The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Basketball Begins Season Friday At Midnite Madness
10/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's and women's basketball teams begin their respective 2005-06 seasons Friday night, Oct. 14, with this season's edition of Midnite Madness at Bartow Arena. Doors open at 8 p.m. CT and admission is free. The teams' scrimmages begin at 10 p.m. CT.
"Midnite Madness is where it all begins," UAB head men's basketball coach Mike Anderson said. "We have been able to accomplish some tremendous things in the past few years of UAB basketball and it all started with this event. It's a great night for our fans and our players as we get started for the year."
"We're eagerly awaiting the start of Midnite Madness because we know that it's the official start of college basketball season," said UAB head women's basketball coach Audra Smith. "Our staff and players are excited to have the opportunity to show the UAB community, the city of Birmingham and state of Alabama how much we've improved as a team. We've set some pretty high goals for ourselves and we're ready to start taking those goals head-on."
The sneak peek at both UAB men's and women's basketball will feature scrimmages from both teams with introductions of both new and returning players. The pre-scrimmage festivities will include free refreshments and inflatable games for children. Fans will also have an opportunity to get autographs from their favorite UAB basketball players.
Smith and the UAB women's basketball program return nine letterwinners, including four starters, from last year's team. Anderson and the men's team also return nine veterans and have three starters returning from a 22-11 team that made UAB's second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Similar to previous years, UAB athletics will use the event to help local charities. Canned food donations will be collected at the gates. The first 100 fans who donate four or more canned goods receive a free UAB basketball T-shirt.
The UAB women's team opens its regular season in Bartow Arena on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. CT against ACC power Georgia Tech. The Blazer men begin the regular season Friday, Nov. 25 when they battle UMass in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass.
