Kreps finished an amazing high school career as runner-up for Illinois’ Mr. Basketball award.  A natural point guard he has the ability to play either guard spot with deft passing and shooting skills.

Sophomore Spencer Stewart started 12 games last season and chipped in just over four points a game.  He struggled shooting the ball, but his numbers don’t tell the story as he struggled through nagging injuries most of the year.

A newcomer the Flames are very high on is freshman Tori Boyd.  The 6’5 forward from Rockford, Illinois flew under the recruiting radar and the Flames think they got a steal.  Jimmy Collins stated that Boyd may be the best player he has seen that didn’t get heavily recruited.

Up front center Scott VanderMeer is the most intimidating defensive presence the Horizon League has seen in a long time.  The seven-footer swatted away 111 shots last, tops in the Horizon League by 68.  The 260 pound junior also snagged better than 5 rebounds per contest and chipped in just over five points per game.  Vandermeer’s offensive game isn’t the prettiest sight in the world, but even a modest improvement this season would make him among the most dominant players in the league.

The loss of Jeffers leaves a hole that the Flames hope 6’7” Jeremy Buttell can fill.  A transfer from Texas Tech Buttell certainly has the size at 240 pounds to excel in the Horizon League.  In the mold of Jeffers he has a decent mid-range jumper and can play with his back to the basket.

Senior Jermaine Dailey appeared in 30 contests last season, seeing 11 minutes per game.  He struggled a bit getting used to the Division I game, but with a year under his belt the Flames hope he can improve his contribution.

The injury bug has already bitten the Flames with the potential loss of Bush to a knee injury.  And a recruit, Billy Baptist has already been kicked off the team, but it couldn’t possibly get any worse than last season, right?  In the early going at least it appears to be business as usual at UIC.  Whether that transpires into another sub .500 season remains to be seen, but it’s not a good start.

--Joe Dlugosz is the editor of Ramblermania.com, a website dedicated to Loyola-Chicago sports information.  For more of Joe's writing, visit: www.ramblermania.com --ed.