The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Announces 2002-03 Men's Basketball Schedule
8/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Non-conference contests against UNLV and Mississippi State, along with its 16-game Conference USA slate, highlight the 2002-03 University of Alabama at Birmingham men's basketball schedule, announced here Monday by first-year head coach Mike Anderson.
"I think our schedule is very competitive and one that will challenge our players and coaching staff, and at the same time be exciting for our fans," said Anderson. "We have some outstanding programs on our schedule this year."
UAB will have at least one televised game when they play host to Memphis for the Conference USA game-of-the-week on March 8 at 2 p.m. on ESPN Plus. The Blazers' local and regional television package will be announced at a later date.
UAB opens the campaign on Nov. 22 at home against Birmingham Southern, marking the first time the crosstown rivals have played each other in men's basketball. In December, four of the Blazers' seven games will be played in Bartow Arena: West Alabama (Dec. 1), Nicholls State (Dec. 17), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Dec. 19) and Alabama A&M (Dec. 21).
In addition to its non-league dates with the Runnin' Rebels (at Las Vegas, Nov. 27) and Bulldogs (at home, Jan. 2), UAB will also face Atlantic 10 team Richmond (Dec. 4) and travel to El Paso, Texas to play in the Sun Bowl Tournament, Dec. 27-28. Also competing in the Tournament will be UTEP, Columbia and Air Force. The consolation and championship game will be held December 28.
"We will have some true tests in the early part of the schedule," said Anderson. "Hopefully, these non-conference games will get us ready for Conference USA play."
UAB will begin its conference schedule with road games at South Florida and Houston on January 8 and 11, respectively. The Blazers will finish the season with its toughest stretch of C-USA play when they travel to Marquette (March 1) and Cincinnati (March 5) before closing the season in Birmingham on March 8 against Memphis.
UAB will tip off the 2002-03 campaign on October 11-12 when the men's basketball team will hold "Midnight Mayhem" in Bartow Arena.
The Blazers will open the new season Friday, Nov. 22, when they play host to Birmingham Southern.
