Wright State can be an awesome opponent. Just ask Chicago State, which lost 136-91 to the Dayton, Ohio, school last week.
It was the fifth time Wright State (8-3) has broken the 100-point barrier this season.
Now, Illinois-Chicago (5-6) must try to cope with this offensive monster Monday night at the Pavilion. It’s a meeting of teams many pre-season prognosticators had pegged as the ones likely to end Wisconsin-Green Bay’s two-year reign as conference champion.
Despite Wright State’s reputation and scoring prowess, UIC coach Bob Hallberg is convinced “we got the toughest game in the league out of the way Saturday night,” when the Flames were 75-71 winners in their Mid-Continent Conference opener at graduation-depleted Wisconsin-Green Bay.
But, Hallberg isn’t selling Wright State short, especially after seeing Wisconsin-Green Bay’s 6-foot-9-inch Jeff Zavada dig in down low and pile up 24 second-half points Saturday night when the Phoenix came dangerously close to surmounting a 22-point deficit.
“Wright State has got Bill Edwards, who is 6-8, and Mike Nahar, who is a 7-footer,” Hallberg said. “Everybody has tried to attack us inside; we know what we’re in for.”
Wisconsin-Green Bay coach Dick Bennett likes UIC’s chances. He said that UIC and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the independent his team will play in its next game Wednesday, “are probably the best teams we’ll see this year. UIC and UWM would be a heck of a game.”
Perhaps the same can be said for UIC and Wright State.
