Season Winds down for WCB

By Colin Mieczkowski 

The Windy City Bulls season is coming to a close and we have had the opportunity to witness players from the Chicago Bulls come to the D-League and show off their skills. Among the key contributors from the parent club included Paul Zipser, Jerian Grant, Bobby Portis, and the latest, Cameron Payne.  

Zipser and Grant specifically were regulars, playing more than two games for the squad throughout the season. One of the shining moments for Windy City came from Grant, who hit a buzzer-beating shot on Dec. 9 against the Canton Charge.  

In that game, Grant would drop 20 points and dish out eight assists with the game-winner being the final blow. Bobby Portis also had his big moment with Windy City, dropping 32 points against the Westchester Knicks on Jan. 6.  

Denzel Valentine also had his shot with the WCB, where he broke the single game three-point record with eight. Eventually, former D-League 3-point shootout champion Jarell Eddie would take over that spot.  

Almost every time a player from Chicago is called down to play for Windy City, the team wins. This shows how important it is to bring young talent down to the D-League.  

Not only does this develop skills, but it also makes Windy City that much better. It was also long overdue for Chicago to have a D-League squad.  

Players who get called down don’t have to go far to get to the Sears Centre located in Hoffman Estates, IL. With guys coming up and down, it’s an easy trip, with what is normally a roller coaster life.  

It has also helped players such as Grant, normally known for his ability to drive to the basket, deepen his offensive skills. In the month of February, Grant shot 48% from behind the three-point line for Chicago.  

This is something the NBA Bulls needed, especially after parting ways with Doug McDermott, one of the team’s best three point shooters. Giving young players a chance to develop will be huge for the organization in the future, making the addition of Windy City a great fit.  

Portis, who was given the opportunity to really shine for Windy City, gave credit to the D-League team for his development.  

“It was fun being down there to get some reps so I can come back” Portis said. “Everyone embraced me and let me do my thing and I had a great time”.  

Portis said this during a night where he had 17 points on an amazing 72% shooting from the floor including grabbing 11 boards. Although the Bulls would lose the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he was one of the young players that shined.  

Coach Nate Loenser, who has gotten his first head coaching opportunity, has done a solid job with a roster that constantly changes. Portis gave praise to the former Bulls video coordinator.  

“It was great, I’ve known him for two years now” Portis said. “He was our video guy last year, and in the Summer League he had the chance to coach us too so I had a great feel for him and I think he’ll be a great coach for them (WC Bulls)”.  

No doubt that the young Loenser (37) has become popular with his players. When the team is in the huddles, and as Loenser draws up his plan, player chatter stops, and everyone stops to listen to him.  

He’s a player’s type of coach, and that bodes well for players coming down from Chicago. And his ability to be able to coach both young and experienced talent is remarkable, and is a big reason why, when players come down from the NBA, they help Windy City win games.  

It’s always exciting to watch young players develop, and with the Windy City Bulls right at the Sears Centre, it gives local fans a chance to witness future stars. The Windy City Bulls close out the season Saturday, April 1st, tip-off is at 7pm.  

Don’t forget that you can listen to the game and read up about the squad on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com. You can follow Colin Mieczkowski on Twitter @ChiGolfRadio. 

Late Rally Runs Out as Bulls Streak Ends

By Colin Mieczkowski


The Windy City Bulls lost to the Toronto Raptors 905 for the third time this season, 113-104 off of 22 points by three point shooting specialist, Brady Heslip. It was a blowout early on in favor of the Raptors, but a late run and a couple of big threes from Jarell Eddie closed the gap a little bit.

Eddie was red hot again, scoring 28 points, however, it was just a tad bit late. Some sloppy passing by the Bulls would be the major difference in this game, giving away the ball 21 times.

The Raptors were able to get a ton of inside looks which ultimately played a big role in their victory. The Bulls were able to lock down the Raptors on the inside later on, but then they leaned heavily on Heslip and Bruno Caboclo who hit some threes to extend the lead.

With the victory, it was the largest win margin for the Raptors 905 all season, winning by nine points. The second biggest victory they had was against the Bulls as well, back on Nov. 23 when they won by six.

For the Bulls, Jake Layman was the only player in double figures in points until Alfonzo McKinnie and Eddie did so later in the game. The strong defense down the stretch was a positive, and they started to do good job of defending Raptors 905 7’3” center, Edy Tavares in the paint.

On another note, the Windy City Bulls will not have any players represented in the D-League’s All-Star game. Eddie thinks it’s tough, considering all of the talent surrounding the team.

“It’s tough, because there are some great players in the D-League, but we also have some great players here in Windy City” said Eddie. “It’s tough but it’s something you got to use to motivate you”.

Despite the fact that the Bulls won’t have any all-stars in their first year of existence, they will have a presence in one of the events. Alfonzo McKinnie, who has thrown down numerous monster dunks and ally-oops throughout the season, will participate in the D-League Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 18 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

So, despite the lost to a very good Raptors 905 team, the Bulls can definitely take some positives out of it. They’ve shot the ball well lately, and the defense continues to improve, and now they have a young player in McKinnie who will get his shot to shine during All-Star weekend.

Be sure to listen to all home games, and read up about the team on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

Bulls Charge For 4 in a row vs Raptors 905

By Colin Mieczkowski



The Windy City Bulls will take on the red-hot Raptors 905 for the third time this season where unfortunately the Bulls are 0-2 in their last couple of meetings. The Bulls are 13-16 overall, trying to break free from last place in the division while the Raptors 905 are having a terrific season, with a 22-9 record, and winning eight of their last 10 games.

The Bulls have played very well, winning six of their last 10 games. They had a terrific showing from Jerell Eddie in the last game against the Grand Rapids Drive where he had a record tying, eight three pointers in the game.

Eddie knew what time it was once he kept hitting those threes that night. When asked what was going through his mind, he gave a simple answer.

“Just keep shooting” Eddie said. “I felt like my teammates found me in great positions and my confidence was rolling so I just had to keep shooting”.

No doubt that if Eddie can shoot it tonight like he did on Tuesday night, it could be a long night for the Raptors 905. But the 2015 D-League Three Point contest champion, and former Virginia Tech star knows that there’s still work to do.

“I just got to do my part, I got to bring as much leadership as I can to the group” Eddie said when asked about what the team needs to do to bring the Bulls back to .500. “If that’s making shots, getting rebounds, guarding, I just got to do my part, and help us get team wins”.

This type of unselfishness is what has made the Bulls team a fun squad to watch this year, despite some unfortunate losses. This game will feature an offense vs defense battle, as the Bulls are one of the better offensive teams, while the Raptors 905 has the best defense in the D-League.

The Bulls ranked eighth in field goals made, sixth in assists and fifth in offensive rebounds. This brings a unique offensive attack as opposed to the popular outside shooting method.

On the other side, the Raptors rank second in the D-League in blocks while they are 11th in steals per game. A very balanced defensive attack has bid well for them this season.

Despite the Raptors 905’s lockdown defensive ways, they have one of the hottest three point shooters of the last few years in Brady Heslip. Heslip still holds the single game record with 13 threes in a game.

The scary thing is that, the last record holder, was Heslip himself, during his D-League debut. He broke his own record just 15 days later, when he beat his debut performance by two threes.

So it will be interesting to see how coach Nate Loenser and the Bulls defend Heslip. Keeping him away from behind the arc and forcing him to drive could play a role in the game plan.

It should be another fun duel between the Bulls and Raptors 905,

You can listen to the game and all other home games as well as read up about the team on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

WCB look to Continue Winning Ways vs Grand Rapids

By Colin Mieczkowski



Tonight it will be the Windy City Bulls taking on the Grand Rapids Drive at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. Both teams are on a winning streak, with the Bulls winning two in a row, while the Drive has won four straight.

In the last game against the Drive, the Bulls lost the game 121-91. They hope to get a little revenge on the Drive, a team that is 16-16 and 5-5 during their last 10 games.

The Bulls are 12-16 and are also 5-5 in their last 10 games. They look to inch closer to winning record if they can win tonight.

The Bulls have also enjoyed some recent success from Jake Layman, one of their newer acquisitions. He has averaged 17 points, and six rebounds to compliment his scoring.

Layman was a very solid player at Maryland, averaging 11.6 points for the 2015-16 college basketball season. He got his shot in the NBA by playing ball with the Portland Trailblazers where he scored 17 points in his NBA debut, including five three pointers.

Layman credits his time, playing with Portland, as a reason for his early success with the WIndy City Bulls.

“My time in Portland, working with the coaches, keeping me ready to playing in the games.” Layman said. “When you’re there, you never know when you’re going to get in, so you have to stay ready, and coming down here (to Windy City), I felt ready from day one”.

Despite his impressive offensive showing, Layman still feels like he could work a bit more on his defense.

“There’s always things you can improve on” Layman said. “For me, it’s on defense for sure, guarding the ball and knowing the right reads”.


Speaking of playing defense, the Bulls will have to contend with one of the D-League’s top five scorers in Jordan Crawford. You may recognize Crawford during his playing days with the Washington Wizards among other teams in the NBA.

In the D-League now, Crawford is averaging 22.9 points per game while a little over three rebounds and assists per game. During his stint with the Wizards (2010, 11 and 12), Crawford averaged 16, 13 and 14 points respectively.

In short, Crawford is no stranger to scoring, but with the additions of Layman among others for the Bulls, it adds some extra depth which is big in the D-League. With so many players bouncing in and out of different locker rooms, it’s hard to keep a deep team.

But, with a team that’s trying to break out of the cellar, and another team hanging around at .500, both teams are hungry. When both teams are anxious, it can lead to a great game, and this could be the case tonight.

Be sure to listen to all home games and read about the team, on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

Q&A with Aaron Thomas

By Colin Mieczkowski

Aaron Thomas has put together a nice season for the Windy City Bulls, the newest team in the NBA Development League. Thomas has been one of the league’s best scorers, averaging over 16 points per game.

In a recent game against the Erie Bayhawks on Jan. 11, Thomas dropped 22 points. When he’s playing, he can score at will, and the former Florida State Seminole has taken advantage of the opportunity.

I had a chance to sit down and talk to the Bulls star about the D-League experience, playing under coach Nate Loenser and playing overseas among other things. Below is the full interview.


Colin Mieczkowski: You were a good player in college, and now you’re playing professional basketball in the D-League with a ton of of other great young players, what has that experience been like for you so far?

Aaron Thomas: There’s definitely a difference between college and pro. Guys are bigger, more athletic, and strong, it’s just a different level. Not saying that college was a breeze but, the D-League experience has been good. Just to see where I’m at, and all of the hard work I put in at the next level, and see what happens after that.

CM: What goes through your mind, when you hear your name called on game night?

AT: *Laughs* it’s a good feeling. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you but it’s a real good feeling. It’s unexplainable honestly, you just go out there and do what you do and not worry about what’s going on on the outside. Just appreciate that you’re here, and take advantage of the opportunity.

CM: Working with Coach Loenser, how would you best describe him as a coach, and what are some key things you’ve learned from him so far?

AT: Coach Nate, he’s a good coach. He always has a plan, no matter if it’s practice, film or a game. He always has a plan. It’s just on us to execute it and pay attention. He’s always big on playing hard, and just being together and playing together as a team. He’s big on togetherness.

CM: What are some things that you want to improve on as a player?

AT: Everything. I’d be lying if I told you I don’t need to work on anything. I just work on all aspects of my game, on the court and off the court, just being a professional, period. Just getting prepared for the next level and just life in general.

CM: You’ve had a chance to play with some guys from the Chicago Bulls roster when they came here to play for a few games. Did you learn some things from the experience of playing with these guys?

AT: Yeah definitely, from each of them. Because the level is different between the NBA and D-League. Just asking them about what the experience was like as far as like the style of play and things like that.

CM: You had a chance to play overseas. What are some differences between playing in the Euroleague, and playing in the NBA D-League?

AT: It’s just different. You’re out overseas by yourself, so you have to be real mental when you go overseas. You have to be mentally tough and ready for the grind. It’s that simple.

CM: Any site seeing while playing in Europe?

AT: Oh definitely! I was in Germany so I was in a good city so I was able to see things, as in the history. I tried to learn some German but couldn’t stick with it. So that’s pretty much it, just real different.


CM: What are some things that you like to do on your down time, when you’re away from the basketball court?

AT: Just talk to my daughter and my girlfriend and play the game. I watch a ton of Netflix so I just be chilling. When I’m here at the gym, it’s time to focus on hoop, but when I’m outside of the gym, I focus on things other than hoop.

CM: Who are some players that you looked up to as a kid?

AT: I liked Kevin Durant. I pretty much didn’t have a hero. I just had so many guys I liked. I didn’t have anybody specific I favored. I just had a variety of guys I liked.

CM: Being in the Chicago area, what are some your favorite restaurants that you’ve been to so far?

AT: I’m a big fan of eating, so there’s a lot of food places I’ve been and been interested in. Alfonzo (Mickinnie) is from here so he showed us a couple of things, and places to go, and just some chill spots and just to see what’s fun.


Don’t forget to listen to all home games and read up about the team on your exclusive radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

Denzel Valentine sent to WCB vs Erie

By Colin Mieczkowski

The Windy City Bulls will be taking on the Erie Bayhawks tonight, and with some new firepower, as Denzel Valentine has been called down from Chicago. Valentine averaged 6.8 points for the Chicago Bulls in the last 10 games.

Valentine will play a critical offensive role in the game tonight against the Bayhawks. Chicago’s 1st round draft pick from 2016 was the AP Player of the Year the same year, when he played for the Michigan State Spartans.

He also was the same player who had the fourth Michigan State triple-double in history. He’s also the first Player of the Year winner at Michigan State since Draymond Green won it 2012.

He can be the spark for the Windy City Bulls, and provide that extra scoring. He was also known as a great passer in college as well.

You can listen the Windy City Bulls game live on SportsTownChicago.com, as Danzel Valentine, Alfonzo Mickinnie and the team, take on the Erie Bayhawks. This is your official radio home for Windy City Bulls basketball.

Bulls look to get back in the W column against Erie

By Colin Mieczkowski



The Windy City Bulls will be taking on the struggling Erie Bayhawks, on Saturday, Jan. 28, as the Bulls hope to continue their climb out of the cellar. In a big man’s game, the Bulls are lucky to have two solid ones with Alfonzo McKinnie and Alec Brown.

McKinnie has arguably been the Bulls’ best player lately, while Brown, who has had an up and down season, has played well recently. He’s been getting rebounds and scoring points which he’s capable of doing.

He has scored a total of 40 points in three of his last four games, including an impressive 14 point, 15 rebound effort against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants during the D-League Showcase. Mickinnie can also stroke shots, as he has made 19 three pointers this year among other stats.

10 of those made threes were between 25 and 29 ft long. He’s an amazing 61% from inside the paint to go along with his floor stretching ability.

So, with the giant duo taking the court, and both playing well, the Bulls shouldn’t have too much trouble with the Bayhawks and their lovely jerseys (seriously) on Saturday night. With Aaron Thomas back in the fold, he can help provide a heavy dose of scoring like he has done all year.

However, the Bayhawks shouldn’t be taken too lightly. Gabe York, who helped the Arizona Wildcats reach their second Elite Eight as a Sophomore, is averaging 17 points a game.

This is good enough to rank within the top 40 players in the D-League (32nd). So, despite the unfortunate season the Bayhawks are having, they have their shining light, and he’s pretty dangerous.

Coach Nate Loenser, knows how good of an offensive team Erie can be.

“Erie is a good offensive team” Loenser said. “Their front line opposes some challenges for us, especially with Zimmerman being on assignment from the Orlando Magic”.

Coach Loenser also mentioned that York will be a tough challenge for them.

“They have some outside scoring which is hard to contain” Loenser said. “Gabe York who they picked up mid-season has been a lethal scorer for them, especially the last few games”.


The best way to neutralize York, is by limiting his three point shots. He’s shooting an amazing 47% from the field, including 43% from three-point land. He did however, go 0-5 from beyond the arc in the Bayhawks last contest against the Long Island Nets.

He can also dish the rock off as well, but the Bayhawks will likely want to utilize his shooting abilities. If the Bulls can slow his outside shots down, and if the bigs continue to play well, then they will give the Bayhawks a hard time.

But, both teams are hungry, as they both try the escape the depths of last place. It’s also good to note that Bulls legend Bill Cartwright will be in attendance at the Sears Centre on Saturday.

Perhaps the WC Bulls can rub greatness off of a champion?

Be sure to listen to all home games and read about the squad on your official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

Bulls looking for same results in rematch vs Fort Wayne

On Friday, Jan. 27, the Windy City Bulls will take on one of the best teams in the D-League, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at the Sears Centre Arena. The same team in which the Bulls destroyed in their previous meeting, 102-78, in what was arguably the team’s most dominant performance of the year.

The Mad Ants are 16-9 good for second in the central division but are 5-5 in their last 10 games, including the loss to the Bulls. Nonetheless, they’re still a dangerous squad.

The Bulls are 9-14, last in the central division, and hope to continue to turn it around. They have some work to do however, as the team is 3-7 in their last 10 games.

In that D-League Showcase blowout win over the Mad Ants, the key player in that game was Alfonzo Mickinnie, who continues to impress, scoring 20 points. He also grabbed 11 rebounds in a double-double game, against a dangerous team.

Alec Brown also went off, dropping 14 points, and collecting 15 rebounds, and even getting two assists. The stretch big also dropped a couple of three point bombs, going 2-5 from downtown.

Tim Quarterman, who played in the game before getting the call back to the Portland Trailblazers, helped the team with his seven point, eight assist effort. Quarterman is also friends with top NBA draft pick, Ben Simmons, who unfortunately suffered a season ending injury.

But, with Quarterman gone, the Bulls depth just dropped a small bit. This gives arguably the Bulls’ hottest scorer, Aaron Thomas a chance to start once again.

And playing for Coach Nate Loenser, Thomas has given some high praise for the new coach.

“Coach Nate, he’s a good coach, he always has a plan” Thomas said. “No matter what it is, whether it’s practice or a game, he always has a plan, we just need to execute together as a team.”

On the other side of the court, we take a look at Alex Poythress, the former Kentucky star. During his senior year, Poythress averaged 10.2 points a game for the Wildcats after missing the 2014-15 season with an injury.

He would go undrafted the following year however, but did get an opportunity to play with the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately for Poythress, this didn’t last, as he was waived after playing in just two preseason games.

So now, in the D-League, he taking advantage of the opportunities to grow as a player and he will be a man for the Bulls to keep an eye on. Poythress is 13th in the D-League in points for a reason, and the Bulls need to rely heavily on strong defense to slow him down.

If the Mad Ants go cold, and if players like Brown and Mickinnie take advantage of rebounding opportunities, then they will be in good shape. The Mad Ants are going to come into the Sears Centre angry (no pun intended) after the massacre against the Bulls the first time around.

Andre Dawkins needs to also be that spark off the bench, as he went 1-5 from three point land. He’s the team’s best long range sniper, and it will be a nice advantage for the Bulls if he gets his stroke back.

Tip-off is at 7pm.

Don’t forget to listen to all home games and read up about the squad, on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

Bulls late rally falls short to Fort Wayne

By Colin Mieczkowski

The Bulls lose to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants 109-99 in what was a physical defensive game full of fouls. Alfonzo Mickinnie led the way for the Bulls with 23 points and 8 rebounds, going 9-14 from the field.

Starting point guard Thomas Walkup, also had a good game, scoring 12 points while dishing out 12 assists in the loss. One of the newest Bulls, Jarell Eddie, who scored 12 points off the bench, kept things positive in the tough loss.

“We can be down by a bunch of points, and we still fight our way back into the game” Eddie said. “Just to see that this group is real resilient and can persevere through adversity, it’s real encouraging”.

Despite the loss, dropping the Bulls to 9-15 on the season, Eddie is correct that there is a lot of upside to this new team. Tonight was an example, playing a style of defense that netted them a combination of five steals and six blocks.

The way the team has been able to fight, with so many different roster changes, over the last couple of months shows that resilience. Eddie himself, quickly adjusted to the squad, and came out the gate getting buckets.

In the end, it was the Mad Ants coming out on top, led by Stephen Hicks, who was playing out of his mind, going 7-8 from the field, scoring 17 points. Trey-Mickinney Jones, whose Aunt, Esther, was an Olympic gold medalist, was gold from the free-throw line, going 12-12.

Despite his 3-16 night in the field, Jones got many foul calls, and drained all his free shots. Thanks to the play of Hicks and Jones, the Mad Ants came out victorious, in what was a close game coming down the stretch.

New Bull and former Maryland star, known for his wondrous hair, hit a huge three to cut the Mad Ants lead to four points. The Bulls didn’t score another point after that however, and some more free throws by the Mad Ants would seal the deal 109-99.

Be sure to listen to all home games and read up about the squad, on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com

VanFleet Sinks Late Free Throws to Lead Raptors 905 to Victory

By Colin Mieczkowski

 

After a great victory against the Westchester Knicks on Friday, the Windy City Bulls dropped a heartbreaker to the Raptors 905, 102-100. Two huge free throws from Fred VanFleet, would seal the deal for the Raptors 905 to move on to 14-7 on the season.

 

VanFleet also led both teams in scoring, dropping 23 points, and dishing out seven assists. Axel Toupane, last year’s Most Improved Player in the D-League, added 21 points to compliment the offensive attack.

 

As for the Bulls, it was Alfonzo Mickinnie who carried the load, scoring 22 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. He was also red hot from the land of threes, going 3-4 from long range, showing off his stretch big capabilities.

 

Paul Zipser also had a solid all-around night, with 15 points, five assists and five boards, to go along with two made three pointers. Zipser, the 48th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2016, has taken advantage of his opportunities with the Windy City squad, and has proven to be a valuable outside shooter as well.

 

Off the bench, Wesley Saunders and Jon Octeus both played very well, scoring seven and six points respectively. Saunders also added four dimes (assists) to go along with his scoring.

 

As for Octeus, there was no doubt that he couldn’t wait for his chance to come in the game and take advantage. During practice before the game against the Knicks on Friday, Octeus was putting on a dunking clinic, soaring through the air, and showing no regard for the basket.

 

Coming off the bench cold is tough, especially since the Bulls have had some good point guards play for them this season. Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerian Grant a couple of times, and now Thomas Walkup who is solid passer and defender.

 

When I had the chance to chat briefly with Octeus before the start of the season, I had asked the young point guard, what are some of the differences of playing in college as opposed to the D-League.

 

“You’re pro now, and you got to approach it like a pro” Octeus said. “You don’t have to worry about school which is big because you can focus more on your craft”.

 

There’s no doubt he has been focusing on his craft and handling everything like a true professional. Players like him and Saunders could play some big roles in the coming games if they continue to play well off the bench.

 

For the record, during that same interview, when I asked him about what it meant to play in Chicago Bulls organization with such a rich history, he had a fun response.

“It’s exciting” Octeus said. “We talk about Jordan and Pippen, but for me, Dwyane Wade is my favorite player”.

 

Octeus is from Miami, which is a major reason why he is such a fan of the Chicago Bulls’ new acquisition. But bench play is just as crucial as starter play, and it was a fun moment for Saunders and Octeus.

 

Unfortunately, the W went into the wrong hands, as once again, the Windy City Bulls lost to the Raptors 905 to fall to 7-12 on the season. Next home game will be against one of the D-League’s best, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Jan. 27.

 

 

You can listen to that game live, and all other home games as well as read up about the team, on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com. 

Bulls Look to Continue Home Court Cooking vs Raptors 905

Tonight, the Bulls are back at it, taking on the Raptors 905, a team that was once the hottest in the D-League. They, at one point were on a huge winning streak that gave them an early edge of their division.

Although they have slowed down a bit, they still are a dangerous team, and the Bulls need to plan accordingly. The Raptors 905 have lost three of their last four, but put up a winning performance against one of the best teams in the league, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, winning by 14 points, 114-100.

The key reason for this win, was due to solid play of Fred VanFleet, who the Bulls need to keep an eye on during this game. Bulls coach Nate Loenser will no doubt be having a good game plan set up to help slow down VanFleet.

VanFleet was on the 2012-2013 Wichita State Shcoker that reached the Final Four, and “shocked” the nation. He was a Freshman at the time who played a big role in Wichita State reaching the Final Four, scoring 12 points against Ohio State to help the Shockers reach that point.

The Rockford, Illinois native is also Wichita State’s all-time leader in assists. To this day, he is still proving to be a quality passer, getting six dimes in the game against the Mad Ants and also dropping 20 points.  

So, with his combination of great passing, and solid scoring, he could be a handful, but the Bulls have weapons of their own. Alfonzo McKinnie has really developed into a star on the Windy City Bulls, and with no sign of slowing down, as he dropped 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the last game against the Knicks.

McKinnie has gained valuable professional basketball experience, not only playing in the D-League, but playing overseas as well. SportsTownChicago.com’s own Jamie Newell had a chance to chat with McKinnie who said that there is a lot more playing time in the D-League than overseas.

That difference seems to be paying off for McKinnie, who is nearly averaging a double-double this season, with 13.8 points, and 8.5 rebounds. He also has an impressive field goal percentage of a 50%, showing his scoring consistency.

The Chicago native had a solid stint at Eastern Illinois, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds as a sophomore with the Panthers. He also was second in the OVC in field goal percentage, with an impressive 56% from the field.

In a game against Maine, while at Eastern Illinois, he had one of the best games of his college career, getting 24 points, while also collecting 14 rebounds. He continued the solid play at UW-Green Bay, where he averaged eight points and 5.3 rebounds during his senior year.

Mickinnie’s surge as a top player on the Bulls, will ultimately help the team in the long run if he stays put. However, it wouldn’t be a shock if he gets a call from an NBA team sometime down the road, as he’s pushing that much closer to big league status.

Utilizing his size, getting the boards, as getting the inside buckets will be key for McKinnie, as he looks to help the Bulls get their second straight win. Who knows, since it is Dog Night at the Sears Centre, maybe the power of the pooches can help propel the Bulls to another W.

Tip off is at 7pm.

Be sure to listen to all home games and read up about the squad on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.

The Streak is Busted! Winning Ways Return vs Knicks!

After a tough seven game losing streak, the Windy City Bulls made a nice comeback to defeat the Westchester Knicks 113-102 at the Sears Centre Arena. Bobby Portis, who was just assigned to play for the WC Bulls, did what many expected and dominated the game.

 

Portis led all scorers with 32 points, while also grabbing nine boards. Paul Zipser, who was called to the WC Bulls for a third time, also joined in on the parade of points, dropping 18 points, with he too, collecting nine rebounds.

 

Portis is expected to be called back up to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday which was reported before the game. After his stellar performance, the chance just got much higher that this will occur.

 

Among the regulars, Aaron Thomas continued to do what he has done most of the season which is be the most valuable scorer on the team. He poured in 17 points, despite the great play of Portis and Zipser.

 

This speaks volumes on his consistency. No matter who’s on the roster, he still remains arguably the team’s most dangerous offensive weapon.

 

One of the things that helped out the Bulls also, was the fact that Jordan Crawford of the Knicks, went 0-11 from the field. The 5’6” Crawford can be a dangerous scorer, and he was neutralized by Portis and the Bulls.

 

They couldn’t slow down one of the D-League’s hottest shooters in Chassen Randle (Averaging 21 points per game), but it didn’t matter, as the Bulls fire power was too much on a freezing evening. Again, the Bulls win this one to push themselves a little closer to getting out of last place, and they bust the seven game losing streak.

 

Be sure to listen to all home games and read up about the tram on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com. 

Zipser returns tonight, Portis Debuts

By Colin Mieczkowski

The Windy City Bulls will have some extra fire power as they play the Westchester Knicks tonight at the Sears Centre Arena. Bobby Portis, the 22nd overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2015, has been called down to get buckets for WIndy City.

This comes at an impromptu time, as the WC Bulls are coming off a seven game losing streak, and look to turn it around. Having Portis, a big who is also capable of stretching the floor, is a huge plus for the team.

This season for Chicago, Portis has averaged 3.9 points off the bench, and shooting over 40% from behind the three point line.In his last nine games, he only had 11 minutes off the bench, so there’s no doubt that he’s hungry for his chance to shine with Windy City.

The former Arkansas Razorback racked up a solid career in college, averaging 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in his second and final season. This will be his first time assigned to the Chicago Bulls’ new D-League team.

Tip-off is at 7pm between the Bulls and Knicks and you can listen to game and read up about the team on the official radio home of Windy City Bulls basketball, SportsTownChicago.com.