03-24-2008, 08:06 AM
The Blazers enter the second round of the NIT tonight. Out of eight previous NIT tournaments, UAB has made the 2nd round in four of those tournaments and the Blazers have only lost in the second round once, in 1998 to Minnesota.
The Date
UAB games played this late in March are getting few and far between, but the Blazers have played one game on this date.
UAB vs. SW Missouri State – March 24, 1993 - Birmingham, AL – NIT Tournament
On this date, the Blazers played Southwest Missouri State in the quarterfinals of the NIT Tournament. UAB was hosting its second game in the NIT tournament and its third game in the state of Alabama, after defeating Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Clemson at Bartow Arena.
Southwest Missouri State had defeated Saint Joseph’s and Jackson State to advance to the quarterfinals. Southwest Missouri State was coached by Mark Bernsen, who was following the legendary Charlie Spoonhour as coach. SW Missouri State was 20-10 entering the game. The Blazers were 19-13.
The Blazers were battling a flu epidemic, and were playing their third game in six days. Robert Shannon, who had been in the hospital earlier in the week with dehydration and the flu, had hit the game winning shot against Clemson. A crowd of 7391 showed up to cheer the Blazers past the Bears and on to New York. UAB led by three at halftime, but in the second half, Southwest Missouri State took a five point lead and led by three with just over nine minutes remaining. Once again, Shannon led the way for the Blazers, scoring 16 of his 18 points in the second half, including nine of the Blazers final 12 points. Reginald Allen hit a key jumper with just over three minutes to go to give the Blazers the lead, and UAB held on to win 61-52. UAB had won its third consecutive game for the first time since December when they had won ten straight. More importantly, the Blazers had earned a berth in the NIT Final Four for the second time in its short history. Robert Shannon led the UAB with 18 points and Corey Jackson scored 17 points.
The Opponent
UAB has never played Virginia Tech in basketball.
The Bench
Virginia Tech is coached by the lucky Seth Greenberg, who somehow converted a 108-100 record at South Florida into a job at Virginia Tech, shortly before the Hokies were accepted into Atlantic Coast Conference. How a coach who was about to be fired at South Florida became a ACC head coach is one of the great mysteries of college basketball. During Greenberg’s stint at South Florida, UAB was 8-7 against his team. However, Greenberg was the opposing coach responsible for the worst loss ever by UAB at Bartow Arena, a 28 point loss to South Florida in 2001.
The Date
UAB games played this late in March are getting few and far between, but the Blazers have played one game on this date.
UAB vs. SW Missouri State – March 24, 1993 - Birmingham, AL – NIT Tournament
On this date, the Blazers played Southwest Missouri State in the quarterfinals of the NIT Tournament. UAB was hosting its second game in the NIT tournament and its third game in the state of Alabama, after defeating Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Clemson at Bartow Arena.
Southwest Missouri State had defeated Saint Joseph’s and Jackson State to advance to the quarterfinals. Southwest Missouri State was coached by Mark Bernsen, who was following the legendary Charlie Spoonhour as coach. SW Missouri State was 20-10 entering the game. The Blazers were 19-13.
The Blazers were battling a flu epidemic, and were playing their third game in six days. Robert Shannon, who had been in the hospital earlier in the week with dehydration and the flu, had hit the game winning shot against Clemson. A crowd of 7391 showed up to cheer the Blazers past the Bears and on to New York. UAB led by three at halftime, but in the second half, Southwest Missouri State took a five point lead and led by three with just over nine minutes remaining. Once again, Shannon led the way for the Blazers, scoring 16 of his 18 points in the second half, including nine of the Blazers final 12 points. Reginald Allen hit a key jumper with just over three minutes to go to give the Blazers the lead, and UAB held on to win 61-52. UAB had won its third consecutive game for the first time since December when they had won ten straight. More importantly, the Blazers had earned a berth in the NIT Final Four for the second time in its short history. Robert Shannon led the UAB with 18 points and Corey Jackson scored 17 points.
The Opponent
UAB has never played Virginia Tech in basketball.
The Bench
Virginia Tech is coached by the lucky Seth Greenberg, who somehow converted a 108-100 record at South Florida into a job at Virginia Tech, shortly before the Hokies were accepted into Atlantic Coast Conference. How a coach who was about to be fired at South Florida became a ACC head coach is one of the great mysteries of college basketball. During Greenberg’s stint at South Florida, UAB was 8-7 against his team. However, Greenberg was the opposing coach responsible for the worst loss ever by UAB at Bartow Arena, a 28 point loss to South Florida in 2001.