The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Basketball Teams Open Practice With Midnite Madness
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB fans will get their first chance to see the 2004-05 men's and women's basketball teams in action this Friday night as the Blazers hold Midnite Madness in Bartow Arena.
The event will be held following the UAB-TCU football game, beginning at 10:30 p.m. The two teams will be introduced to the fans and will sign autographs. The Blazer Band, cheerleaders, and Golden Girls will be on hand and there will be a multitude of interactive events and contests.
Fans will get an opportunity to meet the Blazer women's first-year head coach Audra Smith and her staff. The men's team will be honored by receiving their Conference USA championship rings. The Blazers knocked off No. 1 seed Kentucky last season to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished 22-10 under the guidance of head coach Mike Anderson, the 2004 Ray Meyer C-USA Coach of the Year.
The UAB men return a pair of starters from last year's team after losing the services of some key players to graduation. With Mo Finley, Sidney Ball, Gabe Kennedy and Tony Johnson departed, Anderson will lean heavily to junior Demario Eddins, as well as twins Ronell and Donell Taylor.
"I know our players are looking forward to getting started," said Anderson. "Hopefully, we can build off the success we had last year. We lost some key components from last year's team, but I really feel these guys are excited about a new season."
The Blazers are also excited about getting a new start under Smith, a long-time assistant coach at perennial power Virginia. Smith spent 10 years as an assistant with the Cavaliers after finishing her playing career at UVa.
"We're extremely excited about the start of practice," said Smith. "The players are very excited, as is the staff. We're all ready to hit the court and to continue to prepare for the tough schedule we have ahead of us. I expect the players to run the plays hard and to give us 100 percent. So far, they've been very receptive to everything we've put out there."
Each team will also scrimmage to complete the night. All fans are encouraged to bring a canned good item to benefit Magic City Harvest.
