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player ready...Perception is everything.
A year ago, Illinois-Chicago streaks to a 7-0 start only to get buried by Syracuse and Houston in back-to-back games. The perception: ”Hey, these Flames aren`t as good as we thought.” UIC`s final 15-15 record eventually confirms that view.
Fast-forward to Saturday night.
UIC, limping along at 2-3 and 0 for 5 in the Good Games Department, gives Houston (6-1) a chill before tumbling 75-66 at the Pavilion. The perception:
”Hey, these Flames aren`t as bad as we thought.”
Coach Bob Hallberg`s mission is to keep that perception alive past Tuesday night when UIC visits Michigan State (6-0).
”Sometimes playing teams this good back-to-back isn`t good for morale,” he admits. But Saturday was good for morale.
The Flames` pressure half-court and full-court defense forced a lot of turnovers, which UIC converted into fast-break buckets in almost wiping out a 15-point deficit.
”I was glad to see us come back,” said Hallberg. ”The last one or two games I felt our aggressiveness was lacking. . . . Even though we lost, we were the more aggressive of the two teams on the floor. Unfortunately, we haven`t figured out a way to stop dunk shots yet.”
UIC also was 20 of 21 at the line, a terrific effort given that the Flames had made only 64 percent of their free throws before the Houston game.