Here are 5 things to know about the UIS men's basketball team ahead of the GLVC tournament
The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team is humming like never before.
The Prairie Stars (19-9 overall, 13-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) already exude more wins than any previous NCAA Division II season first beginning in 2009-10.
UIS, riding a five-game winning streak, garnered the No. 2 seed in the GLVC tournament and faces No. 7 Southwest Baptist in the opening quarterfinal round on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.
Eight teams will vie for the NCAA Division II tournament automatic bid. The championship game is Sunday at 1 p.m.
UIS is soaring to new heights
The Stars set a program record for most wins as a D-II program following a 73-64 victory over Rockhurst at The Recreation Athletic and Athletic Center in February.
They particularly thrived at home by going 12-1.
The previous best was 15-13 in the 2012-13 season. UIS went 14-14 for three consecutive seasons from 2017-2020.
The Stars appeared in the GLVC tournament last season as the No. 12 seed at 12-16 overall and 7-13 in conference play before bowing to No. 5 Southern Indiana 81-52.
UIS nabbed its only conference tournament win in 2013.
Brock knows best
UIS head coach Matt Brock previously led Missouri Baptist to its first NAIA Division I tournament berth in 14 years in 2019 before arriving at UIS.
That largely hinged on defense.
UIS has fielded a tougher defense this year but has made its biggest strides on offense.
Last season, the Stars ranked last place in the GLVC out of 15 teams in scoring offense with 67.3 points per game and 3-point field goal percentage at 31.7%.
This year, UIS ranks fourth in scoring offense with 76.9 ppg and third in 3-point field goal percentage at 37.6%.
Offense pivots around Weber
That turnaround has unfolded despite graduating leading scorer Chase Robinson.
It starts with third-year starter Jack Weber. The 6-foot-6 forward averages team-highs 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
His 2.9 assists is also second on the team and his 60.9 field goal percentage ranks third in the league.
Sophomore transfer guard Max Kunnert has provided a major spark on the perimeter and is second on the team with 12.4 ppg. His 43.6% shooting from beyond the arc ranks fourth in the GLVC.
A deeper bench has also buoyed the Stars. Michael Wright and Jordan Rice nearly average 10 ppg themselves.
What are the chances of an at-large bid for the NCAA tourney?
UIS does not want to leave it up to chance, based on last year’s NCAA tournament bracket of 64 teams.
Only two GLVC teams qualified.
Missouri St. Louis clinched the automatic bid while Truman State, the No. 3 seed, came away with the league’s only at-large bid. Not even the top two seeds, Southwest Baptist and Lewis, qualified for the Big Dance.
The Tritons topped Truman State 73-68 in the first round of the NCAA tournament before reaching the Sweet 16.
Who is the team to beat?
Indianapolis (25-3, 17-3 GLVC) dominated the conference standings en route to the regular season title and No. 1 seed. The Greyhounds also rank No. 4 nationally in the latest NCAA Division II poll.
Indy ranks first conference-wide in scoring defense with 63.1 points per game allowed and third in scoring offense with 76.9 points per game.
Jesse Bingham ranks fourth in the league with 15.7 points per game while Kendrick Tchoua nearly averages a double-double with 14.4 ppg and 8 rpg.
Contact Bill Welt:788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: NCAA men's basketball: UIS gains No. 2 seed in GLVC tourney
