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

(12-19-2017 12:09 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The team did a community service event yesterday and Lavender was in the pictures. Also, they tweeted a picture of Mike Slive talking to the team in the locker room and he was in the picture.

that seems like positive news - get it off this board quickly

(12-19-2017 11:40 AM)UABfan1 Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:20 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  A family member of his tweeted at the main uab basketball account the other day during a game complaining about his playing time. I hope he can work it out and will stay. The talent is there he is just fighting what's between the ears.

Coach has to put the best players on the floor. Nate & Jalen are better long range shooters so unless Deion is just a lockdown defender, its hard to justify minutes for him. But, I bet we will need him when conference rolls around with foul trouble and injuries.

Still, its tough because I'm sure he came here expecting more minutes.
But his outside shot was terrible last year and he hasn't shot it much this year.
Did he put the time in over the summer?
So Deion is like a 3rd option at the 1,2 and 3. And Hurtado is even further behind so redshirting him is the smart move.
If we recruit well, we will always have guys who are not happy with their minutes.

Yep. It's obvious he has fallen down the depth chart. He isn't as good as those other guys. I'm sure he wanted to play more and be a big part of our future, but it appears that isn't going to be the case, unless he becomes something he hasn't been this offseason.

I’m happy to see Lavender is back.

Nate Darling is playing much better over the last few games.

Happy he's back too, hopefully we utilize his skill set correctly.

Deion did not play. I did not listen to the pregame or post game radio so I don't know if Crane or coach covered it.

I'm guessing he quit the team but was allowed to return with some penalty. Probably some extra running and maybe sitting out a few games. But without actually calling it a suspension and not mentioning that he quit & was allowed to return.
I wonder if the team voted on it or what?
But, it could have been a decision to play Gueye at the 3 instead because we were getting killed on the boards.

Can anyone chime in either publicly or by pm if you don't want to post it?

Its understandable being frustrated with playing time but for a guy who already redshirted a year, it would make no sense whatsoever to leave now when he can graduate and then get a full year next year rather than just the 2nd semester.

I bet there are a half dozen lower level teams that would love to have him next year if he decides to leave.
Regardless, he just needs to work as hard as possible and play his best when called on. And not become a locker room problem. In conference play, I can easily see him getting 10-20 minutes a game depending on injuries & foul trouble.
Not as much as he hoped for when he came here. But we reasonably expected him to be an able 3 point shooter and that hasn't happened.

Lot of speculation. Nothing to base it on. Could be as reported, he had a personal issue to take care of. Didn't play because he hasn't practiced. Just no way of knowing what the deal is and does no good to speculate.

My guess was that he didn't play because he missed practice. That's a pretty standard rule for any team. I don't believe its a punitive issue, more of a game plan thing.

(12-21-2017 06:23 PM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  My guess was that he didn't play because he missed practice. That's a pretty standard rule for any team. I don't believe its a punitive issue, more of a game plan thing.

How many practices did he miss is the question.
My concern is that it doesn't become a locker room or chemistry issue.
And, the rest of the team is watching. Just don't want it to turn into guys quitting and wanting to transfer every time they don't get enough playing time.
And the other thing is, if you know he isn't going to stay with the team next year, you're less likely to give him minutes this year except when you have no choice.