St. Francis (IL) vs UIC prediction: UIC breaks in new pieces while Andy Johnson's foot heals
Against a visitor it beat 98-55 a year ago, the real story for UIC is who fills the minutes of its All-MVC Freshman Team guard.
- UIC should control this from the opening tip. The scoreboard matters less than how Rob Ehsan's new rotation looks without Andy Johnson.
- Watch transfer guard Gabe Cupps and forward Lucas Scroggins, two redshirt juniors in their first meaningful action for the Flames.
- No spread or total has been posted. The teams' last meeting, a 98-55 UIC win in November 2025, frames the expected gap.
Opening without Johnson
UIC comes off a season that ended with its first NIT berth since 2003 and its first trip to the MVC Tournament title game. The league's coaches picked the Flames third this fall, behind Murray State and Illinois State. That expectation rests partly on Andy Johnson, the guard who made the 2026 All-MVC Freshman Team.
Johnson won't be there at the start. Ehsan said Sept. 30 that a foot injury would keep him out of the first few games, and no update on his timeline has surfaced since. That puts more on the ball for senior starters Ahmad Henderson II and Mekhi Lowery, returners Rashund Washington Jr. and Jayce Nathaniel, and the two redshirt-junior transfers, Cupps and Scroggins. Freshmen Dikembe Shaw, Elijah Garrett and DJ Hudson could also see early minutes in a game like this.
The identity UIC carries in
Last season's Flames went 19-16 and won with effort stats. They forced turnovers at a 20.9% rate, 21st of 365 in Division I, and grabbed 36.8% of their own misses, 22nd nationally. They did it slowly, at 64.8 possessions per 40 minutes, which ranked 312th in pace.
Those traits are the ones to look for in this game. Pressure and second chances turn a talent gap into a margin. A team built that way doesn't need to shoot well to pull away. The shooting was a weakness last season: UIC made 32.1% of its threes, 286th nationally.
Where this fits on the calendar
This game comes after an Oct. 28 exhibition at Illinois, a 2026 Final Four team. Tip at Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 4 p.m. Central. Expect Ehsan to use it to sort out his rotation and get his newcomers settled before MVC play matters. Last season's final adjusted net rating had UIC 119th nationally. That is a reasonable floor for a roster with this much new talent mixed in.
Key players
- Andy Johnson (UIC): The 2026 All-MVC Freshman Team pick was ruled out Sept. 30 for the first few games with a foot injury.
- Gabe Cupps (UIC): Signed with UIC in April 2026, and could absorb backcourt minutes while Johnson is out.
- Lucas Scroggins (UIC): Joined on April 24, 2026, the second transfer in as many days to sign with the Flames.
Numbers that matter
| UIC forced turnover rate, last season | 20.9% | It ranked 21st of 365, and pressure is how UIC builds margins against overmatched teams. |
|---|---|---|
| UIC offensive rebound rate, last season | 36.8% | It ranked 22nd nationally and gave the Flames second chances despite poor shooting. |
| UIC pace, last season | 64.8 | It ranked 312th in possessions per 40 minutes, a deliberate tempo that limits how big a lopsided score can get. |
| Last meeting | 98-55 | UIC beat St. Francis (IL) by that score on Nov. 11, 2025, at the UIC Pavilion. |
St. Francis (IL) vs UIC: quick answers
When is St. Francis (IL) vs UIC?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.