SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Basketball season is beginning for the University of Illinois Springfield. Both the men’s and women’s teams opened play officially on Monday. University of Illinois Springfield’s Athletic Director, Mike Herrman was a guest on the WTAX Morning Newswatch discussing the upcoming season.

With college basketball season starting up, Hermann explained what he sees coming this year for both teams in the UIS.

“Matt Brock did a great job with our men’s team last year. We finished 3rd in the conference. He’s got a lot of those key players back. We have 4 senior guards back, and then Alex Stell was a freshman last year back as a sophomore, one of the best big men in the conference. So, we’re excited. We picked 4th in the conference, which, it’s good to be towards the top, but I think that’s, yeah, this can be a fun year to watch Matt Brock’s 8th season at the helm. So, it should be great”

Double headers are pretty usual for the UIS Athletes, Hermann explained what to expect.

“We like to play double headers. We do that during the conference season, so why not start it off for Olivia Birt? This is her third year. Started as Olivia Lett, got married during the time. Now she’s had a baby in this off season. She won five games in her first year in kind of an empty cupboard, and all those came in the second half of the season. Her team won 14 games a year ago. And this year’s team looks loaded.”

A new year is upon UIS, Hermann discussed his excitement for this year.

“I think both coaches had done a wonderful job recruiting people to Springfield into UIS. They’re outstanding people. They’re excellent student athletes, excellent basketball players, and see, watch them come together as a team, has been something that’s been fun to watch in the off season. And I think this is going to be an outstanding year at our building over the winter.”

To see The UIS Prairie Stars Men’s Basketball schedule CLICK HERE 

To see The UIS Prairie Stars Women’s Basketball schedule CLICK HERE