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

Some of us seem to have forgotten about losing Norton, Lavender, and Darling while having to replace HaHa and Cokley.
If any of you thought this was going to be an NCAA Tournament season, you have an incredibly short memory. This squad overachieved, especially with the loss of Will Butler during the season.

A team that lost so much and was depending on so many new and inexperienced players to carry this team was STILL a shot away from beating the SEC champions in the BJCC, beat the eventual CUSA champion, and was a few FTs away from playing for the championship against a team we had already beaten once.

In '19-'20 we have a very reasonable shot to win it all in CUSA and make the NCAA Tournament.

Wasn't the narrative those guys were leaving because they no longer fit in with the type of team Ehsan was building? Bottom line is Ehsan has had veteran teams and young teams. He hasn't won with either. Next season is make or break.

Whose fault is it all the good players left?

(03-21-2019 11:43 PM)UABslant Wrote:  Some of us seem to have forgotten about losing Norton, Lavender, and Darling while having to replace HaHa and Cokley.
If any of you thought this was going to be an NCAA Tournament season, you have an incredibly short memory. This squad overachieved, especially with the loss of Will Butler during the season.

A team that lost so much and was depending on so many new and inexperienced players to carry this team was STILL a shot away from beating the SEC champions in the BJCC, beat the eventual CUSA champion, and was a few FTs away from playing for the championship against a team we had already beaten once.

In '19-'20 we have a very reasonable shot to win it all in CUSA and make the NCAA Tournament.

I was proud of how hard the team played down the stretch. Can't fault the effort at all. We played some good basketball, at times. I also like some of the guys we have returning but we are losing a lot of production. I have to see how we close this class before I'll believe that we might be improved.

I fear what's really being forgotten is our PROGRAM as our glory days slip further into the past. Every year the die-hard fans get grayer and the empty seats grow. Dwindling crowds speak to the real status of Blazer basketball.

(03-22-2019 03:48 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(03-21-2019 11:43 PM)UABslant Wrote:  Some of us seem to have forgotten about losing Norton, Lavender, and Darling while having to replace HaHa and Cokley.
If any of you thought this was going to be an NCAA Tournament season, you have an incredibly short memory. This squad overachieved, especially with the loss of Will Butler during the season.

A team that lost so much and was depending on so many new and inexperienced players to carry this team was STILL a shot away from beating the SEC champions in the BJCC, beat the eventual CUSA champion, and was a few FTs away from playing for the championship against a team we had already beaten once.

In '19-'20 we have a very reasonable shot to win it all in CUSA and make the NCAA Tournament.

I was proud of how hard the team played down the stretch. Can't fault the effort at all. We played some good basketball, at times. I also like some of the guys we have returning but we are losing a lot of production. I have to see how we close this class before I'll believe that we might be improved.

I fear what's really being forgotten is our PROGRAM as our glory days slip further into the past. Every year the die-hard fans get grayer and the empty seats grow. Dwindling crowds speak to the real status of Blazer basketball.

You've been on point lately.

Some facts.

Rob Eshan didnt step into a rebuilding job. He inherited a team that had set the school record for most victories in a season and returned four starters and two all conference players from that team.

He took that 26 win team and drove it into the ground, turning it into a .500 club

Rob Eshan has played the easiest schedule by opponent RPI over his first three years in UAB history.

Rob Eshan has the most losses in his first three years as coach in UAB history despite playing that schedule.

(03-22-2019 09:09 AM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  Some facts.

Rob Eshan didnt step into a rebuilding job. He inherited a team that had set the school record for most victories in a season and returned four starters and two all conference players from that team.

He took that 26 win team and drove it into the ground, turning it into a .500 club

Rob Eshan has played the easiest schedule by opponent RPI over his first three years in UAB history.

Rob Eshan has the most losses in his first three years as coach in UAB history despite playing that schedule.

Ouch

(03-22-2019 09:15 AM)biglizard Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 09:09 AM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  Some facts.

Rob Eshan didnt step into a rebuilding job. He inherited a team that had set the school record for most victories in a season and returned four starters and two all conference players from that team.

He took that 26 win team and drove it into the ground, turning it into a .500 club

Rob Eshan has played the easiest schedule by opponent RPI over his first three years in UAB history.

Rob Eshan has the most losses in his first three years as coach in UAB history despite playing that schedule.

Ouch

Amen. He’s had his shot, time to move on

Yeah, and dont forget the impressive seasons that each of those 3 guys who left UAB last year apparently had on other teams this season.

Lavender 8 pts, 5 rebs agame.
Smallwood 6 pts, 4 rebs a game.
Norton 14 pts, 6 ast, 4 rebs a game.

Not all that impressive. Norton was taking 3 more shots on average compared to previous season. Don’t act like he didn’t have green light here.

(03-22-2019 09:09 AM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  Some facts.

Rob Eshan didnt step into a rebuilding job. He inherited a team that had set the school record for most victories in a season and returned four starters and two all conference players from that team.

He took that 26 win team and drove it into the ground, turning it into a .500 club

Rob Eshan has played the easiest schedule by opponent RPI over his first three years in UAB history.

Rob Eshan has the most losses in his first three years as coach in UAB history despite playing that schedule.

He definitely underachieved that year, but Norton going down with an ACL tear in his opening game as head coach was a tough hand to be dealt.

(03-22-2019 10:29 AM)BlazinBham Wrote:  Lavender 8 pts, 5 rebs agame.
Smallwood 6 pts, 4 rebs a game.
Norton 14 pts, 6 ast, 4 rebs a game.

Not all that impressive. Norton was taking 3 more shots on average compared to previous season. Don’t act like he didn’t have green light here.

JD Williams transfer hurt the program more imho.

I've said this before and I'll keep saying it.

Robert Ehsan was not hired to rebuild the program. He was hired to continue momentum. He failed to do what he was hired to do...and now he's taking on a role that he wasn't equipped for.

(03-22-2019 11:03 AM)demiveeman Wrote:  I've said this before and I'll keep saying it.

Robert Ehsan was not hired to rebuild the program. He was hired to continue momentum. He failed to do what he was hired to do...and now he's taking on a role that he wasn't equipped for.

That's exactly why I wanted him to get the job. Now I see that I was clinging to the hope of recapturing the late run to the Iowa State win. Not a great decision on my part. I own it but you also have to know when to take a loss and move on.

I thought it was worth a shot and it hasn't worked out that well. I will probably restrict my letters to the AD to concessions, parking, etc. from now on.

I’m far more optimistic today than I was 365 days ago

(03-22-2019 06:12 PM)LairDweller Wrote:  I’m far more optimistic today than I was 365 days ago

I’m far more optimistic than I was at the end of December.

Maybe the momentum wasn't there or wasn't strong enough.

Winning a ton of games yet not getting into the tournament doesn't sound like what a lot on here lately would accept.

If your wins are over nobodys, you’re just as irrelevant as they are. Somebody pointed out the only D1 team we beat in Nonconference that finished with a winning record was New Orleans.

I commonly hear somebody say “I don’t go to UAB games to watch anybody other than UAB”. That’s the case for everyone. However, they’d like to be excited about upcoming opponents and an opportunity to knock off legit opponents. Dad said he’d never buy season tickets again to go up there and watch 6 games vs teams that wins would have absolutely no benefit for us. I can’t imagine season ticket holders talking basketball at work and saying I can’t wait to see UAB play North Alabama, West alabama or Arkansas Monticello. Nor would they want to admit they have losses to Troy, CoC, or 5 win MTSU and Charlotte.

Start with the nonconference schedule.

Clearly, 25 wins with that type of schedule and a reg season championship isn’t enough. Cut the camouflage wins and we went .500 this season. Fans can see through the bull

Counted two games vs d2 west Alabama and Arkansas Monticello
Had wins against AAMU, Alcorn state, North Alabama(1st yr D1), Mercer and New Orleans.

Yeah, those games will have fans in seats with excitement for the fact we might do something respectable.

I know this post is all over the place, but hopefully the point can be seen.

Scheduling has been trash, sans the Auburn game. Coaching as a whole left much to be desired. We need a new start with someone who can bring energy, recruits (hidden gems vs 4-5 Stars) and wins to the program. Eshan hasn’t proven he can do all three consistently.

(03-22-2019 10:29 AM)BlazinBham Wrote:  Lavender 8 pts, 5 rebs agame.
Smallwood 6 pts, 4 rebs a game.
Norton 14 pts, 6 ast, 4 rebs a game.

Not all that impressive. Norton was taking 3 more shots on average compared to previous season. Don’t act like he didn’t have green light here.

Dont leave out Darling , I wasnt thinking of Smallwood.