MVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

Mar 5, 2023; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) celebrates with head coach Darian DeVries during the second half against the Bradley Braves in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Former Duquesne guard Toby Okani leads a rebuilt UIC roster. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

10. Illinois Chicago Flames – Head Coach Luke Yaklich

2022-23 record: 12-20 overall, 4-16 in the MVC

UIC’s second year in the Valley should be better than the first. How much better will depend on some talented newcomers and the development of young Flames’ players. Coach Yaklich returns proven veterans in Toby Okani and Filip Skobalj, but for the team to succeed the improvement of four second-year players is paramout.

Four talented transfers bring a veteran presence and productivity that was missing last season. Blending this group together will be the fourth year coach’s job.

Okani (11.0 ppg) was the Valley’s fifth leading rebounder (7.1 per game) and recorded 39 blocks. He can be an enforcer and at 6’8 guards several positions. The 6’7 Skobalj is a Serbian native and is efficient from deep (37%). He started slowly last season but finished well and ended up starting 19 of the Flames’ 32 games.

Sophomores Christian Jones, Jaden Brownell, Steven Clay and Cameron Fens showed good potential during their rookie campaigns. Guards Jones and Clay and forwards Brownell and Fens all have good size for their positions. Each made multiple starts, with Jones earning the most playing time and averaging 6.2 points and right at two rebounds and two assists per game.

UIC was often on the wrong side of the rebounding stats last season. Fens and Brownell will need to support Okani in that department for the Flames to succeed.

Transfers Marquise Kennedy (Loyola Chicago), Drew King (Houston Christian) and Isaiah Rivera (Colorado State) will play significant roles. The three guards averaged 7.5 points or more at their previous stops and demonstrated versatile games. Kennedy spent several successful Rambler seasons in the Valley and has already demonstrated some of his leadership ability with the young Flames.

Yaklich, who was an assistant at the MVC’s Illinois State added former Redbird defensive stopper Tony Wills as an assistant coach and UIC watchers say he has injected a fresh toughness to that part of the Flames’ practices.

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