The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
NOTEBOOK: UAB Playing With Confidence At The Right Time
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 3-point shot is not a new part of UAB freshman's William Lee's game but he hadn't really shown his consistent long-range shooting ability in college before Saturday. The 6-foot-9 forward made all of his 3-point attempts to account for all of his points in an 81-68 victory over Old Dominion at Bartow Arena.
Before Saturday, Lee was 4-of-9 on 3-point attempts overall and 2-of-5 in C-USA play.
"I certainly haven't given him the green light," said UAB head coach Jerod Haase. "But I said if it's a step up shot, feel free to shoot it, knock it in, which obviously he did. At halftime, I said `I know you can shoot 3s, now let's see you do something around the rim.' Obviously he didn't hear me."
Lee missed his only two-point attempt. He also added six rebounds and a block in 19 minutes of action.
*UAB didn't spend much time outside the 3-point arc on Saturday, hitting 5 of a season-low 7 attempts. Lee and Nick Norton combined for all the made 3-pointers.
"It does add an element, especially to have another 3-point shooter," Haase said of Lee's performance. "For the most part, we've basically told Nick and Rob Brown that they're going to get most of the 3-point shots but the other guys are going to get plenty of looks. To have seven guys who have eight points or more, shows there is a lot of chemistry and a lot of sharing the basketball."
*UAB was nearly perfect from the free throw line, hitting 24-of-26 attempts in the win. Tosin Mehinti, who made 2-of-4 attempts, was the lone Blazer to miss a free throw in the game. Nick Norton was the leader, hitting six free throws, while Tyler Madison and C.J. Washington each hit four.
"The big part was getting to the free throw line," said Haase, whose team hit 79.3 from the line in the first six C-USA games. "When guys get up there, they're going up there with confidence."
Robert Brown, who hit both of his attempts, hopes the hot streak continues.
"If we keep shooting like that, I can't imagine we'll lose many games," Brown said.
*Sophomore Tyler Madison had a solid game for the Blazers. He scored six points, had a career-best five assists and added three rebounds and a blocked shot.
*UAB had six blocked shots in the game while Old Dominion wasn't credited with a blocked shot. The Blazers spread the blocked shots around with Hakeem Baxter leading the way with two blocks and Mehinti, Lee, Chris Cokley and Madison each contributing one.
