The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Announces 2005-06 Men's Basketball Schedule
10/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 4, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2005-06 UAB men's basketball schedule features 11 postseason teams from last year and nine games slated for national or regional television. The schedule was announced Tuesday by head coach Mike Anderson.
"This is probably one of the tougher non-conference schedules we have ever had at UAB," Anderson said. "It's unbelievable. For the fans, it is, without a doubt, one of the more exciting schedules we have ever had. The competition is unbelievable."
Eddie Sutton and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (Dec. 28-ESPN2), who were NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 members last season, highlight a home non-conference schedule which includes fellow 2005 NCAA Tournament participant Old Dominion (Dec. 22). The Monarchs are picked as high as No. 21 nationally by Lindy's preseason magazine. Western Kentucky (Nov. 29) visits Bartow Arena this season as well. The Hilltoppers are a consensus pick to win the Sun Belt East Division by the preseason magazines. Jeff Capel's VCU Rams return to Bartow Arena (Jan. 2) this year as well after an NIT bid in 2004-05.
"When I came here, we talked about having a `national' schedule," Anderson said. "We've got Oklahoma State coming here and playing on national television. We've got Old Dominion - a top 25 team - coming to our place. We've got that national schedule now. From top to bottom, we have a very difficult schedule this year. If we don't get our brains beat out, it will put us in position to compete for a conference championship and another postseason appearance."
The non-conference road slate doesn't get any easier for Anderson's club. UAB opens regular season play at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass., against local favorite UMass on Friday, Nov. 25 (Fox Sports Net National). Road games at Big 12 member Nebraska (Dec. 3), Big 10 member and 2005 NCAA Tournament participant Minnesota (Dec. 14-Fox Sports Net North) and former league foes now in the Big East DePaul (Dec. 6) and USF (Dec. 30) dot the docket for the Blazers.
The 2005-06 season will also bring a new-look Conference USA to the table. Marshall, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP all join holdovers East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Southern Miss and Tulane as UAB's league mates. UTEP and UCF were both NCAA Tournament teams a year ago while Houston, Memphis and Rice all played in the NIT.
"You add an unknown element to conference play this year," Anderson said. "That will make it exciting. There are some very good teams in this league. That, coupled with the fact that everybody raises their level of play come conference time, is going to make Conference USA one of the most exciting and competitive leagues out there this year. The fans are going to love it."
Anderson welcomes his alma mater for UAB's C-USA opener as Tulsa visits Bartow Arena on Jan. 11. Houston, East Carolina and Tulane will all play at Bartow Arena this year, as will Memphis (March 2-ESPN2), Marshall and Southern Miss, who will also host the Blazers as UAB's three mirror games in C-USA's 14-game league schedule. UAB will play Rice, UCF, UTEP and SMU on the road. The home contest against Houston (Jan. 21) along with road games at Memphis (Jan. 26), UCF (Feb. 4), UTEP (Feb. 8) and Southern Miss (Feb. 18) will air on College Sports Television (CSTV) as part of the network's partnership with Conference USA.
UAB will open its season with two exhibition contests at Bartow Arena. West Alabama starts things off on Thursday, Nov. 10. North Georgia visits for the final preseason tune-up for the Blazers on Tuesday, Nov. 15. UAB will also host SWAC contender Alcorn State (Dec. 10) and Mid-Continent Conference member Centenary (Dec. 19) and Valdosta State (Jan. 5) to round out its non-conference home schedule. The regular season home opener is Sunday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. CT against MEAC upstart South Carolina State which upset Penn State and Miami (Fla.) last season.
