Illinois Chicago Flames at IUPUI Jaguars 2/12/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The UIC Flames will be looking to put an end to their five-game losing streak when they travel on the road to Indiana Farmers Coliseum to take on the IUPUI Jaguars. UIC was swept by Northern Kentucky on the road, and then the Horizon league-leading Wright State dropping to 8-9 (5-7 conference). IUPUI split a road series with Green Bay, winning the first but falling 79-72 in the latter and dropped to 5-8 (4-8 conference).

Illinois Chicago’s offense has left a lot to be desired this season averaging just 68.3 points per game ranking 255th in the country in scoring offense. The Flames are shooting 42.8% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc, ranking 240th and 149th in the nation, respectively.

The Flames are balanced in that 8 players are averaging 7.5+ points per game, but junior guard Teyvion Kirk is what makes this offense go. Kirk is averaging 13.5 points on 42.2% shooting and is the team-leader in rebounds with 7 and assists with 5.7 per game. Senior forward Michale Diggins provides the experience, he’s played in 120 games across his four years and is averaging 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest in his last season of eligibility.

The IUPUI Jaguars have also had their struggles on the offensive end averaging 68.5 points per game ranking 252nd in the country in scoring offense. The Jaguars come in shooting a disappointing 40.3% from the field ranking 317th in the field-goal percentage. They do boast one of the best scoring tandems in the Horizon league with seniors Marcus Burk and Jaylen Minnett.

Marcus Burk is scoring 20 points per game and is shooting 45.5% from the field, including 38.6% from beyond the arc on over 6 attempts per game. Burk is a pure-scorer averaging just 3.6 rebounds and less than 2 assists per game. Jaylen Minnett adds 16 points per game, but is much less efficient shooting 38.1% from the field but is second on the team with 2.8 assists per game.

IUPUI down-fall this season hasn’t just been their offense, the defense is struggling as well and is allowing 75.6 points per game ranking 287th in the country in scoring defense. Opponents have shot a blistering 48.1% from the field, 334th nationally in field goal defense and the Jaguars are 284th in the country in KenPom adjusted defense.

Illinois-Chicago’s defense has been able to limit the three with opponents shooting 27.7% from beyond the arc, ranking 8th in the country in three-point defense. They come into this game giving up 71.4 points per game ranking 210th in the country in scoring defense but are 158th in KenPom adjusted defense.