05-25-2007, 10:42 PM
Here is the Today in Blazer History from November 2004
11/27/04 VCU
The Date:
The Blazers are an amazing 10-1 in games played on November 27. Our only loss came in the last game played on this date in 2002 when UAB lost at UNLV by the score of 84-75. Although the Blazers led by three at the half, the Runnin Rebels shot 54.8% in the second half to win by nine points. UAB was led by freshman Demario Eddins with 15 points, and Mo Finley and Gabe Kennedy each scored 14 points. It was Coach Mike Anderson's first loss as the Blazer Head Coach.
UAB is 7-0 at home on this date, with an average victory margin of 23.9 points. Our largest margin of victory was 37 points when we destroyed Illinios Benedictine (who?) by the score of 100-63 in 1981. Our smallest margin of victory came in 1993 when the Blazers beat Texas Arlington by seven points, 68-61. We have played two games in the Great Alaskan Shootout on this date: Southwest Texas State in 1987, and Dayton in 1992.
The Opponent:
The Blazer opponent today is our old nemesis, Virginia Commonwealth. VCU was our biggest rivalry in the early days of the Sun Belt Conference. Our overall record against the Rams is 18-15. The record against them in the Sun Belt was 16-14. I do not believe the Blazers have had a more intense conference rivalry since leaving the Sun Belt. After both teams went to separate conferences in 1991, they did not play again until the 2000-01 season. UAB won that game in the Arena by the score of 70-61. However, the following year, the Blazers lost in Richmond 76-82. Last season, the Blazers won in Richmond by the score of 68-58.
Victory was in doubt for the Blazers last year as they entered the game without their leader, Mo Finley, who was nursing a separated shoulder. Brandon Tobias was also out with flu-like symptoms. UAB took a late lead in the first half on two Sidney Ball free throws and a layup by Ronell Taylor at the buzzer. After intermission, UAB scored 14 of the first 15 points, and went out on a 18-1 run. The Rams could not close the gap. UAB was led by the Taylor Twins, Donell with 15 points, and Ronell with 13 points.
UAB is 13-4 against VCU at home, and has never lost to them in Bartow Arena. UAB has won seven of the last 10 games against the Rams.
The Bench:
VCU coach, Jeff Capel is in his second season with the Rams. Entering this season he is an outstanding 41-18 as a head coach. He is the youngest head coach in Division I basketball. He and Mike Anderson were both candidates for the Auburn job last year. Speaking of Auburn, look for former Tiger great, Gerald White on the Rams sideline. He is an assistant coach for VCU. He played for the Tigers from 1984-1988.
11/29/04 Louisiana Tech
The Date:
UAB is 7-2 in games played on November 29. The two losses both occurred in the Great Alaskan Shootout in 1987 to Michigan and in 1997 to UCLA.
The UCLA game was one of the biggest collapses UAB has ever had. The Great Alaskan Shootout that year featured seven previous winners of the shootout, including North Carolina, Purdue and UCLA. UAB was invited to join this prestigious gathering because the Blazers had won the tournament in 1984. UAB played a fantastic first half and led 42-26 at halftime over the #6 rank Bruins. The lead was up to 18 points within the first minute and half of the second half. However, that was apparently all the Blazers could do as everything fell apart. UCLA freshman guard Baron Davis took control and scored 19 points in the second half, 28 for the game. UCLA stormed back to win 86-72. The Blazers could only managed to grab 7 rebounds in the second half, after getting 23 boards in the first half. UAB was led by Willie Mitchell with 19 points and Damon Cobb with 15 points.
The last game that the Blazers played on November 29 was last year at home against the Richmond Spiders. UAB got off to a slow start as they did most games last year, but closed out the first half with a 15-1 run to take a 31-25 lead at halftime. They held the lead throughout the second half and withstood a late Richmond run. The Blazers won 83-75 over a very good Richmond team. Donell Taylor led the Blazers with 18 while Gabe Kennedy added 16 points. Richmond who was averaging only 13.5 turnovers a game, had 15 turnovers in the first half and finished with 24 turnovers.
The Opponent:
UAB has played Louisiana Tech three times and has won all three games. All three games have been played in Bartow arena. Actually, the Blazers first game against La. Tech was only the fourth game to be played in Bartow arena on December 17, 1988. UAB faced Louisiana Tech in the championship game of the UAB classic and won 97-79. The Blazers was led by Andy Kennedy with 27 points and Reginald Turner with 25 points. It was a particularly strong tournament for Alan Ogg, who had seven blocks against Louisiana Tech, after breaking the UAB record the night before against Florida A&M with 12 blocks. Nineteen blocks in two nights is pretty strong.
In 2001, the Blazers defeated La. Tech 81-63. That Tech team would go on to win 22 games and an NIT berth. However, the closest game between the two schools came last year when the Blazers defeated La. Tech by 12, 79-67. The game was tied early in the second half at 45, when UAB went on a 17-0 run, sparked by Demario Eddins and Ronell Taylor, who each had seven points in the run. Eddins and R. Taylor combined for 27 points, 26 of them coming in the second half. Gabe Kennedy added 12 points while Donell Taylor had nine points and five steals.
The Bench:
Coach Keith Richard has been head coach at Louisiana Tech since 1998. However, he was not the Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. He is 0-2 as a head coach against the Blazers. Plus, he was the assistant coach on a Louisiana Monroe team that lost to UAB in 1995.
11/27/04 VCU
The Date:
The Blazers are an amazing 10-1 in games played on November 27. Our only loss came in the last game played on this date in 2002 when UAB lost at UNLV by the score of 84-75. Although the Blazers led by three at the half, the Runnin Rebels shot 54.8% in the second half to win by nine points. UAB was led by freshman Demario Eddins with 15 points, and Mo Finley and Gabe Kennedy each scored 14 points. It was Coach Mike Anderson's first loss as the Blazer Head Coach.
UAB is 7-0 at home on this date, with an average victory margin of 23.9 points. Our largest margin of victory was 37 points when we destroyed Illinios Benedictine (who?) by the score of 100-63 in 1981. Our smallest margin of victory came in 1993 when the Blazers beat Texas Arlington by seven points, 68-61. We have played two games in the Great Alaskan Shootout on this date: Southwest Texas State in 1987, and Dayton in 1992.
The Opponent:
The Blazer opponent today is our old nemesis, Virginia Commonwealth. VCU was our biggest rivalry in the early days of the Sun Belt Conference. Our overall record against the Rams is 18-15. The record against them in the Sun Belt was 16-14. I do not believe the Blazers have had a more intense conference rivalry since leaving the Sun Belt. After both teams went to separate conferences in 1991, they did not play again until the 2000-01 season. UAB won that game in the Arena by the score of 70-61. However, the following year, the Blazers lost in Richmond 76-82. Last season, the Blazers won in Richmond by the score of 68-58.
Victory was in doubt for the Blazers last year as they entered the game without their leader, Mo Finley, who was nursing a separated shoulder. Brandon Tobias was also out with flu-like symptoms. UAB took a late lead in the first half on two Sidney Ball free throws and a layup by Ronell Taylor at the buzzer. After intermission, UAB scored 14 of the first 15 points, and went out on a 18-1 run. The Rams could not close the gap. UAB was led by the Taylor Twins, Donell with 15 points, and Ronell with 13 points.
UAB is 13-4 against VCU at home, and has never lost to them in Bartow Arena. UAB has won seven of the last 10 games against the Rams.
The Bench:
VCU coach, Jeff Capel is in his second season with the Rams. Entering this season he is an outstanding 41-18 as a head coach. He is the youngest head coach in Division I basketball. He and Mike Anderson were both candidates for the Auburn job last year. Speaking of Auburn, look for former Tiger great, Gerald White on the Rams sideline. He is an assistant coach for VCU. He played for the Tigers from 1984-1988.
11/29/04 Louisiana Tech
The Date:
UAB is 7-2 in games played on November 29. The two losses both occurred in the Great Alaskan Shootout in 1987 to Michigan and in 1997 to UCLA.
The UCLA game was one of the biggest collapses UAB has ever had. The Great Alaskan Shootout that year featured seven previous winners of the shootout, including North Carolina, Purdue and UCLA. UAB was invited to join this prestigious gathering because the Blazers had won the tournament in 1984. UAB played a fantastic first half and led 42-26 at halftime over the #6 rank Bruins. The lead was up to 18 points within the first minute and half of the second half. However, that was apparently all the Blazers could do as everything fell apart. UCLA freshman guard Baron Davis took control and scored 19 points in the second half, 28 for the game. UCLA stormed back to win 86-72. The Blazers could only managed to grab 7 rebounds in the second half, after getting 23 boards in the first half. UAB was led by Willie Mitchell with 19 points and Damon Cobb with 15 points.
The last game that the Blazers played on November 29 was last year at home against the Richmond Spiders. UAB got off to a slow start as they did most games last year, but closed out the first half with a 15-1 run to take a 31-25 lead at halftime. They held the lead throughout the second half and withstood a late Richmond run. The Blazers won 83-75 over a very good Richmond team. Donell Taylor led the Blazers with 18 while Gabe Kennedy added 16 points. Richmond who was averaging only 13.5 turnovers a game, had 15 turnovers in the first half and finished with 24 turnovers.
The Opponent:
UAB has played Louisiana Tech three times and has won all three games. All three games have been played in Bartow arena. Actually, the Blazers first game against La. Tech was only the fourth game to be played in Bartow arena on December 17, 1988. UAB faced Louisiana Tech in the championship game of the UAB classic and won 97-79. The Blazers was led by Andy Kennedy with 27 points and Reginald Turner with 25 points. It was a particularly strong tournament for Alan Ogg, who had seven blocks against Louisiana Tech, after breaking the UAB record the night before against Florida A&M with 12 blocks. Nineteen blocks in two nights is pretty strong.
In 2001, the Blazers defeated La. Tech 81-63. That Tech team would go on to win 22 games and an NIT berth. However, the closest game between the two schools came last year when the Blazers defeated La. Tech by 12, 79-67. The game was tied early in the second half at 45, when UAB went on a 17-0 run, sparked by Demario Eddins and Ronell Taylor, who each had seven points in the run. Eddins and R. Taylor combined for 27 points, 26 of them coming in the second half. Gabe Kennedy added 12 points while Donell Taylor had nine points and five steals.
The Bench:
Coach Keith Richard has been head coach at Louisiana Tech since 1998. However, he was not the Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. He is 0-2 as a head coach against the Blazers. Plus, he was the assistant coach on a Louisiana Monroe team that lost to UAB in 1995.