The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Basketball Welcomes Louisiana Tech Monday
11/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - When the UAB men's basketball team takes to the floor at 7:30 p.m. (CT) Monday night in Bartow Arena, they will have to contend with one of the hottest players in college basketball right now. The Blazers (1-0) welcome Louisiana Tech (1-2) and the Bulldogs' power post-man Paul Millsap.
"There's no question, he is one of those kids that is going to be an all-American," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "When you talk about a guy who is averaging a double-double and probably leading the nation in rebounding, he's just a great player. The scary thing about him is that he's only a sophomore. He's a player you can rally around as a team, but they have some nice pieces to go with him, too."
Millsap is averaging 27 points and 15.3 rebounds per contest through three games this season. The 6-8, 243-pound sophomore forward from Grambling, La., hung 31 points and 18 boards on Auburn in a 79-67 LaTech loss on Saturday. Millsap is already attracting the attention of NBA scouts, several of whom will be on hand for Monday night's tilt with UAB.
The Blazers opened their 2004-05 season with a 79-55 rout of 2004 NCAA Tournament team Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday. UAB held the Rams (1-2) scoreless for nearly six minutes, shooting out to a 17-0 lead, behind seven points during the stretch from senior Donell Taylor. He ended with a career-high 20 points, including 10-of-12 free throw shooting, and a career-best-tying five assists as well. Demario Eddins tacked on 16 for the Blazers, who won their seventh season opening contest in the last eight years.
As is normal in Blazer wins of late, the defensive play and tempo dictated by Anderson's coaching style worked. UAB forced 25 Ram turnovers and registered 15 steals in the contest. UAB led the nation in steals per game in each of the last two years.
"I thought it was an awesome display of defensive intensity and up-tempo defense," Anderson said afterward. "Our guys game out and we established the game from the defensive side of the ball. We made some free throws in the first half and, before you know it, it was kind of like a snowball."
That intensity will be key in stopping Louisiana Tech. Not only does Millsap offer a significant challenge, but guards Corey Dean (12.3 ppg.) and Donell Allick (10.0 ppg.) can score from the perimeter. The Bulldogs aren't exactly deep, however, as only 10.5 points of their 66.3 point-per-game average come from the bench.
"Hopefully our depth is something that we are going to be able to use throughout the year," Anderson said. "Our success against teams that aren't necessarily as deep depends upon how well our bench comes out and plays. We're not going to change anything we do, though. We'll get out there and get after teams with our pressure defense and hopefully create a tempo that is conducive to our style of play."
The game can be heard on the Blazer Sports Network which broadcasts locally on WYDE, 101.1 FM in Birmingham. UAB then readies for its 2004-05 television debut. The Blazers host Nebraska Thursday night in an 8:35 p.m. (CT) tip that will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
UAB Men's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format
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