Date: December 12th, 2020

Time: 4:00 PM

Opponent: UAB (5-0, 0-0 C-USA)

Place: Freedom Hall Civic Center (no fans)

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN+ (Subscription)

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

UAB 2020-2021 Schedule

UAB 2020-2021 Roster

UAB Message Board

UAB is 5-0 and rated 98th in Kenpom (105th offensively, 96th defensively.) But their schedule has been extremely weak with by far the best team thus far being 2-3 Troy (rated 290th in Kenpom). The rest are in the bottom 10% of D1, or sub D1 (Tuskegee). Blue Ribbon rated the Blazers 3rd in Conference USA preseason, behind North Texas and ahead of Marshall.

After 2 years in the SEC Network broadcast booth, UAB alum Andy Kennedy returns to coaching where he spent 12 years as head man at Ole Miss.

Defensively, UAB has been very tough, admittedly against weak competition. They hold opponents to 55.2 ppg (13th in D1) on .397 from 2 (25th in D1) and .211 from 3 (11th in D1) with only 4.6 makes (21st in D1). They grab 10.6 steals (14th in D1), led by Qwan Jackson with 3.6, 8th in D1. They block a lot of shots (5.2, 36th in D1), mostly by 7-0 260 Jr-Tr from Clemson Trey Jemison (3.8 pg, 5th in D1).

The Blazers are good rebounders with a margin of 4.4, 108th in D1. Turnover margin is an excellent +7.4, 14th in D1. They foul a lot (19.6 per game, 87th in D1).

Offensively, they are a high scoring bunch (again, against weak competition) with 84.4 ppg, 47th in D1. They don’t shoot much from the perimeter with 5.6 made 3’s per game on .329 shooting.

Most likely to shoot the 3 are: Benjamin (2.4 makes on .444), Ertel (1.0 makes on .333), and Nicholson (0.8 on .400).

UAB returns its top 3 scorers from last year: 6-4 196 Jr Swingman Tavin Lovan (13.8 ppg, no 3’s, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg). 5-10 140 So Jalen Benjamin (10.8 ppg on .444 from 3 (2.4 makes), 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg). And 6-5 177 Tyreek Scott-Grayson (7.4 ppg on .188 from 3, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg)

Only 2 other players remain from last year, including 6-7 200 So F Kassim Nicholson (7.4 ppg on .400 from 3, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 spg).

Kennedy added 2 top 50 grad transfers, both of them 2nd team all Sun Belt, in ULM’s 6-2 190 G Michael Ertel (13.4 ppg on .333 from 3 with 1.0 makes, 2.6 rpg, 1.0 apg)and Georgia Southern’s 6-4 180 Quan Jackson (15.4 ppg on .231 from 3 with 0.6 makes, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 3.6 spg – 8th in D1).

In the front court they brought in 7-0 260 Jr-Tr from Clemson Trey Jemison (1.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg). And 6-8 230 Fr Rongie Gordon.

ETSU with a brand new team and only 3 games together is still looking to build a unit. That 15 day layover since the last game can’t make it easier. Kenpom has UAB favored by 4, 71-67. Hopefully the Bucs will progress with the fight and energy shown on defense and add some improved offense and shooting.

Guards:
#13 6-4 180 Quan Jackson; 31.4 min., 15.4 ppg on .231 from 3 (0.6 makes), 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 3.6 spg
#2 6-2 190 G Michael Ertel; 27.0 min., 13.4 ppg on .333 from 3 (1.0 makes) 2.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.2 spg
#5 5-10 140 So Jalen Benjamin; 21.6 min., 10.8 ppg on .444 from 3 (2.4 makes), 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg
#6-5 177 Tyreek Scott-Grayson; 22.8 min., 7.4 ppg on .188 from 3 (0.6 makes), 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg

Front Court:
#55 7-0 260 Jr-Tr from Clemson Trey Jemison; 25.0 min., 10.2 ppg , no 3’s, 7.8 rpg, 0.6 apg, 3.8 blocks
#3 6-4 196 Jr Tavin Lovan; 23.4 min., 13.8 ppg w 0 3’s, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg
#11 6-7 200 Kassim Nicholson; 24.6 min., 7.4 ppg on .400 from 3 (0.8 makes), 5.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 0.4 blocks
#25 6-8 230 Fr Rongie Gordon; 16.4 min., 3.8 ppg on no 3’s, 4.6 rpg, 0.4 spg, 0.5 blocks

Some names on unis today would be helpful.

Impressed with Adheke so far! Hit 2 deep 2’s so far. Very active on D. Stole someone’s lunch at the rim just now, fantastic block, went straight up without fouling.

Sheriffin’ is a whole lot different than deputyin’ - Andy Griffith

MTSU and UAB are average teams. This team is struggling against middle of the road NCAA D1 teams. That won't cut down the nets in Asheville.

59-59 just under a minute. Ty Brewer with the hot hands.

Tough loss, but was a good game. I thought the play out of the timeout was a good play call, just a good defensive play. L Brewer is a player!

1. That can't have been what we were trying to do with our last shot?
2. Niblack's ejection was deserved.
3. Free throws and turnovers... yet again.
4. How did Lovan keep getting to the rim?
5. I thought Smith did not have a good game at all.
6. It's early, not much practice, new guys, but leadership and decision making were not there today. Bo, Pat, and Davien are all so far sorely missed. Maybe L. Brewer could become that type of guy?
7. I watched Wake's game vs. Longwood right before this one, and it just seemed like, as hard as it is to compare anything, ETSU is just operating a half-step of intensity behind what I saw from Wake and what we are used to.

I bet we are averaging close 20 turnovers per game.

(12-12-2020 05:16 PM)BucDoctor Wrote:  MTSU and UAB are average teams. This team is struggling against middle of the road NCAA D1 teams. That won't cut down the nets in Asheville.

I think we are also an average team. Defensively we are above average though, and that gives me hope that the team can find an offensive identity. Field goal and three point percentage basically the same between us and UAB, but as Buc Island pointed out UAB made more of their free throws and turned it over less. That's the difference.

I have confidence that this team will gel and be good by March.

It will just take some time. We have the players and the coaching to go a long way,even this year

(12-13-2020 07:22 PM)jwilson25 Wrote:  It will just take some time. We have the players and the coaching to go a long way,even this year

Yes I agree. We know the players are there and need games to get better. The Brewers are great players, Silas is an anchor inside, Vonnie provides great D, Da Da is a really good point guard. We have the ingredients to be champions this year. Just shooting free throws decently would have won two of our games already. Free throws can improve and our offense can find its rhythm. These are problems that can go away as the team plays together more and more. I am looking forward to watching this team mature. Go Bucs!

(12-13-2020 07:33 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(12-13-2020 07:22 PM)jwilson25 Wrote:  It will just take some time. We have the players and the coaching to go a long way,even this year

Yes I agree. We know the players are there and need games to get better. The Brewers are great players, Silas is an anchor inside, Vonnie provides great D, Da Da is a really good point guard. We have the ingredients to be champions this year. Just shooting free throws decently would have won two of our games already. Free throws can improve and our offense can find its rhythm. These are problems that can go away as the team plays together more and more. I am looking forward to watching this team mature. Go Bucs!

I thought UAB was pretty good. We lose by 4 but we were shooting (and were fouled) to win the game. UAB had beaten Alcorn St. by 49, SE LA by 25, Kennesaw St. by 25, Tuskegee by 25 and Troy by 22. No powerhouses there but none of those games were remotely close, either. We will know more about how we may stack up after UAB plays Chattanooga and GA Tech. We are no doubt a work in progress but there’s some good things there.