ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team begins the NIU Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 23 with a first-ever meeting with the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames inside Northern Illinois' Convocation Center. This is part of a continued series of previews looking at the maroon and gold's non-conference opponents.
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGO FLAMES
 
Date: November 23, 2016
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Home Arena: UIC Pavilion
2015-16 Record: 5-25 overall, 3-15 in Horizon (10th)
Post-Season: None
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Head coach: Steve McClain (Entering 2nd season at UIC, 162-140)
Players Returning/Lost: 9/6
Key Returners: Dikembe Dixson (So.), Tai Odiase (Jr.)
Top Scorer Returning: Dikembe Dixson (19.8 ppg)
Top Rebounder Returning: Dikembe Dixson (7.3 rpg)
 
Quick 2016-17 Preview
UIC returns nine players who played last season, including its leading scorer Dikembe Dixson. Recently, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named Dixson to the 20-member watch list for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Dixson was also named to the preseason All-Horizon League First Team. Tai Odiase was named to the preseason All-Horizon League Second Team as he begins his third season with the Flames. The Horizon League announced that UIC is predicted to finish fourth in the league.
 
Quick 2015-16 Recap
The Bulls are coming off an 5-25 overall record and 3-15 mark in conference play in 2015-16. Dixson was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year after averaging 19.8 points per game. Odiase was named a Horizon League All-Defensive Team honoree following his sophomore season when he led the NCAA in blocks per game with 3.23. Odiase's 97 rejections a year ago were the second-best single-season total in program history. Despite finishing 10^th in the league last season, the Flames were third in the league in field goal defense (42.8%) and second in rebounding offense (41.2).
 
Matchup
The game on Wednesday, Nov. 23, will be the first-ever meeting between the Flames and the Phoenix.