🐾 🏁 Panther’s Toothsayer: UIC Flames

Thu, Nov 20 • Boardwalk Battle (Daytona Beach, FL) • 2:30 PM

📍🏝️ Series & Setting

High Point heads to Daytona for a neutral-site matchup against UIC — the first meeting between the programs. The backdrop feels fitting: two teams that both prefer to push pace meeting in the shadow of Daytona’s speedway, where quick decisions and control of tempo separate contenders from pretenders.

HPU comes in off a strong response performance against Canisius, showing better defensive structure, more discipline, and real contributions across the roster. The shooting also started to rev up against the Griffins, especially Chase Johnston who hit five shots from beyond the arc. The Panthers have generated clean looks but haven’t consistently cashed them in all year — they’ll need to be sharp in this mid day MTE meeting.

UIC arrives at 3–1 with wins over Detroit Mercy, St. Francis (IL), and Chicago State, and a tight loss at Oregon State. The Flames, like so many mid majors, rebuilt their roster with 10 new players and play an aggressive, pace-friendly style under second-year head coach Rob Ehsan.

This one has the feel of a shootout and whoever comes out on top could be truly off to the races.

🔍 Overview

UIC lost four starters and returned just 15% of last season’s minutes. But Ehsan rebuilt the roster based on experience, length, and versatility. They want to pressure the ball, force mistakes, and turn long rebounds into transition chances. Sound familiar?

Offensively they rely on:

Spacing and early-clock threes
Pick-and-roll creation
Long wings attacking offensive glass
Henderson’s speed in the open floor

Defensively it’s a mix of physical man-to-man with pressure principles — traps, aggressive closeouts, and keeping opponents off their spots.

UIC is talented, unpredictable, but still developing chemistry.

⚙️ Team Identity: Pressure, Pace & Prolonged

Pressure: UIC wants to disrupt possessions early, push ball-handlers to the sideline, and force rushed decisions.
Pace: They score 82.3 PPG and try to turn games into track meets.
Prolonged: Multiple 6’6–6’8 wings rotate across the lineup, giving them versatility and switching options.
Threes: High-volume from deep — 66th nationally in attempts.
Free Throws: They shoot 80% at the line, making fouls costly.

🧩 Key Flames

Ahmad Henderson II (5’10 PG — 17.0 PPG)
Undersized but explosive; elite free throw shooter (95%) and their top perimeter threat.

Andy Johnson (6’6 Fr. — 15.0 PPG)
A breakout freshman with size and shooting ability. Smooth scorer.

Sam Silverstein (6’6 G/F)
Glue guy — rebounds, defends multiple spots, impacts winning without needing shots.

Mekhi Lowery (6’7 G/F)
Athletic, active rebounder and defender; thrives as a utility piece.

Ante Beljan (6’10 F)
Skilled Euro-style big: touch, passing, pick-and-pop potential.

Depth pieces to track: Momoh, Walker, Hammons, Crawford.

📊 Tempo-Free Snapshot

UIC Early Profile

82.3 PPG
34.5% from 3
80.2% FT
10.3 SPG
Rebounding: 34.0 RPG (low nationally)

HPU Early Profile

Offense: Flashes of elite efficiency, but perimeter shooting still below potential
Threes: Good looks, inconsistent finishes
Free throws: 70.9% — left points on the table
Defense: Improved discipline vs Canisius; forcing turnovers without fouling
Depth: One of HPU’s clearest advantages in neutral-site settings

🧠 Coaching Notes: Rob Ehsan

Year two in Chicago, and he’s shaping the Flames into a tough, pressure-heavy group.
Key principles:

Aggressive on-ball pressure
Trapping in corners
Denying reversal passes
Ball-screen motion on offense
Adaptation to personnel — not rigid system-based
Wants physicality and grit every possession

Expect UIC to test HPU’s ball security early and often.

🏀 Matchup Outlook vs. High Point

Pace Battle:
Both teams want to run — but HPU runs with purpose. The Panthers are more controlled in transition and less turnover-prone. This is where HPU can control the “race line.”

Shooting:
This is the key storyline. UIC shoots the ball a lot and they shoot it well. Almost 40% of their shots come from deep and they’re cashing those in at a high clip. On the other end, UIC will over-help and gamble — meaning HPU will get catch-and-shoot looks. They simply need to knock these down with some more consistency than they have in recent games.

Size & Matchups:
HPU’s wings (Fletcher, Washington, Anderson, Brady) match UIC’s length, but the Panthers should win physicality battles inside.

Rebounding:
This is where the game can separate. UIC’s numbers lag so HPU must finish plays and limit long rebounds that fuel UIC’s pace.

Fouls & Free Throws:
UIC shoots 80% at the stripe and they get there a lot! Almost 20 FTs a game. HPU cannot bail them out with unnecessary fouls in ball-screen coverage.

🗝️ Keys for HPU

1. Win the Glass — UIC struggles here; HPU must exploit it.
2. Handle Pressure — calm ball movement burns aggressive defenses.
3. Clean Perimeter Looks → Makes — Daytona is a great place to restart the rhythm.
4. Physical Drives — UIC gives up straight-line penetration.
5. Depth Advantage — push pace in waves, especially late.

🔮 Toothsayer’s Take

UIC is talented, newly assembled, and eager to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. Their pressure and pace can cause issues if you let them dictate rhythm. But High Point has the superior depth, the steadier guards, and a more stable identity.

If HPU shoots to even its season average and controls the glass, the Panthers should be able to settle in and let their talent and depth take over. However, fans of college basketball and High Point in particular know how difficult and different these neutral site MTEs can be. Oftentimes being played at weird times, in different venues, and with sparse crowds. All of those factors can throw a wrench in the proverbial engine. Whoever adapts fastest and adapts best will come out on top. Let’s hope it’s the Panthers!

Prediction:
High Point 84, UIC 77