2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=2020–21
|team=UIC Flames
|sport=Basketball
|image= UIC Flames wordmark.svg
|image_size=200
|conference=Horizon League
|division=
|short_conf=Horizon
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=9–13
|conf_record=6–10
|head_coach=Luke Yaklich
|hc_year = 1st
|asst_coach1=Dee Brown
|ac1_year= 4th
|asst_coach2=Brock Erickson
|ac2_year= 1st
|asst_coach3=Will Veasley
|ac3_year= 1st
|stadium=Credit Union 1 Arena
|champion=
|tourney=
|tourney_result=
}}
{{2020–21 Horizon League men's basketball standings}}
The 2020–21 UIC Flames men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Chicago in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Flames, led by first-year head coach Luke Yaklich,{{Cite news|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/3/26/luke-yaklich-named-uic-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx|title=Luke Yaklich Named UIC Men's Basketball Head Coach|work=UIC Athletics|access-date=November 26, 2020|language=en}} played their home games at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Horizon League.
Previous season
They finished the season 18–17, 10–8 in Horizon League to play to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League tournament, they defeated IUPUI, Youngstown State, and top-seeded Wright State to advance to the championship game. There they lost to Northern Kentucky.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401211640|title=UIC vs. Northern Kentucky - Game Recap - March 10, 2020 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-25}}
Offseason
=Departures=
=Incoming transfers=
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" | Previous School | |||||||
| Maurice Commander | 1 | G | 6'0 | 175 | Junior | Chicago, IL | Chattanooga |
| Zion Griffin | 35 | F | 6'6 | 215 | Junior | Darien, IL | Iowa State |
| Jalen Johnson | 5 | G | 6'1 | 180 | Junior | Hopkinsville, KY | John A. Logan College |
| Teyvion Kirk | 4 | G | 6'4 | 185 | Junior | Joliet, IL | Colorado State |
| RayQuawndis Mitchell | 21 | G | 6'5 | 205 | Junior | Atlanta, GA | Otero Junior College |
=Recruiting class of 2020=
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2017}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Demetrius Calip II
| position = SG
| hometown = Woodland Hills, CA
| highschool = Taft High School
| feet = 6
| inches = 4
| weight = 155
| 40 =
| commitdate = 08/3/2020
| scout stars = 0
| 247 stars = 3
| rivals stars = 0
| espn grade = NR
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Brad Bowditch
| position = G
| hometown = Milton, WI
| highschool = IMG Academy
| feet = 6
| inches = 0
| weight = 180
| 40 =
| commitdate = 08/3/2020
| scout stars =
| 247 stars =
| rivals stars =
| espn grade = NR
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Griffin Yaklich
| position = SF
| hometown = Joliet, IL
| highschool = Saline High School
| feet = 6
| inches = 6
| weight = 200
| 40 =
| commitdate = 06/17/20
| scout stars = 0
| rivals stars = 0
| espn grade = NR
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2020
| rivals ref title = 2020 UIC Basketball Commits
| scout ref title = 2020 UIC Basketball Commits
| espn ref title = 2020 UIC Basketball Commits
| rivals school =
| scout s =
| espn schoolid =
| scout overall =
| rivals overall =
| espn overall =
| accessdate = November 26, 2020
| bball = yes
}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2020|team=UIC Flames|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brian|last=Taylor|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=205|class=so|rs=|home=Detroit, Michigan}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first= Maurice|last= Commander|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=175|class=jr|rs=|home=Chicago, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Michael|last=Diggins|num=2|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=195|class=sr|rs=|home=Las Vegas, Nevada}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jacob|last=Wiley|num=3|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=sr|rs=|home=Houston, Texas}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first= Teyvion |last=Kirk|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=185|class=sr|rs=y|home=Joliet, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first= Jalen |last=Johnson|num=5|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=jr|rs=|home=Hopkinsville, KY}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Deon|last=Ejim|num=10|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=250|class=so|rs=y|home=Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Demetrius|last=Calip II|num=13|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=165|class=fr|rs=|home=Woodland Hills CA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brad|last=Bowditch|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=180|class=fr|rs=|note=W|home=Milton, WI}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Griffin|last=Yaklich|num=15|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=200|class=fr|rs=|note=W|home=Joliet, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jamie|last=Ahale|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=205|class=sr|rs=|home=Montrose, Australia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=RayQuawndis|last=Mitchell|num=21|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=205|class=jr|rs=|home=Atlanta, GA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rob|last=Howard|num=22|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=230|class=sr|rs=y|home=Gary, Indiana}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Braelen|last=Bridges|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=10|lbs=235|class=jr|rs=y|home=McDonough, Georgia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Treavon|last=Martin|num=25|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210|class=jr|rs=|note=W|home=Chicago, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Zion|last=Griffin|num=35|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=215|class=jr|rs=|home=Darien, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Luke Yaklich ({{college|Illinois State University}})
|asst_coach=
- Dee Brown ({{college|Illinois}})
- Brock Erickson ({{college|Rhode Island}})
- Will Veasley ({{college|Butler}})
|roster_url=https://uicflames.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21
|accessdate=November 26, 2020
}}
Schedule and results
On November 25, 2020, UIC announced that fans would not be permitted to attend home games for their first two home games.{{Cite news|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/11/25/mens-basketball-flames-announce-schedule-change-for-saturday|title=Flames Announce Schedule Change for Saturday|work=UIC Athletics|access-date=November 26, 2020|language=en}} However, they did leave open the possibility to allow fans for future events.
{{CBB schedule start
| gamehighs =yes
| attend =yes
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UIC Flames}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 25, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Northern Illinois
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = DeKalb, IL
| tv =
| highscorer = Tied
| points = 12
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 9
| score = 65–61
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 28, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Central Michigan
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| gamename = UIC Basketball Invitational
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Mitchell
| points = 23
| highrebounder= Bridges
| rebounds = 13
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 6
| score = 74–72
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Valparaiso
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| gamename = UIC Basketball Invitational
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 14
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 14
| score = 66–50
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 5, 2020
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Ball State
| site_stadium = Worthen Arena
| site_cityst = Muncie, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Tied
| points = 13
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 6
| score = 66–68
| attend =
| record = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 13, 2020
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Loyola–Chicago
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 17
| highrebounder= Diggins
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 5
| score = 66–77
| attend =
| record = 3–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UIC Flames}}| Horizon League regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 19, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Oakland
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Ahale
| points = 25
| highrebounder= Howard
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 11
| score = 74–72
| attend =
| record = 4–2
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20, 2020
| time = 4:00 pm
| opponent = Oakland
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Howard
| points = 23
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 11
| score = 90–73
| attend =
| record = 5–2
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 26, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| status = p
| away = yes
| opponent = Milwaukee
| site_stadium = Klotsche Center
| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = Cancelled due to COVID-19 issues {{Cite web|title=Flames Pause Basketball Activities, Series at Milwaukee Canceled|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/12/24/mens-basketball-flames-pause-basketball-activities-series-at-milwaukee-canceled.aspx|access-date=2020-12-26|website=UIC Flames|language=en}}
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 27, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| status = p
| away = yes
| opponent = Milwaukee
| site_stadium = Klotsche Center
| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = Cancelled due to COVID-19 issues {{Cite web|title=Flames Pause Basketball Activities, Series at Milwaukee Canceled|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/12/24/mens-basketball-flames-pause-basketball-activities-series-at-milwaukee-canceled.aspx|access-date=2020-12-26|website=UIC Flames|language=en}}
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 1, 2021
| time = 3:00 pm
| status = p
| opponent = Detroit Mercy
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = Cancelled due to mental health reasons {{Cite web|title=Flames' Series Against Detroit Mercy Canceled|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/12/30/flames-series-against-detroit-mercy-canceled.aspx|access-date=2021-01-01|website=UIC Flames|language=en}}
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 2, 2021
| time = 3:00 pm
| status = p
| opponent = Detroit Mercy
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = Cancelled due to mental health reasons {{Cite web|title=Flames' Series Against Detroit Mercy Canceled|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2020/12/30/flames-series-against-detroit-mercy-canceled.aspx|access-date=2021-01-01|website=UIC Flames|language=en}}
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 8, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Purdue Fort Wayne
| site_stadium = Hilliard Gates Sports Center
| site_cityst = Fort Wayne, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 31
| highrebounder= Diggins
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 6
| overtime = OT
| score = 89–96
| attend =
| record = 5–3
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 9, 2021
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Purdue Fort Wayne
| site_stadium = Hilliard Gates Sports Center
| site_cityst = Fort Wayne, IN
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Diggins
| points = 23
| highrebounder= Tied
| rebounds = 4
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 5
| score = 55–88
| attend =
| record = 5–4
| conference = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 15, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Robert Morris
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Diggins
| points = 16
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 4
| score = 67–53
| attend =
| record = 6–4
| conference = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 16, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| opponent = Robert Morris
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Howard
| points = 18
| highrebounder= Tied
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = 3 Tied
| assists = 3
| score = 66–62
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 7–4
| conference = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 22, 2021
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Youngstown State
| site_stadium = Beeghly Center
| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 15
| highrebounder= Tied
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 5
| score = 67–66
| attend =
| record = 8–4
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 23, 2021
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Youngstown State
| site_stadium = Beeghly Center
| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Commander
| points = 18
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 5
| score = 77–85
| attend =
| record = 8–5
| conference = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 29, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Northern Kentucky
| site_stadium = BB&T Arena
| site_cityst = Highland Heights, KY
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Griffin
| points = 15
| highrebounder= Howard
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Griffin
| assists = 5
| score = 68–72
| attend =
| record = 8–6
| conference = 5–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 30, 2021
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Northern Kentucky
| site_stadium = BB&T Arena
| site_cityst = Highland Heights, KY
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Bridges
| points = 17
| highrebounder= Bridges
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Commander
| assists = 4
| score = 67–69
| attend =
| record = 8–7
| conference = 5–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 5, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Wright State
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Commander
| points = 10
| highrebounder= Bridges
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = 3 Tied
| assists = 2
| score = 47–72
| attend =
| record = 8–8
| conference = 5–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 6, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Wright State
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Diggins
| points = 16
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Tied
| assists = 2
| score = 57–77
| attend =
| record = 8–9
| conference = 5–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 2021
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = IUPUI
| site_stadium = Indiana Farmers Coliseum
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 19
| highrebounder= Tied
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 6
| score = 69–89
| attend =
| record = 8–10
| conference = 5–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 13, 2021
| time = 11:00 am
| away = yes
| opponent = IUPUI
| site_stadium = Indiana Farmers Coliseum
| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 21
| highrebounder= Tied
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 5
| score = 81–88
| attend =
| record = 8–11
| conference = 5–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 19, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Green Bay
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 19
| highrebounder= Diggins
| rebounds = 13
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 6
| score = 61–58
| attend =
| record = 9–11
| conference = 6–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 20, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Green Bay
| site_stadium = Credit Union 1 Arena
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| tv = ESPN3
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 11
| highrebounder= Wiley
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Commander
| assists = 6
| score = 59–69
| attend =
| record = 9–12
| conference = 6–10
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UIC Flames}}| 2021 Horizon League men's basketball tournament
|-
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| seed = 11
| opponent = Youngstown State
| oppseed = 6
| site_stadium = Beeghly Center
| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH
| gamename = First Round
| tv = ESPN+
| w/l =
| score = 58–74
| highscorer = Kirk
| points = 13
| highrebounder= Kirk
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Kirk
| assists = 4
| attend =
| record = 9–13
| conference =
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|region=|regionname=|timezone=Central Time Zone}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UIC Flames men's basketball navbox}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 UIC Flames men's basketball team}}