Bob Hallberg can`t underscore enough the importance of Monday`s undertaking: an exhibition game against a touring team from Down Under.
Hallberg is praying his underexposed, possibly underarmed defense will be put under the gun when the Sydney, Australia Kings visit the UIC Physical Education Building for a 3 p.m. dress rehearsal.
Wednesday`s intrasquad game at Gary Roosevelt High School did little to smooth out the worry lines in Hallberg`s face concerning a defense that has lost three of the top four steal leaders in the Mid-Continent Conference a year ago.
On the plus side, Brian Hill scored 21 points to lead the Red squad`s 76-52 victory Wednesday. Backup center Ray Lester contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds for the losing White team, ”and it`s been a while since anybody got 15 rebounds for us even against ourselves.”
But when the game was over, Hallberg still wasn`t sure what he had. He would like to understand soon. ”Either we were very good at getting ourselves open,” he said, ”or we were very poor at stopping ourselves from getting open.”
Against Sydney, Hallberg plans to go with the same starting lineup that led his Red squad to victory: Hill, Tony Freeman and Travon Hughes out front and Sean Buchanan and Felando Thigpen underneath with forward Tremell Murphy continuing his push for a starting job.
The big breakthrough: Two goals each by Rick Judson and Larry Pilut carried the UIC hockey team to its long-awaited first victory of the year Friday-a 5-2 conquest of Ohio State in Columbus. Unfortunately, the Flames (1-9-0) fell 3-2 to the Buckeyes in overtime Saturday. Judson and Mark Ottenbreit scored one goal apiece in Saturday`s loss. Ohio State`s Scott Walsh scored the game-winner just 45 seconds into the extra period.