02-10-2007, 10:39 AM
“As LeAndrew Goes”
The Date:
UAB is 1-3 in games played on this date. The one win came at home over South Florida in 1990 and the three losses have been on the road. Luckily this game is at home and not in that horrible El Paso place.
UAB @ Louisville – February 10, 1996
On this date in 1996, UAB made their first ever trip to Freedom Hall to play the Louisville Cardinals in front of 19,607 Cardinal fans. The Blazers had lost to Louisville previously that season in Birmingham by eight points.
The Blazers got a miserable start to the game and shot only 29% from the field in the first half. They did not score a field goal for the first six minutes of the game. Louisville led by as many as 19 points with five minutes to go in the half, and by 14 at the halftime. UAB’s leading scorer, Carlos Williams had only four points in the first half and one point in the second half.
In the second half, UAB slowly worked its way back into the game, and was down by only two points, 60-58 with 7:27 left to play. The Blazers had the ball and a chance to tie or go ahead, but missed a three point attempt, and the Cardinals put an end to the Blazer comeback. Over the next six minutes, Louisville outscored UAB 15-2 and 21-8 in the final 7:27 of the game. Louisville won 81-66 and the Blazers dropped to 14-9. Cedric Dixon led UAB with 18 points, but he was 7 of 20 from the field and 1 of 9 from three point range.
UAB @ South Florida – February 10, 2001
The last game UAB has played on this date occurred in 2001 when the Blazers traveled to Tampa to take on the South Florida Bulls, UAB was 12-9 overall and 5-4 in CUSA play. The Bulls were 14-8 overall and 6-3 in CUSA play. South Florida had been picked as the preseason favorite to win the National Division of CUSA, but Seth Greenberg had suffered a rash of injuries and had recently lost to Memphis. Greenberg had lost it against Memphis and had gotten into a shouting match with a fan sitting in the USF student section in the final minutes of the loss to Memphis. To make matters worse, the Bulls’ leading scorer and preseason CUSA Player of the Year, BB Walden had been suspended indefinitely on January 28. Greenberg refused to bring Walden back, even though the team was struggling and many fans wanted his return. With the Bulls in turmoil, this game was now a winnable game for Murry Bartow’s Blazers.
The Blazers started strong and led 35-28 at the half. In the second half, UAB led by 10, 46-36 with 16:06 to go. However, the home standing Bulls went on a 14-3 run and took a 50-49 lead with 10:45 left on an Altron Jackson jumper. The Blazers scored seven straight points to take a 56-50 lead with just under seven minutes to go. Unfortunately, UAB only made two field goals the rest of the game. The Bulls were not much better. South Florida, the worst free throw shooting team in the conference, made only 9 of 24 foul shots in this game including eight straigt misses. However, they hit them when they needed them, and Altron Jackson’s two free throws in the final minute gave South Florida a one point lead.
As it seems to be the Blazers fate in Tampa this decade, UAB had two chances to win the game in the final 30 seconds. You will remember two games in Tampa under Mike Anderson when the Blazers won the game on last second shots. Unfortunately, in 2001, Murry Bartow was the coach and he decided the last shot should go to LeAndrew Bass, who was 4 of 18 from the field, and had not scored in the second half. Bass shot the ball with 13 seconds to go, but failed to hit the rim. The ball was tipped out of bounds by South Florida and UAB got a second chance. The ball went back to Bass and his shot with 11.7 seconds left was blocked. South Florida won the game 61-60. “We go as LeAndrew goes” was Murry’s answer after the game. The Blazers were led by Will Campbell who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, but he fouled out of the game in the last minute, which led to Altron Jackson’s winning free throws.
The Opponent:
The Blazers have played Texas El Paso three times in El Paso and once in Memphis, but this is the first ever meeting between the two schools in Birmingham. UAB is 0-3 against UTEP west of the Mississippi River and 1-0 east of the Mississippi.
UAB vs. Texas El Paso March 10, 2006
Our one win against the Miners occurred last year in the CUSA Tournament semi finals in Memphis. The #2 seeded Blazers had beaten SMU in the quarterfinals and were looking to avenge an embarrassing 65-37 loss in El Paso to the #3 seeded Miners.
In the first half, UAB jumped out to a 17-10 lead after Squeaky Johnson hit a three pointer. Squeaky would hit all four of his field goals, including three from behind the arc. He also dished out six assists. The Miners went on a 10-2 run in the first half, giving the lead, 20-19. UAB regained the lead and led 29-26 at the half.
Four minutes into the second half, the Blazers accomplished something they had been unable to do in El Paso – score more than 37 points. UAB led throughout the second half, but was unable to build a comfortable lead, although they were shooting a phenomenal 69% (11 of 16) from the field. Kevin Henderson for the Miners hit two three pointers to close the gap to a one possession game. Henderson was given the opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds and UTEP trailing 62-59. With 4.6 seconds remaining, Henderson took a three point attempt, but was fouled by Lawrence Kinnard. Henderson would have the chance to tie the game if he hit all three of his free throws. The pressure proved too much as he missed his first free throw. He made the second shot, and deliberately missed the third shot. The tip bounced off the rim, and UAB survived to go to the championship game against the home team, Memphis. The Blazers won the game 63-60 and was led by Marvett McDonald with 15 points. Paul Delaney had 13 points and Squeaky Johnson had 12.
The Date:
UAB is 1-3 in games played on this date. The one win came at home over South Florida in 1990 and the three losses have been on the road. Luckily this game is at home and not in that horrible El Paso place.
UAB @ Louisville – February 10, 1996
On this date in 1996, UAB made their first ever trip to Freedom Hall to play the Louisville Cardinals in front of 19,607 Cardinal fans. The Blazers had lost to Louisville previously that season in Birmingham by eight points.
The Blazers got a miserable start to the game and shot only 29% from the field in the first half. They did not score a field goal for the first six minutes of the game. Louisville led by as many as 19 points with five minutes to go in the half, and by 14 at the halftime. UAB’s leading scorer, Carlos Williams had only four points in the first half and one point in the second half.
In the second half, UAB slowly worked its way back into the game, and was down by only two points, 60-58 with 7:27 left to play. The Blazers had the ball and a chance to tie or go ahead, but missed a three point attempt, and the Cardinals put an end to the Blazer comeback. Over the next six minutes, Louisville outscored UAB 15-2 and 21-8 in the final 7:27 of the game. Louisville won 81-66 and the Blazers dropped to 14-9. Cedric Dixon led UAB with 18 points, but he was 7 of 20 from the field and 1 of 9 from three point range.
UAB @ South Florida – February 10, 2001
The last game UAB has played on this date occurred in 2001 when the Blazers traveled to Tampa to take on the South Florida Bulls, UAB was 12-9 overall and 5-4 in CUSA play. The Bulls were 14-8 overall and 6-3 in CUSA play. South Florida had been picked as the preseason favorite to win the National Division of CUSA, but Seth Greenberg had suffered a rash of injuries and had recently lost to Memphis. Greenberg had lost it against Memphis and had gotten into a shouting match with a fan sitting in the USF student section in the final minutes of the loss to Memphis. To make matters worse, the Bulls’ leading scorer and preseason CUSA Player of the Year, BB Walden had been suspended indefinitely on January 28. Greenberg refused to bring Walden back, even though the team was struggling and many fans wanted his return. With the Bulls in turmoil, this game was now a winnable game for Murry Bartow’s Blazers.
The Blazers started strong and led 35-28 at the half. In the second half, UAB led by 10, 46-36 with 16:06 to go. However, the home standing Bulls went on a 14-3 run and took a 50-49 lead with 10:45 left on an Altron Jackson jumper. The Blazers scored seven straight points to take a 56-50 lead with just under seven minutes to go. Unfortunately, UAB only made two field goals the rest of the game. The Bulls were not much better. South Florida, the worst free throw shooting team in the conference, made only 9 of 24 foul shots in this game including eight straigt misses. However, they hit them when they needed them, and Altron Jackson’s two free throws in the final minute gave South Florida a one point lead.
As it seems to be the Blazers fate in Tampa this decade, UAB had two chances to win the game in the final 30 seconds. You will remember two games in Tampa under Mike Anderson when the Blazers won the game on last second shots. Unfortunately, in 2001, Murry Bartow was the coach and he decided the last shot should go to LeAndrew Bass, who was 4 of 18 from the field, and had not scored in the second half. Bass shot the ball with 13 seconds to go, but failed to hit the rim. The ball was tipped out of bounds by South Florida and UAB got a second chance. The ball went back to Bass and his shot with 11.7 seconds left was blocked. South Florida won the game 61-60. “We go as LeAndrew goes” was Murry’s answer after the game. The Blazers were led by Will Campbell who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, but he fouled out of the game in the last minute, which led to Altron Jackson’s winning free throws.
The Opponent:
The Blazers have played Texas El Paso three times in El Paso and once in Memphis, but this is the first ever meeting between the two schools in Birmingham. UAB is 0-3 against UTEP west of the Mississippi River and 1-0 east of the Mississippi.
UAB vs. Texas El Paso March 10, 2006
Our one win against the Miners occurred last year in the CUSA Tournament semi finals in Memphis. The #2 seeded Blazers had beaten SMU in the quarterfinals and were looking to avenge an embarrassing 65-37 loss in El Paso to the #3 seeded Miners.
In the first half, UAB jumped out to a 17-10 lead after Squeaky Johnson hit a three pointer. Squeaky would hit all four of his field goals, including three from behind the arc. He also dished out six assists. The Miners went on a 10-2 run in the first half, giving the lead, 20-19. UAB regained the lead and led 29-26 at the half.
Four minutes into the second half, the Blazers accomplished something they had been unable to do in El Paso – score more than 37 points. UAB led throughout the second half, but was unable to build a comfortable lead, although they were shooting a phenomenal 69% (11 of 16) from the field. Kevin Henderson for the Miners hit two three pointers to close the gap to a one possession game. Henderson was given the opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds and UTEP trailing 62-59. With 4.6 seconds remaining, Henderson took a three point attempt, but was fouled by Lawrence Kinnard. Henderson would have the chance to tie the game if he hit all three of his free throws. The pressure proved too much as he missed his first free throw. He made the second shot, and deliberately missed the third shot. The tip bounced off the rim, and UAB survived to go to the championship game against the home team, Memphis. The Blazers won the game 63-60 and was led by Marvett McDonald with 15 points. Paul Delaney had 13 points and Squeaky Johnson had 12.