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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 13-17;
6-10 in C-USA (Tied 4th/National)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1999.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Finley 11.3
Rebs: Bush 4.2
Assists: Bush 5.4
FG: Roberson 52.2%
3pt: Finley 38.6%
FT: Finley 71.2%
01-02 Stats:
UAB | C-USA
KEY LOSSES
Will Campbell | 12.7 ppg
P.J. Arnold | 11.4 ppg
Myron Ransom | 8.6 ppg
Eric Batchelor | 8.5 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Morris Finley | Junior
G | Eric Bush | Senior
F | Demario Eddins | Fresh
F | Sidney Ball | Senior
F | Gabe Kennedy | Junior
Player to Watch
Morris Finley
Junior Guard
Blazers' second-leading scorer despite playing just under 29 minutes a game should see average climb with more court time.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Mississippi State visits and Anderson certainly is familiar with the Bulldogs, who figure to be nationally ranked at the time. If he can find a way to pull an upset, it would be an immediate jump-start to his program in Birmingham.
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UAB BLAZERS
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The old theme in C-USA was big-name head coaches at new locales. (See: John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Billy Tubbs). The new theme in C-USA is longtime assistants promoted from big-time programs with heavyweight coaches. (See: Dave Leitao going from UConn to Depaul; Neil Dougherty going from Kansas to TCU; Mike Anderson going from Arkansas to UAB.) Anderson is a Birmingham who becomes the first non-Bartow to lead the Blazers, following 18 years of Gene and six of Murry. He spent 20 years with Nolan Richardson at Tulsa and Arkansas, which means he should bring the "40 Minutes of Hell" relentlessness to a program badly in need of a change in atmosphere. A scrambling all-court mentality would seem to suit the personnel, because Anderson doesn't have anyone taller than 6-9 on the roster, and only two players weigh more than 220. The diminutive backcourt of Morris Finley (5-11) and Eric Bush (5-10) represents the lone returning starters and should be the cornerstone of the team. Anderson will turn to newcomers up front, starting with freshman Demario Eddins and junior-college transfer Gabe Kennedy. Freshman swingman Richard Jones could make an impact as well.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
UAB will play a style that gives it a chance against almost everyone. There will be nights when the Blazers give up too many layups and too many inside baskets, but there also should be nights when the produce turnovers in bushels and surprise someone. Finley and Bush combined to hand out 227 assists and make 102 steals last year, so the guards will be tough for anyone to handle.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The same cannot be said for the frontcourt, which consists of new faces and senior Cedric Davis (1.9 ppg last year). Nobody on the returning roster shot even 40 percent from the field last season. The leading returning rebounder is a 5-10 guard (Bush, 4.2 boards per game).
BOTTOM LINE..............................
UAB is 44-45 over the last three seasons, with no postseason appearances. Anderson has the opportunity - and the recruiting connections - to shake the program out of its malaise. The question is whether anyone will notice. The program has never truly had the bottom drop out (zero 20-loss seasons in 24 years of existence), but it will be tested this year.
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