UIC Sweeps Oakland in 1st Week of Horizon Play

The Flames are off to a strong start in league play thanks to Jamie Ahale

UIC swept Oakland at home to start Horizon League play with a bang. The first contest was a much closer game, with the Flames winning 74-72. Junior RayQuawndis Mitchell sealed the game with a clutch three, and senior Jamie Ahale closed it out at the free throw line. The second game was a much more impressive victory with UIC in firm control, winning 90-73.

Ahale Breaks out of Slump

Ahale came into the two-game series against Oakland in a major dry spell from beyond the arc: 19% from three, 4-21 in five games.

It’s no secret that Ahale is in the game to shoot three’s, all his field goal attempts this year are from deep. Ahale stayed true to his strengths and was phenomenal, shooting 13-18 from three across the two games. In the first game against Oakland, he shot 8-12 from three alone. UIC was without Braelen Bridges, Maurice Commander and Deon Ejim, someone had to step up in the rotation to give minutes. Ahale provided minutes and then some.

Moving forward, Ahale will still be counted on to space the floor for others which opens up the floor and stretches opposing defenses. He won’t maintain the scintillating 72% rate from deep, but if he can stay in the 40%-45% range on three-to-five attempts per game during league play, the Flames offense will run much smoother.

Kirk Continues All-Around Play

Prior to the games against Oakland, only two players in UIC history had attained a triple-double. Teyvion Kirk became the third to join that elusive club, producing one triple-double and nearly another.

With Commander out, Kirk played 79 out of 80 possible minutes between the two games. That proved to be plenty of time for Kirk to create for himself and his teammates, dishing 22 assists. He did commit nine turnovers too, but that’s something you have to live with, especially when you’re short-handed like UIC was against Oakland.

Kirk has really transformed his game since his days at Ohio and Colorado State. 3.1 assists per game were the most Kirk produced, as a freshman at Ohio. His last season at Ohio, he dished 76 assists in 31 games. Kirk has already handed out 62 assists through seven games at UIC. At the rate he’s going, he’ll surpass 76 assists overall through nine games. It’s simply remarkable to see such a transformation take place. Kirk has a unique ability to systematically break down a defense and create for his teammates. This type of player is a massive benefit to shooters like Ahale and Mitchell, and athletic lob-catchers like Michael Diggins and Zion Griffin. His lack of a jump shot (27.8% from three and 56.7% from the free throw line) hasn’t stopped him from producing yet, but it will be a focal point for opposing Horizon League teams going forward.

Horizon League Pro Watch

D’Moi Hodge; Cleveland State; Junior

Hodge was a highly-regarded junior college prospect that chose the mid-major route. He’s a scoring guard who’ll have the offense run through him, and while it’s only a small sample size so far, his 46 point performance against Purdue Fort Wayne was epic.

Tanner Holden; Wright State; Sophomore

NBA teams are valuing wings and combo forwards that project as versatile defenders in the league. Holden is more of a combo forward now, but his tools and production bode well as he moves forward in his career. His improvements at the free throw line are a good indicator of future success from the NBA three-point line. Holden is also passing it better, and continuing to attack the glass.