UIC at Northern Illinois 11/25/20 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The UIC Flames visit NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois on Tuesday to play the Northern Illinois Huskies in the opening game of the regular season for both. UIC was 18-17 overall and 10-8 in the Horizon League last season. The key starters returning for the Flames are Michael Diggins, Braelen Bridges, Rob Howard, Jamie Ahale. However the Flames will have to make up for the loss of Tarkus Ferguson, Marcus Ottey and Godwin Boahen. 

Bridges is the centerpiece in the front court playing much more fluid athletically than his size would suggest. Dickens and Howard are versatile forwards, while Deon Ejim and Jacob Wiley are two versatile players and well give much-needed help on the defensive boards. Defense is the name of the game for new head coach Luke Yaklich, who likes to take away the three-point shot and force opponents to win by shooting mid-range jumpers.

The Northern Illinois Huskies were 18-13 overall and11-7 in the Mid-American Conference last season finishing second in the West division. Northern Illinois has four returning players from last season including Trendon Hankerson, Zaire Mateen, Darius Beane and Tyler Cochran. However, the Huskies lost leading scorer Eugene German, as well as Noah McCarty and Lacey James.

Northern Illinois went the transfer route to improve its roster by adding Junior College transfers Kaleb Thornton, Chinedu Okanu, Zool Kueth  and Adong Malkuoi. The Huskies also added Anthony Crump as a transfer from Middle Tennessee State. The Huskies will also rely once again on defense as last season only four teams scored 75 or more points against Northern Illinois. Crump could be the hidden gem, as the 6-foot-8 guard was having a good career with MTS before a knee injury set him back.