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

As a basketball fan, I really like what I see.

As a UAB fan, I really *really* don't like what I see.

The first video of their sets is bad enough, pretty good scouting set. The second video of the Oklahoma game just scares hell out of me.

They're very much for real. If we get through we will have earned it and will be wearing Cinderella slippers.

http://deadspin.com/if-you-hate-college-...socialflow

Yeah some people think Iowa State can make the final four. They're a tough team.

Lot of people thought Kentucky in 2004 could make the Final Four as well.

The thing about Cinderella is it defies handicapping, analysis and video reviews. If Cinderella happens, it doesn't make sense.

One reason we love sports is the imponderables that surround every game including the "twin to twin" pass vs UKY to the pass interception in the Super Bowl. If games were played on paper rather than by young folks trying to be the best, we could just make out the brackets, write the requisite checks and hand the NC Crown to UKY without pumping up the first basket ball. This season would already be history. Thankfully, it doesn't work in that automated way.

Tournaments try to augment this factor by avoiding matching up teams who have already played - at least recently - in the first rounds. I recall the season when Butler lost to UAB in December and then went undefeated until losing to Duke in the final NCAA NC game. That is why we have hope for a victory against ISU Thursday.

Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

(03-18-2015 01:23 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

If the Yum Center chants Fire Ray Watts in unison during timeouts I will count the day as a victory. If UAB actually pulls the upset I will jump in the Atlantic with my clothes on and celebrate like mankind just landed on the moon.

(03-18-2015 01:23 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

There you go analyzing again. Analysis says we lose. March Madness says we might win.

It's March! There has been a 14 over 3 upset the past 2 years. Mercer over Duke and Harvard over New Mexico.

(03-18-2015 01:23 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

That's just being real. I put UAB down as winning in my bracket, but anyone that doesn't think ISU is for real needs to reevaluate.

As far as I'm concerned, just making the tournament this year has been a major accomplishment. Anything extra is just icing. I know it's a toxic mindset to have and I hope the guys show up with expectations of getting that W, but I feel like there are about seven teams you'd want to avoid and UAB just so happened to catch one of them.

(03-18-2015 12:43 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Lot of people thought Kentucky in 2004 could make the Final Four as well.

The thing about Cinderella is it defies handicapping, analysis and video reviews. If Cinderella happens, it doesn't make sense.

If I recall, Kentucky was many folks pick to win it all that year. Really blew a ton of brackets open with our win.

(03-18-2015 12:43 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Lot of people thought Kentucky in 2004 could make the Final Four as well.

I honestly thought that team was completely overrated. There was no way that UK team should have been the #1 overall seed in the tourney. That said, it was still an unexpected win although I was pretty confident (because Mike Anderson told me so) that UAB would win that game.

Seriously, Slinkie, Schard, and myself went to the team hotel to have drinks and I ran into Mike Anderson with his family in the elevator. I point blank ask him if the team was ready? His response, "we're going to win!"

I was good with that.......lol

(03-18-2015 02:48 PM)Hopeful Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 01:23 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

That's just being real. I put UAB down as winning in my bracket, but anyone that doesn't think ISU is for real needs to reevaluate.

As far as I'm concerned, just making the tournament this year has been a major accomplishment. Anything extra is just icing. I know it's a toxic mindset to have and I hope the guys show up with expectations of getting that W, but I feel like there are about seven teams you'd want to avoid and UAB just so happened to catch one of them.

As far as I am concerned, this year is the first step in a multi-year plan for something huge.

Step One - 2015 - Get acquainted with the process and get the jitters out.
Step Two - 2016 - Make them take you seriously. You've been there before.
Step Three 2017 - Blow them out of the water. You are experienced at NCAA tournaments. Time for a deep deep run.
Step Four 2018 - Final Four

It really could work out like that.

Coach Haase really laid out the great foundation for the team to build on for the next few years. If he keeps recruiting like this then there's no reason not to make NCAA trips every year.

(03-18-2015 02:01 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  It's March! There has been a 14 over 3 upset the past 2 years. Mercer over Duke and Harvard over New Mexico.

and don't forget 2006 when Iowa lost as a 3 seed. Iowa State fans thought that was mighty, mighty funny. A bit of karma could be served up to the Iowa State folks

On the multi-step plan...

You think Haase can keep recruiting with UAB in the Sun Belt? Does Haase stay if UAB is in the Sun Belt?

(03-18-2015 03:56 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  On the multi-step plan...

You think Haase can keep recruiting with UAB in the Sun Belt? Does Haase stay if UAB is in the Sun Belt?

Can someone tell me if Mercer was more talented than Duke last year and who was supposed to win that game. I didn't catch the score.

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

(03-18-2015 03:56 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  On the multi-step plan...

You think Haase can keep recruiting with UAB in the Sun Belt? Does Haase stay if UAB is in the Sun Belt?

Half empty guy.

(03-18-2015 03:20 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 02:48 PM)Hopeful Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 01:23 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Let's just remember what that UAB team was too. It was a significantly more accomplished team than we have right now, and as an 8-9 seed it was a fringe top 25 team. I'm not saying we can't beat Iowa state, but I will say that would be more shocking to me than the Kentucky game was. I have Iowa state in the final four in my bracket.(I know I'm a fake fan). The two teams I really feared drawing were them and notre dame. That sweet 16 team was a very complete team. We are still missing a piece or two. I hope we come out and shock the world, we have no expectations, so hopefully our guys play loose and it works out for the best.

That's just being real. I put UAB down as winning in my bracket, but anyone that doesn't think ISU is for real needs to reevaluate.

As far as I'm concerned, just making the tournament this year has been a major accomplishment. Anything extra is just icing. I know it's a toxic mindset to have and I hope the guys show up with expectations of getting that W, but I feel like there are about seven teams you'd want to avoid and UAB just so happened to catch one of them.

As far as I am concerned, this year is the first step in a multi-year plan for something huge.

Step One - 2015 - Get acquainted with the process and get the jitters out.
Step Two - 2016 - Make them take you seriously. You've been there before.
Step Three 2017 - Blow them out of the water. You are experienced at NCAA tournaments. Time for a deep deep run.
Step Four 2018 - Final Four

It won't be like long before someone on here points out that by 2018 we won't even have undergrad students at UAB, much less a basketball team.

(03-18-2015 04:10 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 03:56 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  On the multi-step plan...

You think Haase can keep recruiting with UAB in the Sun Belt? Does Haase stay if UAB is in the Sun Belt?

Half empty guy.

I bet you've never been called a sunshine pumper before... sunshine pumper. :)

The Sun Belt is a probable scenario. Considering it now helps maintain sanity if it happens.