2024–25 UIC Flames men's basketball team

2024–25 UIC Flames men's basketball
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record17–14 (10–10 MVC)
Head coach
Associate head coachKevin Devitt (1st season)
Assistant coaches
  • Johnny Hill (1st season)
  • David Berkun (1st season)
  • Ryan Davis (1st season)
  • Jaime Smith (1st season)
Home arenaCredit Union 1 Arena
2024–25 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Drake † 17 – 3   .850 31 – 4   .886
Bradley 15 – 5   .750 28 – 9   .757
Northern Iowa 14 – 6   .700 20 – 13   .606
Belmont 13 – 7   .650 22 – 11   .667
Illinois State 10 – 10   .500 22 – 14   .611
10 – 10   .500 17 – 14   .548
Murray State 9 – 11   .450 16 – 17   .485
Southern Illinois 8 – 12   .400 14 – 19   .424
Indiana State 8 – 12   .400 14 – 18   .438
Evansville 8 – 12   .400 11 – 21   .344
Valparaiso 6 – 14   .300 15 – 19   .441
Missouri State 2 – 18   .100 9 – 23   .281
† 2025 MVC tournament winner

The 2024–25 UIC Flames men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois Chicago during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Flames, led by first-year head coach Rob Ehsan, played their home games at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2023–24 season 12–21, 4–16 in MVC play, to finish in eleventh place.[1] They defeated Southern Illinois,[2] before losing to Bradley in the quarterfinals of the MVC tournament.[3]

On March 10, 2024, the school announced the firing of head coach Luke Yaklich, ending his four-year tenure at the helm.[4] On April 1, the school announced that Stanford assistant Rob Ehsan would be named Yaklich's successor.[5]

Offseason

Departures

Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Drew King 0 G 6' 3" 189 Sophomore Phoenix, AZ Transferred to Elon
Isaiah Rivera 1 G 6' 5" 210 Senior Geneseo, IL Transferred to DePaul
Steven Clay 2 G 6' 4" 185 Sophomore Milwaukee, WI Transferred to Morehead State
CJ Jones 3 G 6' 5" 195 Sophomore East St. Louis, IL Transferred to Kansas State
Toby Okani 5 G 6' 8" 210 Senior Orange, NJ Transferred to West Virginia
Ethyn Brown 10 G 5' 11" 185 Sophomore Belleville, IL Transferred to Quincy
Nathan Ojukwu 13 F 6' 6" 215 Freshman Boise, ID Transferred to Northwest Florida State
Marquise Kennedy 14 G 6' 1" 190 Graduate student Chicago, IL Exhausted eligibility
Griffin Yaklich 15 G 6' 6" 210 Senior Joliet, IL Transferred to Roosevelt
Yusef Salih 23 G 6' 2" 192 Junior Gainesville, VA Transferred to East Texas A&M
Jaden Brownell 33 F 6' 9" 230 RS Sophomore Sandy, UT Transferred to Samford
Cameron Fens 54 C 6' 10" 255 Sophomore Dubuque, IA Transferred to South Dakota

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Ahmad Henderson II 0 G 5' 9" 155 Sophomore Chicago, IL Niagara
Jordan Mason 2 G 6' 4" 175 Junior San Antonio, TX Texas State
Modestas Kancleris 5 F 6' 9" 205 RS Senior Kaunas, Lithuania Cal State Bakersfield
Tyem Freeman 8 G 6' 5" 205 Graduate student Springfield, MO Kent State
Koby Jeffries 9 G 6' 3" 195 RS Senior Olive Branch, MS UT Martin
Saša Ciani 21 F 6' 9" 240 Sophomore Nova Gorica, Slovenia Xavier
Javon Jackson 22 G 6' 3" 190 Junior Houston, TX Utah State
Joshua Reaves 23 G 6' 4" 205 Graduate student Hamden, CT Mount St. Mary's

Recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Jayce Nathaniel
F 		Buford, GA AZ Compass Prep 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Carlos Harris III
G 		Chicago, IL Curie High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Iker Garmendia
F 		Barcelona, Spain Joventut Badalona 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg)  
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.

Roster

2024–25 UIC Flames men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Ahmad II Henderson 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 155 lb (70 kg) So Niagara Chicago, IL
F 1 Jayce Nathaniel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr AZ Compass Prep Buford, GA
G 2 Jordan Mason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Texas State San Antonio, TX
G 3 Carlos III Harris 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Curie High School Chicago, IL
G 4 Ethan Pickett 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr Triton College Pensacola, FL
F 5 Modestas Kancleris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Cal State Bakersfield Kaunas, Lithuania
G 6 Khaled Khaled 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Fr Reavis High School Burbank, IL
G 8 Tyem Freeman 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) GS Kent State Springfield, MO
G 9 Koby Jeffries 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Sr UT Martin Olive Branch, MS
F 14 Iker Garmendia 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Joventut Badalona Barcelona, Spain
F 21 Saša Ciani 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Xavier Nova Gorica, Slovenia
G 22 Javon Jackson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Utah State Houston, TX
G 23 Joshua Reaves 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) GS Mount St. Mary's Hamden, CT
G 34 Grant Welch 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 187 lb (85 kg) So Moline High School Moline, IL
F 50 Filip Skobalj 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Don Bosco-Schule Rostock Belgrade, Serbia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 24, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition season
November 30, 2024*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Aurora W 91–76 
 19 – tied   10 – tied   7 – Jackson  Credit Union 1 Arena 
Chicago, IL
Regular season
November 4, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		St. Francis (IL) W 91–43  1–0
  21 – Jackson   11 – Kancleris   5 – Henderson II  Credit Union 1 Arena (594)
Chicago, IL
November 8, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Yale W 91–79  2–0
  19 – Freeman   11 – Ciani   7 – Henderson II  Credit Union 1 Arena (3,102)
Chicago, IL
November 12, 2024*
6:00 p.m., BTN 		at Northwestern L 74–83  2–1
  17 – Jackson   8 – tied   4 – tied  Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,492)
Evanston, IL
November 16, 2024*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Saint Mary's (MN) W 117–59  3–1
  21 – Reaves   9 – Kancleris   10 – Jackson  Credit Union 1 Arena (664)
Chicago, IL
November 21, 2024*
10:00 a.m., BallerTV 		vs. James Madison
Boardwalk Battle quarterfinal 		L 81–99  3–2
  17 – Henderson II   9 – Ciani   4 – Henderson II  Ocean Center (386)
Daytona Beach, FL
November 22, 2024*
10:00 a.m., BallerTV 		vs. La Salle
Boardwalk Battle consolation semifinal 		W 96–83  4–2
  19 – Skobalj   11 – Ciani   4 – Jackson  Ocean Center 
Daytona Beach, FL
November 23, 2024*
12:00 p.m., BallerTV 		vs. East Carolina
Boardwalk Battle consolation final 		L 55–72  4–3
  10 – tied   8 – Ciani   6 – Jackson  Ocean Center 
Daytona Beach, FL
December 4, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Northern Iowa L 56–83  4–4
(0–1) 		 14 – Jackson   17 – Ciani   3 – Jackson  Credit Union 1 Arena (732)
Chicago, IL
December 8, 2024*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Dartmouth W 69–68 OT 5–4
  17 – tied   13 – Kancleris   4 – Jackson  Credit Union 1 Arena (728)
Chicago, IL
December 15, 2024*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Little Rock W 77–69 OT 6–4
  15 – tied   13 – Kancleris   5 – Mason  Jack Stephens Center (602)
Little Rock, AR
December 20, 2024*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Seattle W 79–68  7–4
  14 – Henderson II   7 – Kancleris   9 – Henderson II  Redhawk Center (852)
Seattle, WA
December 29, 2024
4:00 p.m., Marquee/ESPN+ 		at Illinois State W 73–67  8–4
(1–1) 		 16 – Ciani   9 – Ciani   4 – Henderson II  CEFCU Arena (3,841)
Normal, IL
January 1, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Drake W 74–70  9–4
(2–1) 		 17 – Mason   5 – Ciani   5 – Mason  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,200)
Chicago, IL
January 4, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Belmont L 87–92  9–5
(2–2) 		 18 – Henderson II   8 – Jackson   5 – Mason  Curb Event Center (1,200)
Nashville, TN
January 7, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Missouri State W 80–63  10–5
(3–2) 		 18 – Freeman   5 – Freeman   6 – Ciani  Great Southern Bank Arena (1,406)
Springfield, MO
January 11, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Bradley L 60–61  10–6
(3–3) 		 15 – Mason   11 – Ciani   4 – Henderson II  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,896)
Chicago, IL
January 15, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Murray State W 97–93 2OT 11–6
(4–3) 		 30 – Jackson   10 – Ciani   5 – tied  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,391)
Chicago, IL
January 18, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Valparaiso W 81–74  12–6
(5–3) 		 17 – Jackson   12 – Ciani   4 – Freeman  Athletics–Recreation Center (1,456)
Valparaiso, IN
January 22, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Evansville W 78–67  13–6
(6–3) 		 19 – Mason   9 – Kancleris   5 – Mason  Ford Center (3,987)
Evansville, IN
January 25, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern Illinois L 85–89  13–7
(6–4) 		 23 – Mason   6 – Freeman   7 – Mason  Credit Union 1 Arena (2,326)
Chicago, IL
January 29, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Bradley W 93–70  14–7
(7–4) 		 25 – Jackson   9 – Kancleris   7 – Mason  Carver Arena (5,785)
Peoria, IL
February 1, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Indiana State L 83–88  14–8
(7–5) 		 20 – tied   10 – Kancleris   6 – Mason  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,352)
Chicago, IL
February 5, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Illinois State L 79–81  14–9
(7–6) 		 18 – Freeman   7 – Pickett   5 – Jackson  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,554)
Chicago, IL
February 8, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southern Illinois L 67–79  14–10
(7–7) 		 12 – tied   5 – Freeman   2 – tied  Banterra Center (4,321)
Carbondale, IL
February 11, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Murray State L 53–63  14–11
(7–8) 		 12 – Kancleris   10 – Kancleris   3 – Mason  CFSB Center (4,874)
Murray, KY
February 16, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Missouri State W 63–58  15–11
(8–8) 		 16 – Jackson   8 – Kancleris   2 – tied  Credit Union 1 Arena (875)
Chicago, IL
February 19, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Drake L 57–74  15–12
(8–9) 		 15 – Freeman   6 – tied   3 – Jackson  The Knapp Center (3,449)
Des Moines, IA
February 22, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Evansville W 82–77  16–12
(9–9) 		 18 – Kancleris   10 – Kancleris   9 – Mason  Credit Union 1 Arena (994)
Chicago, IL
February 26, 2025
6:00 p.m., MVC TV Network/ESPN+ 		at Northern Iowa L 52–74  16–13
(9–10) 		 13 – Henderson II   6 – Ciani   2 – tied  McLeod Center (4,098)
Cedar Falls, IA
March 2, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Valparaiso W 77–73  17–13
(10–10) 		 17 – Henderson II   13 – Kancleris   4 – Freeman  Credit Union 1 Arena (1,200)
Chicago, IL
State Farm MVC tournament
March 6, 2025*
8:30 p.m., MVC TV Network/ESPN+ 		(6) vs. (11) Valparaiso
Arch Madness Opening Round 		L 50–67  17–14
  11 – Pickett   6 – tied   3 – Khaled  Enterprise Center (3,849)
St. Louis, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

Sources:[6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings". Missouri Valley Conference. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "UIC outlasts Southern Illinois 84-82 in OT in Missouri Valley Conference Tournament opener". AP News. March 8, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Hickman has 20, Bradley defeats UIC 74-47 in MVC quarterfinal". CBS Sports. AP. March 9, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Illinois-Chicago basketball fires head coach Luke Yaklich". FOX 32 Chicago. March 10, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Harris, Marshall (April 1, 2024). "University of Illinois Chicago names Rob Ehsan as new men's basketball head coach". CBS Chicago. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "2024-25 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Illinois Chicago Athletics. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Composite Schedule". Missouri Valley Conference. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "UIC Flames Schedule 2024-25". ESPN. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
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