Diggins Could Earn More Playing Time

(Rudi Ayasse/uicflames.com)

After a difficult loss against Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon, UIC head coach Steve McClain shared at the post game press conference that a certain player was due for more playing time. It’s a player who has only played 8.3 minutes per game thus far.

Michael Diggins, a 6-foot-8 freshman from Nevada, has earned the opportunity for more minutes due to the defensive prowess he’s displayed in limited playing time.

McClain explained why Diggins could be getting more minutes. “I think Mike’s gonna see more and more time on the court because he brings a defensive presence, he brings an offensive presence and he can guard multiple positions,” McClain said.

Senior Tai Odiase, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the Horizon League, has also been impressed with his teammate. “I love his energy off the bench,” Odiase shared. “He’s giving us a good spark whenever he’s in, he gives us deflections.”

Although he’s only played 34 minutes through four games, Diggins has shined on the defensive side. When UIC has deployed the 1-3-1 defense, Diggins has been at the top of the aggressive attack, hounding guards at the top of the perimeter. All four of UIC’s opponents have struggled immensely when McClain has called for the 1-3-1 defense, and Diggins is a big reason why.

Diggins has also done well in regular man-to-man defense, defending opposing power forwards and even switching out to guards and wings as a result of screens. Whoever he has been tasked with defending, Diggins has kept the offensive player in front of him. Diggins moves extremely well for a player of his height, his lateral quickness and fluidity has stood out.

What’s most impressive about Diggins so far is that he’s playing catch up. McClain shared that Diggins missed significant practice time. “The hardest part has been for Mike, was he missed a month of practice and so he’s just getting his conditioning back and he can’t play long periods of time,” McClain explained. “But he’s gonna continue to get more and more time.”

On the offensive side, Diggins is averaging 1.8 points per game. He’s shown comfort on the perimeter, making 1-3 3-pointers, and as a lob target thanks to his explosive leaping ability. Diggins was a standout volleyball player during his high school career.

Diggins plays within the offense and is passive, but with so many offensive options UIC has in its arsenal, a defensive-minded player like Diggins can certainly carve out a niche going forward.

With UIC set to take on Olivet Nazarene on Wednesday evening, look for Diggins to continue to gain confidence and progress towards being an elite defender for the Flames.

UIC vs. IPFW Recap

Recap

What Happened

UIC lost 67-51 at home against Fort Wayne Saturday afternoon. Despite holding IPFW to 32.3% shooting from the field, UIC (2-2) only shot 26.8% themselves.

Sophomore Marcus Ottey led UIC as the only double-digit scorer with 12 points. Senior Tai Odiase added eight points and ten rebounds.

Several Flames had uncharacteristic off-nights offensively.

Redshirt sophomore Dikembe Dixson was held to nine points on 1-11 shooting in 31 minutes. Redshirt sophomore Dominique Matthews only scored one point, he didn’t make a field goal after scoring 19 points against Delaware State on Thursday night. Tarkus Ferguson scored five points on 2-9 shooting and was limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

Key Sequence

UIC closed the gap to 44-39 with 9:06 left in the game, but IPFW responded with a 12-5 run that sealed the game and left the Mastodons with a 56-44 lead with 4:50 left in the game.

What It Means

The Flames lost to a solid mid-major program that was picked to finish in the top half of the Summit League. But as was the case in the Saint Joseph’s game, this was a winnable game for UIC at home.

What’s Next

UIC takes on NAIA foe Olivet Nazarene on Wednesday evening at the UIC Pavilion.

Notes

-UIC seems to have settled in with the starting lineup of Tarkus Ferguson, Dominique Matthews, Dikembe Dixson, Jordan Blount and Tai Odiase.

-Ottey was the lone bright spot for UIC on the offensive side. He had 12 points and three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Ottey is an excellent finisher despite his diminutive stature, thanks to his electric leaping ability.

-Foul trouble limited Ferguson to five points in 20 minutes. He picked up his fourth foul with 18:50 left in the game. UIC severely missed Ferguson initiating the offense, his absence played a role in their poor shooting performance.

-Freshman Michael Diggins took advantage of the foul trouble Blount endured and earned nine first half minutes. He connected on his first three point attempt, his only shot of the game. Diggins finished with three points and four rebounds in 14 minutes. His defense once again stood out, particularly in the 1-3-1 zone at the top of the defense.

UIC vs. Delaware State Recap

Recap

What Happened

UIC dominated Delaware State en route to a 95-55 victory at the UIC Pavilion Thursday night.

After a difficult overtime loss to Saint Joseph’s on Monday night, UIC (2-1) rebounded with a confidence-boosting victory over Delaware State. The Flames held the Hornets to 29.2% shooting as a team. Delaware State guard Kobe Gantz, the Hornets leading scorer at 17.3 points coming into the game, was held to four points on 0-12

shooting from the field.

Redshirt sophomore Dominique Matthews, back in the starting lineup, led UIC with 19 points. Matthews got his outside shot to fall, he went 4-7 from three. Redshirt sophomore Dikembe Dixson added 16 points, and sophomores Godwin Boahen (12) and Marcus Ottey (13) were the other double-digit scorer’s for the Flames.

Key Sequence

UIC never trailed against Delaware State. The game got out of hand for the Hornets during UIC’s 23-2 run early in the first half. After a Gantz free throw brought the score to 16-5 with UIC up, Delaware State didn’t score again until there was 5:42 left in the half. At that point, UIC’s lead grew to 39-8. During the 23-2 run, Delaware State shot 1-14 from the field and committed three turnovers.

What It Means

UIC defended its home court and won big against a mediocre opponent. The Flames shot 54% from the field, 42% from three and 79% from the free throw line. Delaware State shot 29% from the field and 25% from three. That adds up to a 95-55 victory for UIC.

What’s Next

IPFW (2-1) takes on UIC on Saturday afternoon at the UIC Pavilion. Delaware State lost 85-71 to IPFW yesterday. Purdue transfer Bryson Scott is off to a scintillating start, averaging 23.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.0 steals. West Chicago native John Konchar is back to his stat-sheet stuffing ways to the tune of 13.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals.

Notes

-Head coach Steve McClain went back to the starting lineup he utilized on opening night: Tarkus Ferguson, Dominique Matthews, Dikembe Dixson, Jordan Blount and Tai Odiase.

-Boahen and Ottey form a dynamic duo off the bench. The two Canadian guards combined for 25 points, six assists and five rebounds. McClain’s backcourt is talented and deep, should be one of the best in the Horizon League.

-Sophomore Jordan Blount bounced back after a rough game against Saint Joseph’s. He had seven points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes.

-Junior Naradain James received his first game action of the season, and he wasn’t shy about getting his shot. James, a 6-foot-6 wing, shot 1-7 from the field in 15 minutes. He finished with two points, four rebounds and two blocks.

-Freshman Michael Diggins scored his first career points as a Flame, finishing with four points and two rebounds in ten minutes off the bench. He was once again at the top of the 1-3-1 zone when UIC played pressure defense.

-McClain said freshman Ralph Bissainthe will redshirt this season. He said it makes sense to redshirt Bissainthe because he likely won’t receive meaningful minutes at the wing spot given the depth at the position, but he’s feels Bissainthe has a bright future.

UIC vs. Saint Joseph’s Recap

Recap

What Happened

UIC lost 86-82 in overtime to Saint Joseph’s last night. It was a difficult loss to swallow. The Flames (1-1) held a 73-67 lead with one minute left in regulation, but failed to finish off the visiting Atlantic 10 foe. Redshirt sophomore Dikembe Dixson scored a team-high 23 points. Sophomore Marcus Ottey added 17 points off the bench, sophomore Tarkus Ferguson chipped in 15 points and senior big man Tai Odiase contributed ten points.

UIC’s struggles at the free throw line, 13-22 for the game, were a key factor in the loss. In the second half alone, the Flames shot 7-12 from the free throw line.

A positive for UIC was the production of their bench, especially with foul issues limiting a starter. Thrust into more minutes because Odiase was in foul trouble, senior Clint Robinson stepped up in extended playing time: six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.

Key Sequence

After Robinson missed a one-and-one free throw with 1:01 left in regulation while UIC held a 73-67 lead, Saint Joseph’s guard and Chicago-native Nick Robinson dunked with ease to cut the lead to 73-69 with 54 seconds left. Saint Joseph’s then took a 30 second timeout. Dixson turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass, which led to a layup by James Demery. That brought the game to 73-71 with 50 seconds left. Ottey was then fouled with 40 seconds left, but he split the free throw attempts to give UIC a 74-71 lead. UIC called a 30 second timeout to regroup, only to have Taylor Funk make a critical 3-pointer to tie the game at 74-74 with 26 seconds left. UIC held for the last shot, as Ottey missed a tightly contested 3-pointer as the clock ran to zero.

What It Means

UIC had an opportunity to defeat an Atlantic 10 team on its home court but failed to seal the deal. This was a winnable game, the missed free throws will haunt UIC. How the Flames respond going forward in tight game situations will dictate their success once Horizon League play commences.

What’s Next

Delaware State makes its way to the UIC Pavilion on Thursday night. The Hornets are 1-1 so far, they lost to DePaul last night at Wintrust Arena. Delaware State will face IPFW tomorrow night, then head back to Chicago to take on UIC.

Notes

-UIC went changed up the opening night starting lineup, opting to go with Tarkus Ferguson, Godwin Boahen, Dikembe Dixson, Jordan Blount and Tai Odiase in game two. The reserves combined to score 27 points, thanks in large part to Ottey’s 17 points.

-Dixson made a career-high five 3-pointers. It was an impressive performance as he connected on catch-and-shoot opportunities as well as pull-up three’s. The only negative showing was the four turnovers he committed.

-Robinson continued to showcase his prowess on the boards, corralling eight rebounds in 21 minutes. Three of those rebounds came on the offensive end. He shot 71% from the free throw line a year ago, but only managed to make 2-5 free throws yesterday. That really hurt UIC considering he had the second most free throw attempts for the Flames.

-Sophomore Jordan Blount went scoreless in 19 minutes. He only attempted two shots and didn’t attempt a free throw. Blount did contribute in other ways, totaling an impressive four blocks as well as three assists. He logged 14 first half minutes, but only 5 second half minutes. Head coach Steve McClain cited Saint Joseph’s exploiting Blount defensively, which compelled him to move Dixson to the four spot and go with a three-guard lineup.

-Ferguson was steady with an all-around stat line: 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds, one steal and one block. The most important stat? Only one turnover in 37 minutes. He was patient on offense, made the right reads and made good decisions.

-Ottey was electric in the open court on fast break opportunities. He is a very athletic guard, especially vertically. Ottey did struggle with his perimeter shot, going 1-5 from three and 2-5 from the free throw line. Once he is more consistent with outside shot, he’ll be very difficult to defend.

UIC vs. NCCU Recap

Recap

What Happened

UIC opened the 2017-2018 season with a 65-55 victory over North Carolina Central. Sophomore Godwin Boahen led the way with 15 points off the bench. Sophomore Tarkus Ferguson added 13 points, and senior big man Tai Odiase chipped in 10 points.

After Ferguson drilled a three with 14:48 to give UIC a 7-4 advantage, the Flames never relinquished the lead. UIC (1-0) was paced offensively by a balanced attack. Only one player, Ferguson, attempted double-digit field goal attempts.

Redshirt sophomore Dikembe Dixson, back healthy after a season-ending knee injury last season, added nine points. Sophomore Jordan Blount scored seven points and dished out a team-leading five assists in his debut. Sophomore guard Marcus Ottey also scored seven points off the bench.

Key Sequence

NCCU came out hot to start the second half, making six of their first eight shots. They cut the lead to 39-34 and had momentum when head coach Steve McClain called on an unlikely player. At the 15:31 mark, freshman Michael Diggins was subbed in. UIC quickly implemented a 1-3-1 pressure defense with Diggins, all 6-foot-8 of him, at the top of the defensive attack. UIC quickly forced a turnover and put together stops to neutralize NCCU. The Flames eventually took back control, but the catalyst was the 1-3-1 defense and Diggins’ length and lateral quickness at the head of the defense.

What It Means

UIC got on the board with a home victory against a NCCU team that is integrating several newcomers. Although UIC only shot 41% from the field and even worse 27% from three, the Flames competed with a balanced attack. The defense was solid, but most importantly UIC was unselfish on offense and shared the ball well. Boahen came up big, and Odiase provided nice offense out of the post.

What’s Next

UIC welcomes Saint Joseph’s on Monday night. Saint Joseph’s first game will be tomorrow against Toledo on the road.

Notes

-UIC went with a starting lineup of Tarkus Ferguson, Dominique Matthews, Dikembe Dixson, Jordan Blount and Tai Odiase. The bench play was strong, UIC reserves combined to score 24 points.

-Jordan Blount was impressive with seven points, five assists and one 3-pointer. He led the team in assists (5) and minutes (33). Blount displayed a great feel on offense, highlighted by his passing ability. He can really put the ball on the floor and put pressure on opposing forwards.

-Diggins and fellow freshman Jacob Wiley both shined in the 1-3-1 defense. Both are long forwards that move very well for their size.

-Dixson played within the flow of the offense and didn’t force anything. Plagued by turnovers throughout his career, he only committed one turnover in 31 minutes. That should make McClain very happy.

UIC vs. NCCU Preview

UIC tips off the 2017-2018 season against North Carolina Central tomorrow at 7pm at the UIC Pavilion. Year three under head coach Steve McClain commences with much excitement as UIC was picked to finish third in the Horizon League Preseason poll. UIC appears poised to take advantage of Valparaiso’s defection to the Missouri Valley Conference. The Flames also welcome back standout wing Dikembe Dixson, who returns after enduring a season-ending knee injury last year.

NCCU, fresh off a 25-win season and NCAA Tournament birth, is looking to replace its top-five scorer’s from last season. Only one player, 6-foot-6 senior Pablo Rivas, was a part of head coach LeVelle Moton’s eight-man rotation a year ago. Rivas, who averaged 7.0 points per game while shooting a blistering 65% from the field, is the returning leading-scorer and figures to lead the pack for NCCU. Junior point guard C.J. Wiggins, who appeared in 24 of NCCU’s games last year, is Moton’s most experienced backcourt option.

While there are many unknowns regarding NCCU and its numerous newcomers, especially early on in the season, Moton has a proven track record. NCCU has been to two of the last three NCAA Tournament’s and have also finished first in MEAC play three of the last four year’s. NCCU was still picked to finish third in the MEAC in the league’s preseason poll. This figures to be a good early-season test for UIC, and will potentially look like a solid non-conference opponent on the Flames resume.

Juco Big Man Commits to UIC

(sfccroadrunners.com)

Isaac Bassey, a sophomore at State Fair Community College, verbally committed to UIC yesterday according to JucoRecruiting.com.

Listed at 6-foot-11, Bassey brings much needed length to UIC in 2018-2019. Senior big men Tai Odiase and Clint Robinson are set to graduate after the 2017-2018 season, leaving a void in the middle for the Flames.

Bassey, who averaged 4.1 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game last season, attends the same junior college that Robinson attended prior to enrolling at UIC. Both Bassey and Robinson were also born in Nigeria.

With Bassey in the fold, UIC still has two scholarship openings for the 2018-2019 season.