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

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein
...Greetings from Birmingham. Here for UAB practice. Year Four of the Rob Ehsan era.
...UAB Scheduling Nugget: During a seven-day span from 11/29 to 12/7, the Blazers will play three games against Kentucky, Texas, and Memphis. Brutality or ecstasy.
...The biggest thing that stands out at UAB? Power Conference caliber size up front.Blazers have great length up front with Tamell Pearson, Makhtar Gueye, and Jude Akabueze.
...Makhtar Gueye. Buy Stock Now.
...Zack Bryant shining here at UAB practice. Talented junior could be pound-for-pound the best guard in Conference-USA. Under-The-Radar Nationally.
...Early prediction on UAB's starting five: Zack Bryant, Tavin Lovan, Tyreek Scott-Grayson, Makhtar Gueye, Jude Akabueze.

I would’ve thought butler starts, and as a lead guard is totally fine also

(10-02-2019 07:40 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  I would’ve thought butler starts, and as a lead guard is totally fine also

Butler only got clearance to practice a few weeks ago...

(10-02-2019 07:40 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(10-02-2019 07:40 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  I would’ve thought butler starts, and as a lead guard is totally fine also

Butler only got clearance to practice a few weeks ago...

Thanks, that’s not good. Still got good pieces though

Tall and athletic lineup. Should be able to defend the perimeter with our quickness and length. Can we shoot and handle the ball? Hopefully Bryant (32%) and Gueye (26%) will show big improvements from the 3pt line.

In one day and five tweets, Jon Rothstein gives us more about UAB basketball than al.com will give us in one year. Love Rothstein's insight, hate that the local website won't cover the team.

I'm surprised about Jude & TSG. Hopefully TSG has adapted to the pace of D1 college basketball because I felt like that was his main struggle last season. With that point in mind, I'm surprised he thought Jude starts over a (presumably) healthy Butler.

Having gone through an ACL reconstruction myself, it will take some time for Butler to be close to what he was last year, physically and mentally. Of course, he is a collegiate athlete with a full medical/PT staff at his disposal whereas I was a slightly overweight college senior doing 2 PT sessions a week.

Interesting starting lineup...three shifty guards, one active big man and hopefully Jude as a brickhouse mauler.

Even during the ups and downs last year, we played a fun style. We were also mentally tougher and more aggressive than the team had been in a long while.

Here's hoping we can move fast, execute and give other teams fits this season.