The eve of the college basketball season has arrived on the Prairie. I feel it with the chill in the air, the earlier arrival of darkness with the shift to standard time, and I hear it with the echoes of bouncing basketballs inside The Recreation and Athletics Center (TRAC). It's an exciting time to be a Prairie Star!
 
As if the start of the season weren't enough to whet the appetite, both the UIS men's and women's teams delivered exciting appetizers during their preseason slates. The men traveled to the Iowa City suburb of Coralville to face the Big Ten's Iowa Hawkeyes in an exhibition matchup last Tuesday, acquitting themselves quite well in an 88-64 contest. Three returnees—Alex Stell, Isaiah Davis, and Britton Dutton—scored in double figures, keeping the game competitive throughout.
 
The UIS women's team capped off Big Ten week with a road exhibition at Illinois, taking on the No. 23 Illini. Featuring a 17-player roster with eight newcomers, nearly every player saw action against Illinois. That big-arena experience paid off just four days later when the Stars traveled to the Banterra Center in Carbondale. UIS played even with the SIU Salukis through three quarters before pulling away for a 75-70 upset victory. Senior Kayla Rice, who enters the season fourth on the UIS career scoring list, led the charge with a 30-point performance.
 
After likely the most thrilling preseason in UIS basketball history, both teams start playing for keeps on Monday, Nov. 9 in a home doubleheader. The women tip off against Purdue Northwest at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men taking on nearby rival Millikin at 7:30 p.m. 
 
Following opening night, the men won't return home until their clash with Indianapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Meanwhile, the women follow their opener with three straight home games against stiff Midwest regional competition:

• Friday, Nov. 13 vs. Tiffin
• Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Hillsdale
• Wednesday, Nov. 18 vs. Ashland

Much of the buzz surrounding Prairie Star basketball can be attributed to the leadership on the sidelines. Head Coach Matt Brock is among the longest-tenured coaches on the UIS staff as he enters his eighth season. His squads have earned a spot in the GLVC Tournament in four of the past five seasons, winning 13 GLVC games twice — including last season's third-place finish.
 
On the women's side, Coach Olivia Lett Birt noted when taking the job three years ago that she always had her eye on this program because of its potential. It has been remarkable watching the team improve, not just season-over-season, but visibly within each year. Last season's 11 GLVC victories—a seven-win jump from the previous year—are proof of that growth. She has built a deep roster thanks to three upper classmen returnees, combined with a strong core of six sophomores from her first recruiting class plus five highly touted freshmen and three Division I transfers. It's a recipe for an exciting season!

Ticket Information

Ready to catch the action live at TRAC? Here is how to join the crowd:

• Single-Game General Admission: $10 (Adults) | $5 (Youth 18 & under)
• Single-Game Reserved Chairback: $15 at the door
• GA Season Tickets: $50
• Reserved Chairback Season Tickets: $125 (UIS Faculty & Staff can purchase up to four reserved seats for $75)

To purchase season tickets, contact AJ Golembiewski at agole3@uis.edu.
 
As the weather cools down over the coming months, UIS basketball will be the hottest ticket on the Prairie. See you at TRAC—Go Prairie Stars!