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

Auburn (40) is 7-1. They lost at a neutral site against Temple (43) by 12 points. Their best victory to date was at Dayton (108), 73-60.

So, Auburn doesn’t have a marquee win yet, but the thing is they have been blowing out teams. Their average winning margin in the 7 wins is 20.9 points. 20.9 points!

UAB’s (119) best win is at Troy (133) last Tuesday, 90-78.

Both schools have had pathetic schedules to date. Auburn’s is ranked 253, while UAB’s is at 256. Auburn’s OOC schedule will improve over the next five games as they play the likes of UAB, Middle TN (77), Murray State (124), UConn (89), and Cornell (242). UAB’s OOC schedule will drop off the map after the Auburn game with Alabama A&M (348), New Orleans (267), and Mississippi Valley State (351).

KenPom has the game projected as UAB 72 at Auburn 84.

Auburn is fantastic at blocking shots, and is ranked 2nd in block percentage. They also guard the 2-point shot extremely well, where they are ranked 21st. They are 7th in offensive rebounds efficiency.

This amazes me as Auburn isn’t all that tall of a team. Their average height comes out at 299th.

Auburn averages almost 10 (9.75) made 3’s per game. UAB hasn’t hit ten 3’s in any game so far. UAB averages 6.3 3’s per game.

Jeez we really have to have a better OOC schedule this is embarrassing.

While fans may like the top 20 type RPI games on the schedule, I think there needs to be a balance. While I would hope we would win every game, we know that right now we would struggle against that level of competition. Psychologically you don’t want to have your team start out 0-10 and have no confidence.

I think we should aim for 2 games against top 20 opponent and then a good mix of top 100 teams.

Auburn was favored by 12. If you bet on UAB today, you made money.

The real Vegas line was AU -8.5, but the same point stands.

(12-09-2017 07:24 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  While fans may like the top 20 type RPI games on the schedule, I think there needs to be a balance. While I would hope we would win every game, we know that right now we would struggle against that level of competition. Psychologically you don’t want to have your team start out 0-10 and have no confidence.

I think we should aim for 2 games against top 20 opponent and then a good mix of top 100 teams.

I am one who asks for the top 50 games, home or away. I don’t want ten of them, but if it’s random d-15 team at home or on the road at pretty much any power five, hit the road. I also want top 150 games filling out the non conference. What i don’t want is what we currently have.

(12-09-2017 09:45 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(12-09-2017 07:24 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  While fans may like the top 20 type RPI games on the schedule, I think there needs to be a balance. While I would hope we would win every game, we know that right now we would struggle against that level of competition. Psychologically you don’t want to have your team start out 0-10 and have no confidence.

I think we should aim for 2 games against top 20 opponent and then a good mix of top 100 teams.

I am one who asks for the top 50 games, home or away. I don’t want ten of them, but if it’s random d-15 team at home or on the road at pretty much any power five, hit the road. I also want top 150 games filling out the non conference. What i don’t want is what we currently have.

I’m totally against the non-D1 games, like LeMoyne Owen and Mississippi College this season. Alabama A&M (348) and Mississippi Valley State (351) are the two worst teams in the SWAC, which is the worst conference in D1 basketball.

I appreciate how difficult it is to make a schedule, but Jacksonville (327), LeMoyne Owen, Mississippi College, Alabama A&M (348) and Mississippi Valley State (351) just kill any strength of schedule factors.

But Lemoyne Owen and Miss College will do less damage to our RPI than A&M and Ms Valley st

Would the fan base accept fewer OOC home games in exchange for better opponents? Because it seems that our main issue is bringing in good home opponents.

Or, why not offer up multiple BJCC neutral site games during the OOC to see if we could get some better opponents that way. If we hope to ever get good teams back at Bartow, we've got to increase our profile. Recent schedules aren't going to do it.

(12-09-2017 11:12 PM)iam4uab Wrote:  Would the fan base accept fewer OOC home games in exchange for better opponents? Because it seems that our main issue is bringing in good home opponents.

Or, why not offer up multiple BJCC neutral site games during the OOC to see if we could get some better opponents that way. If we hope to ever get good teams back at Bartow, we've got to increase our profile. Recent schedules aren't going to do it.

I'm a season ticket holder and would gladly pay the same price for 2 or 3 less home games to play more quality opponents on the road.

Do this and get some wins is how we build the case for post season play and post season play is what raises your profile. Do this for few years consistently and then it won't be as hard to schedule quality home games.

(12-09-2017 08:08 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  The real Vegas line was AU -8.5, but the same point stands.

Lines are not static. They move depending on the wagering. We opened at 11-12 point underdogs and the last I checked it was 9.