The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB-Arizona Preview
3/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2005
GAME: No. 11 UAB (22-10) vs. No. 3 Arizona (28-6).
REGIONAL: Chicago, second round.
TIME: Saturday, 5:50 p.m. EST.
SITE: Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho.
Some observers felt UAB didn't belong in the NCAA tournament. For the second consecutive year, the Blazers are proving that they do.
UAB looks to pull off another big second-round upset and make its second straight trip to the regional semifinals when it meets third-seeded Arizona.
UAB received one of the more controversial at-large berths awarded by the selection committee, considering it went through a four-game losing streak in February and failed to beat a ranked team all season.
The 11th-seeded Blazers quieted their critics in the opening round by dominating No. 6 seed LSU, 82-68. With an attacking defense that got the Tigers out of rhythm from the outset, UAB went ahead by double digits midway through the first half and led by as many as 25 points after halftime.
"I thought our guys were clicking on a lot of different cylinders," Blazers coach Mike Anderson said. "We've been playing some pretty good basketball and now you're seeing some of the parts starting to come together."
That's what happened for Anderson's team in last year's tournament, where UAB beat Washington in the first round before stunning top-seeded Kentucky. A victory Saturday over the Wildcats, who could have been a No. 1 seed if they hadn't lost the Pac-10 title game, would be nearly as impressive.
"It's just like any other game. They have nice size but pretty much all year we've been outsized," said Donell Taylor, one of three guards that start for UAB.
While the Blazers have no starter taller than 6-foot-8, Arizona star center Channing Frye is 6-11 and starting forward Ivan Radenovic is 6-10.
What UAB lacks in size it makes up for with defensive intensity. The team's relentless pressure forced LSU into 21 turnovers, slightly more than the Blazers' season average that led Conference USA. They also were tops in C-USA with 11.8 steals per game.
Arizona is coming off an impressive defensive performance of its own, holding Utah State to 8-for-30 from the field (26.7 percent) in the second half en route to a 66-53 victory Thursday.
"Our offense definitely comes from our defense," said Frye, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
"That kind of takes the heart out of other teams and once we get those easy buckets we get confidence in the halfcourt."
Arizona is hoping to use that defense to cool off Marvett McDonald, who scored 21 points and shot 5-of-8 from 3-point range Thursday. Taylor added two 3-pointers and 14 points in the first round after leading the team this season with 15.6 per game.
While UAB relies on the backcourt for the bulk of its scoring, Arizona is likely to go inside to Frye often against the smaller Blazers. If UAB sends extra defenders at Frye, that could create space for arguably the best shooter in college basketball.
Salim Stoudamire, who led the nation in 3-point shooting at 52.5 percent (107-for-204), was battling asthma on Thursday as he went just 3-for-9 from beyond the arc. The senior guard did score 17 points, though that was 20 less than he had in Arizona's Pac-10 tournament final loss to Washington.
Arizona and UAB are meeting for the first time.
PROBABLE STARTERS: UAB - F Marques Lewis (8.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg), F Demario Eddins (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Carldell Johnson (5.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.3 spg), G Taylor (15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.0 spg), G McDonald (11.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg). Arizona - F Hassan Adams (12.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 spg), F Radenovic (8.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), C Frye (15.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg), G Stoudamire (18.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg), G Mustafa Shakur (8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.7 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: UAB - At-large berth, Conference USA; beat LSU 82-68, first round. Arizona - At-large berth, Pac-10; beat Utah State 66-53, first round.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: UAB - 9-11, 12 years. Arizona - 38-22, 24 years.
