The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Basketball Holds Annual Preseason Media Day
10/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 25, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's and women's basketball teams are getting close to opening the 2007-08 season and are excited about what lies ahead, as they expressed Thursday in the Blazers' annual Preseason Basketball Media Day.
Men's basketball head coach Mike Davis and women's head coach Audra Smith were on hand, along with a number of players, to discuss the upcoming season and the high expectations that they have for their squads.
The men's basketball team is coming off a 15-16 season, but expectations are high, riding on a trio of transfers, returning starters and a recruiting class ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation. The Blazers were picked second in the Conference USA preseason polls, with senior guard Paul Delaney III earning preseason all-conference honors.
"Our biggest challenge this year will be playing together as a basketball team," said Davis. "That's what we are really focusing on right now, just playing together. We have nine or 10 guys who can really contribute. There are four or five guys that I believe, offensively, can be our leading scorer.
"Returning, we have Lawrence Kinnard, Paul Delaney III and Frank Holmes, who all started for us last year. We also have transfers Robert Vaden, Channing Toney and Walter Sharpe, three guys that played in the SEC and the Big Ten. We feel like they give us a lot of experience.
"We feel like we have a good mix of transfers and guys from last year. We brought in a junior college guy, Reggie Huffman. We feel strongly about him. When I recruited him, I thought he brought a maturity level that we need for this basketball team."
UAB's women's basketball team experienced success last season, finishing the year 19-13, including a second place finish in Conference USA and a trip to the second round of the postseason WNIT. The Blazers were selected fourth in the league's preseason poll and senior guard/forward Diamond Rogers was named to the preseason all-conference team.
"I'm really thrilled about this team," said Smith. "I thought the postseason appearance that we were able to achieve last season really gave them an idea of how good they could be. The majority of the team was here this summer and they worked extremely hard to get ready for this season. That was obvious when we started our preseason workouts and its showing in practice right now.
"I really, really like this year's team in terms of its versatility. There won't be one player that has to carry the load. We have a lot of versatility because we have perimeter players that can play inside and outside. They can legitimately play the three and the four spot. That is going to make us hard to defend.
"We have a very veteran squad. We have players coming back that achieved a lot of game experience last season. We are really excited about them coming back and what they're going to do to help this team get to the level that we want to be at."
Fans will get their first look at the men's basketball team on Nov. 1 when it hosts West Alabama in an exhibition game at 7:00 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
The UAB women's squad will open its season on Nov. 9 at Vanderbilt. The Blazers will play their first eight games on the road, with their first home game scheduled for Dec. 5 versus Charlotte at 7:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball Head Coach Mike Davis
"Our biggest challenge this year will be playing together as a basketball team. That's what we are really focusing on right now, just playing together. We have nine or 10 guys who can really contribute. There are four or five guys that I believe, offensively, can be our leading scorer. That will be our challenge, to make sure every guy is on the same page. If we can do that, then we have a chance to have a special year. We have a ways to go right now, but if we can get to that point, then this is going to be an exciting basketball season for us.
"Returning, we have Lawrence Kinnard, Paul Delaney III and Frank Holmes, who all started for us last year. We also have transfers Robert Vaden, Channing Toney and Walter Sharpe, three guys that played in the SEC and the Big Ten. We believe they give us a lot of experience. They are juniors, but they are redshirt juniors, so they all have four years of experience.
"We feel like we have a good mix of transfers and guys from last year. We brought in a junior college guy, Reggie Huffman. We feel strongly about him. When I recruited him, I felt thought he brought a maturity level that we need for this basketball team."
Women's Basketball Head Coach Audra Smith
"I'm really thrilled about this team. I thought the postseason appearance that we were able to achieve last season really gave them an idea of how good they could be. They started with the commitment to being even better over the summer. The majority of the team was here this summer and they worked extremely hard to get ready for this season. That was obvious when we started our preseason workouts and its showing in practice right now.
"I really, really like this team this year in terms of its versatility. I thought last year, there was a lot of pressure on Carmen. There were a lot of games where she had to put us on her back and carry us. This year, that won't be the case. There won't be one player that has to carry the load. We have a lot of versatility because we have perimeter players, such as Diamond Rogers, Brianna Berry and Erica Simpson, that can play inside and outside. They can legitimately play the three and the four spot. That is going to make us hard to defend.
"Two areas that we have to improve on, and improve on very quickly, are at the defensive end and our rebounding. I think an interesting stat is that we finished second in Conference USA last year, but we were last in defense and rebounding. Those are two areas that we are working hard on in practice and striving towards being better at.
On playing without 2006-07 C-USA Player of the Year Carmen Guzman for the first time in four years: "Yes, Carmen is a great loss and we will miss her tremendously, but we have a very veteran squad. We have players coming back that achieved a lot of game experience last season. We are really excited about them coming back and what they're going to do to help this team get to the level that we want to be at."
Senior guard Paul Delaney III
On his preference of playing point guard or shooting guard:
"I like playing the point guard position better because you are able to get your teammates involved. I get a great sense of enjoyment knowing you get your teammates open shots."
On the differences he sees in this year's team:
"Our preseason work ethic is a lot better than last year. Practices have been going harder and people are playing with a lot more energy."
On what people will see from this year's team:
"I think people are going to see a more mature team and a team with more leaders. We had a lot of talented transfers coming in from big-time conferences. That brings a lot of playing experience to the court."
On newcomers being able to contribute immediately:
"Everybody is going to have to play their part in order for this team to be successful. Everybody is also going to have to be a leader on and off the court."
Junior forward Lawrence Kinnard
On how this year's team has improved:
"We worked harder than we've ever worked this offseason. We also had a lot more players come in and they will be able to help us."
On what people will notice about this year's team:
"I think people are going to notice how hard we play. This year we are going to go extremely hard and you are going to see that difference because we play from the beginning to the end of practice."
On how a faster tempo will help the Blazers:
"I think that style really suits us. I think we'll try to run up and down the court instead of being in a half-set offense. Last year, we really didn't have the players to do it, but I think we have the players that will allow us to do it now."
Junior guard/forward Robert Vaden
On a newcomer that has stood out at practices thus far:
"I would have to say Aaron Johnson. He's looking really good in practices. Even though he's 5-7, he plays big and strong and knows how to play basketball. So, he's probably been the biggest surprise for me so far."
On how he thinks UAB will fare in Conference USA play:
"I personally think we have the ability to win every time we play. I know people talk about Memphis a lot, but I believe it's going to be a battle in the conference. It depends on how much we play as a team and how hard we play."
Senior guard Crystal McFadden
On being able to get back on the court after missing last season with an injury:
"I've been playing for years and I've never sat out this long, so I'm really excited about it."
On the team trying to replace Carmen Guzman this season:
"She was a great player and she brought a lot of things to the table. But, I think that we have a lot of threats this year and hopefully we'll get better at the defensive end and rebounding. Our scoring is still there, but we need to get better on defense."
On the team's preseason ranking in the Conference USA:
"We really don't care about the preseason polls. We are continuing to focus and get better as a team and hopefully we'll continue to improve."
On the team's goals this season:
"We want to win the conference, of course, and make it to the NCAA Tournament. So that is our main focus for this year."
On how far head coach Audra Smith has brought the program:
"She has brought it a long way. When she first came, I was a freshman and new to her system. It was very hard at first. But, everyone has got used to her system after four years."
On how far she has come as a player at UAB:
"I'm way better than I used to be. I've developed better ball-handling skills and my shot is better. My conditioning has also got a lot better."
Sophomore guard Fatiha Salaam
On her mindset entering her second season at UAB:
"Coming into this season, with a year under my belt, I feel that I'm trying to get better at defending and also be more of a scorer. I want to bring more depth to the perimeter and help Britney Jones, Diamond Rogers, and Crystal McFadden with the point guard position."
On the influence of Carmen Guzman on her game:
"I learned so much from watching her. She had confidence and the ability to carry the team on her back when time was running down. She taught me to be confident with the ball on the court and I hope that really helps this year."
On playing the first eight games of the season on the road:
"It's a tough schedule to open up with, but we are well prepared for it. Everybody has been working hard to get ready for this season, and although we play some good teams to start the season, I think we are ready."
