The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(02-03-2017 12:27 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  How do we go from scoring 80 points one game, to like 59 the next? And give up an extra 20 points. Lol

The difference is a building that bears the name of Gene Bartow.

(02-02-2017 11:34 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  Why isnt Smallwood playing

Are you serious?

Energy & effort seems to come and go with this team. Simply can't happen in conference play no matter what the opponent's record is. That goes back to not having a leader and Ehsan being a little too soft on them IMO.

I know players have off nights, but William Lee could dominate this conference if he would just bring a consistently high effort. He should be a lock to score 18ppg against CUSA competition. Their length bothered us, but we also didn't get enough touches for Cokely and shot too many 3's. And, as always, turnovers killed us.

Mehinti got beat on back to back possessions in a critical point in the 2nd half hedging on a screen far beyond the 3 point line and couldn't get back down low in time to prevent a layup. Not really sure the value in having him out that far away from the basket on defense.

Tosin went 5-5 in 20 minutes. Cokley was 4-12 in 24 minutes.

(02-03-2017 12:44 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(02-02-2017 11:34 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  Why isnt Smallwood playing

Are you serious?

Yes we couldve use his size as the fourth big over Madison's fouls late in the second half when we had no rim defender out there. They penetrate down the lane only to have the 6'4 Madison try and block the shot as they got into his body ever time.

(02-02-2017 11:35 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  

(02-02-2017 11:34 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  Why isnt Smallwood playing

because he is not and likely never will be a legit D1 basketball player. Just isnt skilled or athletic enough, and is a defensive liability.
We took a shot on him hoping he could develop, but it just isnt happening.

Thats crazy, if thats the excuse the faithful want to use.



The staff should be developing the player.

He wont develop watching UAB basketball game.

The big 7fter UTEP had looks worse, but he actually played and got the ball down low. I mean Wilms wasnt Shaquille O'Neal but was effective.


Thought we should went more offensive/defensive subs late. Baxter subbing with JD or Nate late in different spots late, Smallwood and Tosin too.

We cant have our big guns be no shows, we cant miss FTs and we cant have stupid turnovers. That number needs to be below 10. That's another one that got away for multiple reasons. We play them again in Birmingham we most likely win double digits. In case anyone hasn't noticed since we started a basketball program its hard to win conference road games. Every league. They are farmailiar with you because they see you two and sometimes three times a year.

I will agree with Dee a little in that in this one instance I would have tried Smallwood on their big fella. He was destroying Coak. He is not a walking disaster as suggested. He is serviceable big you can use in spot situations. Will never be a starter but may can help us some by his Senior year.

Missing free throws and about 8 of those turnovers were inexcusable.

Lavender was in a funk. Need to have more out of Watts. Coak was a no show. Ha Ha has to step it up. Darling needs to shoot it when he is open. I could go on.

Hey good news is next year we will have two true point guards that are interchangeable.

Turnovers were below average last night. I think 13. In recent games, they have done well. The problem is that the turnovers come at crucial points when the team should be the most focused. Instead they become panicked and careless.

(02-03-2017 08:51 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We cant have our big guns be no shows, we cant miss FTs and we cant have stupid turnovers. That number needs to be below 10. That's another one that got away for multiple reasons. We play them again in Birmingham we most likely win double digits. In case anyone hasn't noticed since we started a basketball program its hard to win conference road games. Every league. They are farmailiar with you because they see you two and sometimes three times a year.

I will agree with Dee a little in that in this one instance I would have tried Smallwood on their big fella. He was destroying Coak. He is not a walking disaster as suggested. He is serviceable big you can use in spot situations. Will never be a starter but may can help us some by his Senior year.

Missing free throws and about 8 of those turnovers were inexcusable.

Lavender was in a funk. Need to have more out of Watts. Coak was a no show. Ha Ha has to step it up. Darling needs to shoot it when he is open. I could go on.

Hey good news is next year we will have two true point guards that are interchangeable.

Looking at CUSA, each team has talented players. There is not a team that doesn't have one or two top tier talents. So what separates a team for winning a game or losing a game. As Attalla stated, turnovers, poor free throw shooting, hustle plays and one of your top tier talents not having a good game. The margin for error especially on the road is razor thin when the talent level is virtually the same.

(02-02-2017 11:35 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  

(02-02-2017 11:34 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  Why isnt Smallwood playing

because he is not and likely never will be a legit D1 basketball player. Just isnt skilled or athletic enough, and is a defensive liability.
We took a shot on him hoping he could develop, but it just isnt happening.

Could say the same thing for Ehsan. Hopefully he gets better but so far he hasn't been impressive. In my mind he's a short term solution until Coach Clark can get football going. Then we go out and hire someone with experience as a winning head coach.

I'm not down on Eshan. My biggest criticism is I want to see him get after some officials and get ted up a time or two. The more experienced coaches know how to work the officials and get some 50/50 calls at certain times. Gene Bartow was a master at it and Anderson was really good too.

I am excited about the talent upgrade next season and hope we get one more big man to add to it who is pissed off at the world.

I'm not giving up on this season. They have a run in them and I hope it hits right at tourney time. I have a feeling MTSU will be upset and we will be a two bid league again. I just hope its us standing at the end.

Also too much Hak in the two minute offense in the second half. Instead of five capable 3 point shooters in we instead let Hak get to the line instead which is good if he hits free throws.

First time we got down eight point Watts,D Williams,Darling,Lee and Smallwood might have been effictive.


A fourth big has always been important in our rotation but Madison is not it and he's a good player.

As he's a senior it is was hard watching Hak struggle with the press that wouldve been the first guard on the bench for Lavender.



Next year should be great

I wake up this morning and WTF ????!!!

(02-03-2017 11:16 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  Also too much Hak in the two minute offense in the second half. Instead of five capable 3 point shooters in we instead let Hak get to the line instead which is good if he hits free throws.

First time we got down eight point Watts,D Williams,Darling,Lee and Smallwood might have been effictive.

UTep would have scored 90 with that lineup on defense

(02-03-2017 12:32 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(02-03-2017 12:27 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  How do we go from scoring 80 points one game, to like 59 the next? And give up an extra 20 points. Lol

The difference is a building that bears the name of Gene Bartow.

The difference was that Nate Darling played only 4 minutes and Baxter played 28 minutes. Duh! It doesn't matter. They are just playing regular season games(scrimmages) until Conference Tournament time. At this point, they won't win many more games at all without more offensive firepower, especially from the perimeter.

(02-03-2017 09:54 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(02-02-2017 11:35 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  

(02-02-2017 11:34 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  Why isnt Smallwood playing

because he is not and likely never will be a legit D1 basketball player. Just isnt skilled or athletic enough, and is a defensive liability.
We took a shot on him hoping he could develop, but it just isnt happening.

Could say the same thing for Ehsan. Hopefully he gets better but so far he hasn't been impressive. In my mind he's a short term solution until Coach Clark can get football going. Then we go out and hire someone with experience as a winning head coach.

The guy is in his first season, let's wait a little longer before judgement here. The biggest issue I saw last night is the pg play takes a drastic drop when watts isn't in the game.

We've had a lot of embarrassing losses this year, especially with the talent we have.

(02-03-2017 12:22 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(02-03-2017 11:16 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  Also too much Hak in the two minute offense in the second half. Instead of five capable 3 point shooters in we instead let Hak get to the line instead which is good if he hits free throws.

First time we got down eight point Watts,D Williams,Darling,Lee and Smallwood might have been effictive.

UTep would have scored 90 with that lineup on defense

So it would still be a loss right.

Do we think Dirk finds his shot this season? Right now, he's not shooting well enough to warrant 5+ three-point attempts in a game. It's gotten to the point that I'm more comfortable Hak taking threes than Dirk.

(02-03-2017 02:13 PM)jthrashr Wrote:  Do we think Dirk finds his shot this season? Right now, he's not shooting well enough to warrant 5+ three-point attempts in a game. It's gotten to the point that I'm more comfortable Hak taking threes than Dirk.

I wish he would just be more aggressive. He is the second most athletic person on the team, has great height for his position, and just stands outside jacking threes. If you put Hak's aggression and heart in Dirks body you would have a potential NBA lottery pick.