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.
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