All right, I told you guys, we are Chicago tough, Chicago gritty.
Hello and welcome to UIC News sports. I'm joined by assistant men's basketball coach
Donnie Kirksey. We're breaking down the 2012 season, and Coach, let's talk big picture.
What's your impression of the season so far?
We started off very well. We started off at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, we
played New Mexico, which was our first big test. Before we left here we played University
of California Riverside, which gave us a good game but we came out on top with a win. Then
we went down to the Virgin Islands.
There are signature games in every season. You mentioned Paradise Jam, let's talk about
the second round in Paradise Jam. The Flames came back with a convincing win 62-36 over
Mercer. Talk about what that win meant to the team.
You know when you go out there and you compete, and everybody is on the same page and the
guys are talking and communicating, filling the gaps – good things happen. And we just
came out there hungry, and we just didn't let up.
How big of a win is this for your program?
It's a good win, it's a good win, and obviously, we're not, you know, satisfied.
After the New Mexico loss how did you get the team ready for Mercer?
We knew that they were an uptempo team, they like to get out and run, they push the ball
and they go outside to their bigs. I think that that game, our bigs knew what they were
faced with and what they had to do. If they come out, and they play a good game, and we
control the tempo of that game, we will come out on top.
Now another great story was the win against Northwestern. The Flames picked up a big road
win. What impressed you most about that game?
You know, I gotta give credit to our entire coaching staff, and to the guys. So Coach
Biancalana, along with the game plan that Coach Moore put together for the team, it
was very effective, and we came out on top. I mean, we battled to the end and we just
didn't give up.
They all came together, worked, got after it and tried to improve.
So, the final signature game was the final rivalry game against Loyola. Game-winning
shot by senior point guard Gary Talton led to a thrilling victory 61-59 at home. What
did you learn about the team in that game?
You know in that game, in that particular game, you always have to get up for your rival.
I mean everybody around here gets up when it's Loyola and UIC. But our guys once again
didn't stop. You know, they just kept battling and battling and stuck together.
That shot, 1.7 seconds left - Coach Moore said great players make great plays to win
games. Talk about that.
Well, Gary is our leader. And there is no question about it. They put the big on Gary,
which Gary is very good at trying to, you know, getting by a bigger guy, and he got
by the guy and he got to the bucket and made the shot. You know, and I mean, it could have
fell either way and he made the shot and we came out. He did well.
How big is experience? How big of an advantage is experience?
This year, they are better prepared and better coached as far as situations, coming from
Coach Moore and the whole coaching staff as far as our preparation and our approach to
games, and this year, as you can see, down the stretch we're coming out with those games
and getting those 50-50 balls and we're doing a lot better this year.
Explain to those of us that follow the team how the seeding and the conference play may
translate into a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Well, we are looking to go to the NCAA tournament. That's our ultimate goal, and if we stick
together and just play hard and leave it all out there, what's for us is for us.
That's good stuff, Coach. Much appreciated. And this has been UIC News Sports covering
UIC Flames men's basketball.