March 04--There have been victories this season for UIC. Five of them, against 24 losses.
Other victories have been less apparent unless you watch closely.
After Oakland pulled away late in its 74-63 win at UIC on Feb. 21, Golden Grizzlies coach Greg Kampe raved about the Flames' improvement under first-year coach Steve McClain.
"Steve has done an unbelievable job," Kampe said. "(Given) the growth of his team, he has to be really commended. I might vote for him for (Horizon League) Coach of the Year."
Told of that comment, McClain cracked, "I think he'll be the only vote I get."
Valparaiso's Bryce Drew won the award after the Crusaders went 16-2 (26-5 overall) and earned the top seed in the conference tournament, which begins Saturday in Detroit. Oakland earned the other double bye.
Tenth-seeded UIC will take on No. 3 seed Wright State (19-12, 13-5) on Saturday.
Wright State has the league's No. 2 scoring defense, but UIC's outlook is far from dismal. The Flames took down the Raiders 64-59 in the last meeting Feb. 11. And Wright State is just 6-10 away from home.
UIC lost its final five regular-season games, but McClain figured this would be a rough season. The Flames went 10-24 last season under Howard Moore.
"If at any point it becomes (only) about the winning and losing, then you've never built a program," McClain said. "The first year, you're going to go through this. There isn't anything fun about it. I want these kids to smile, I want them to laugh."
Swingman Dikembe Dixson has provided some good times. The 6-foot-7 native of Freeport, Ill., was a unanimous selection as Horizon League Freshman of the Year after averaging 19.9 points and 7.2 rebounds.
UIC will build around Dixson and 6-9 sophomore Tai Odiase, who leads the country in blocked shots with 3.21 per game.
Nearly every key contributor will return next season, including guard Najeal Young, who said he believes McClain has what it takes to resurrect the program.
"He's on us every day," Young said. "He's open, he's honest. He comes with the same mentality -- never down, sad or unhappy with us, always motivating and encouraging."
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
Tournament schedule
At Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
First round -- Saturday
G1: Green Bay vs. Cleveland State, 11 a.m.
G2: Milwaukee vs. Northern Kentucky, 1:30 p.m.
G3: Wright State vs. Illinois-Chicago, 4 p.m.
G4: Detroit vs. Youngstown State, 6:30 p.m.
Second round -- Sunday
G5: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, noon
G6: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Semifinals -- Monday
Valparaiso vs. G5 winner, 6 p.m.
Oakland vs. G6 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Final -- Tuesday
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m., ESPN
