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

Didn't realize there was still such a thing as MSN, but...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/...0bbc859633

UAB picked at #44...and here's their preseason prospectus:

44. UAB
1 - Jordan Walker, Tony Toney

2 - Eric Gaines, Tyler Bertram

3 - Ledarrius Brewer, Tavin Lovan, Efrem Johnson

4 - KJ Buffen, Ty Brewer

5 - Trey Jemison, Rongie Gordon, Javian Davis-Fleming

Walker, Buffen, Jemison, Gordon, Lovan and Bertram all return from an NCAA Tournament team, and the Blazers add Gaines (LSU), Bertram (Binghamton) and the Brewer brothers (East Tennessee State). All of the transfers can score, shoot and play. This team is loaded with veterans, has depth at every position, and appears primed to win Conference USA. C-USA favorite.

(08-10-2022 11:11 AM)bftb Wrote:  Didn't realize there was still such a thing as MSN, but...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/...0bbc859633

UAB picked at #44...and here's their preseason prospectus:

44. UAB
1 - Jordan Walker, Tony Toney

2 - Eric Gaines, Tyler Bertram

3 - Ledarrius Brewer, Tavin Lovan, Efrem Johnson

4 - KJ Buffen, Ty Brewer

5 - Trey Jemison, Rongie Gordon, Javian Davis-Fleming

Walker, Buffen, Jemison, Gordon, Lovan and Bertram all return from an NCAA Tournament team, and the Blazers add Gaines (LSU), Bertram (Binghamton) and the Brewer brothers (East Tennessee State). All of the transfers can score, shoot and play. This team is loaded with veterans, has depth at every position, and appears primed to win Conference USA. C-USA favorite.

44 is a pretty fair assessment, although I think we are better than that.

There will be a lot more overlap between the positions and more fluidity between the positions than they are projecting with the depth chart. I think Bertram will be near the end of the rotation. Lovan will play a big role and play between the 2 and 3, maybe the 4 spot if we go small. Rongie can play SF-C, Buffen can play 4-5, and Davis can likely play 4 or 5. Lots of possibilities.

(08-10-2022 11:55 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(08-10-2022 11:11 AM)bftb Wrote:  Didn't realize there was still such a thing as MSN, but...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/...0bbc859633

UAB picked at #44...and here's their preseason prospectus:

44. UAB
1 - Jordan Walker, Tony Toney

2 - Eric Gaines, Tyler Bertram

3 - Ledarrius Brewer, Tavin Lovan, Efrem Johnson

4 - KJ Buffen, Ty Brewer

5 - Trey Jemison, Rongie Gordon, Javian Davis-Fleming

Walker, Buffen, Jemison, Gordon, Lovan and Bertram all return from an NCAA Tournament team, and the Blazers add Gaines (LSU), Bertram (Binghamton) and the Brewer brothers (East Tennessee State). All of the transfers can score, shoot and play. This team is loaded with veterans, has depth at every position, and appears primed to win Conference USA. C-USA favorite.

44 is a pretty fair assessment, although I think we are better than that.

There will be a lot more overlap between the positions and more fluidity between the positions than they are projecting with the depth chart. I think Bertram will be near the end of the rotation. Lovan will play a big role and play between the 2 and 3, maybe the 4 spot if we go small. Rongie can play SF-C, Buffen can play 4-5, and Davis can likely play 4 or 5. Lots of possibilities.

I agree. It's nice to be listed ahead of programs like Syracuse, Providence, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Oklahoma, among others (who are all listed between us and #60). Interesting that they have Middle Tennessee at #53.

I saw an Alabama fan account post practice clips or Davis seemingly working Trey down in the post. He looked GOOD

(08-10-2022 12:25 PM)Golden-Ticket Wrote:  I saw an Alabama fan account post practice clips or Davis seemingly working Trey down in the post. He looked GOOD

He looks very talented to me. Not sure why he put up such paltry numbers at Bama and MS St.

(08-10-2022 12:28 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(08-10-2022 12:25 PM)Golden-Ticket Wrote:  I saw an Alabama fan account post practice clips or Davis seemingly working Trey down in the post. He looked GOOD

He looks very talented to me. Not sure why he put up such paltry numbers at Bama and MS St.

He has lost a lot of fat and added a lot of muscle since he was at Alabama. He had some medical issues at state.

Very good assessment. I think can be better than that — I definitely think UAB will be better than St Louis and Dayton for example. But I understand ranking them higher in preseason.

I agree with this assessment of Middle Tennessee also. I think the Blue Raiders are back and will be a serious threat.

(08-10-2022 02:32 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Very good assessment. I think can be better than that — I definitely think UAB will be better than St Louis and Dayton for example. But I understand ranking them higher in preseason.

I agree with this assessment of Middle Tennessee also. I think the Blue Raiders are back and will be a serious threat.

MTSU scares me. They are long and athletic. The knock seems to be that they are "a year away."

This is basketball, not brain surgery. They have a year of experience under their belt and were already a tough out at the end of last season.

We're "better than #44" if we win the games we're supposed to and several of the tough games we usually drop. There's no reason we can't be better, just can't let those higher profile games get away from us.

I feel like 44 is a very fair spot to rank us. Let’s say we are 23ish and 7ish and lose in the conference final. Are we squarely on the bubble at that point? If so, this ranking is pretty accurate.

I just hope we take care of business and don’t have any terrible losses this season. Maybe we will get lucky and have a handful of conference teams around top 100 this year.