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Quote:Numbers don't always chart a player's success
Saturday, December 08, 2007
STEVE IRVINE
News staff writer
Frank Holmes has posted some modest numbers thus far in his senior season on the UAB basketball team.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward from the Somerville, Tenn., is averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game during the first 10 games. In this case, numbers apparently don't chart success.

"He's been great (with a) great attitude," said UAB head coach Mike Davis, whose team plays a nonconference game against South Florida (6-3) today at 6 p.m. at the Sun Dome in Tampa. "If we were to give the MVP out right now, I'd give it to him just because of his attitude and approach to practice and approach to the game."

Holmes started 53 of the 62 games he participated in the previous two seasons. He began this season, however, deep in the rotation. Holmes averaged 20 minutes per game each of the past two seasons but played a total of 31 minutes in the first six games.

"It wasn't tough because Coach said everybody is going to get a chance to play," Holmes said. "Whatever time you get, just make the best of it and that's what I've been trying to do."

A good example came in UAB's 64-50 win at home against Eastern Kentucky. Holmes sat on the bench for most of the first 37 minutes but had several key defensive plays in the final three minutes to help the Blazers turn a five-point lead into a comfortable final margin.

It was after the Eastern Kentucky win that Davis increased Holmes' minutes. Holmes averaged 15.2 minutes the past four games and has contributed 28 points, 13 rebounds and solid defense.

"He's been a starter every year he's been here basically and now his senior year he's playing a different role and he's really accepted it," said Davis, whose team is 7-3 overall. "That's what the team is all about, guys accepting their role."

Holmes will be part of the plan to slow down USF standout Kentrell Gransberry. The 6-foot-9, 270-pound transfer from LSU averages 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

USF also has a strong perimeter game. The Bulls, who are coached by former Arkansas head coach Stan Heath, shoot 43.6 percent from 3-point range, which is tops in the Big East and 15th in the country.

Leading the way on the perimeter is 6-foot-4 freshman Dominique Jones, who is averaging a team-best 15.8 points and has scored 30 points each in back-to-back wins over UCF and Richmond.

"He can get to the basket, is a set shooter from the 3-point line," Davis said. "Anytime you get a player to give you 30 points you have a chance to win. What we have to do is make sure we limit his touches and don't let him to the free-throw line."

Both teams are playing extremely well right now. UAB has won five consecutive games since dropping three in a row in Daytona Beach. USF has won six consecutive games since dropping its first three games under Heath.

For Davis and his team, it's also the first time back in Florida since the rough time in Daytona Beach.

"We've gotten a lot better since that time," Davis said. "We felt really good getting on the plane going down to Daytona and we feel really good today going down to Tampa. It's a matter of executing our system and defensively taking care of our business."