The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Tip Off C-USA Action At Middle Tennessee Sunday
1/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UAB (4-9, 0-0 C-USA) vs. Middle Tennessee (7-6, 0-0 C-USA)
2 p.m. CT | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center
WATCH | LISTEN ONLINE (Free) | LIVE STATS
TV: None | Radio: WUHT-FM 107.7
UAB Game Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's men's basketball team opens its 20th season of Conference USA action on Sunday with a trip to Middle Tennessee. Tip time for the matchup at MT’s Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
Sunday’s game will not be televised, but fans can listen to the contest on the Blazer IMG Sports Network with David Crane calling the action on WUHT-FM 107.7. Fans can also subscribe to a live stream via the Conference USA Digital Network. To subscribe follow this link: C-USA Digital Network Subscription.
For more information as well as in-game updates follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter.
UAB vs. Middle Tennessee Quick Hits
· Sunday’s game between UAB and Middle Tennessee will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two teams. The Blazers hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series against MT, but have lost three-straight. Each of the last two meetings between the two programs have been decided by five points or less.
· UAB enters Conference USA action after a grueling non-conference slate that featured matchups against three ranked teams in three consecutive days at the Battle 4 Atlantis as well as contests against Southeastern Conference opponents Florida and LSU and perennial power North Carolina. UAB’s nine losses have come against teams that are currently a combined 76-41 (.649) overall this season.
· The Blazers look to snap a three-game losing skid in Conference USA opening games. UAB last won a league-opening game during the 2010-11 season, when they defeated UTEP in three overtimes, 100-97
· The Blazers are led in scoring this season by redshirt junior guard Robert Brown, who scores an average of 13.4 points per game. Brown has scored in double figures in five-straight games and a total of nine times this season.
UAB vs. Middle Tennessee Notes
UAB Begins 20th Season In Conference USA
· When UAB and Middle Tennessee tip off on Sunday, the Blazers will begin their 20th season in Conference USA. UAB is tied with Southern Miss for the longest tenured team in C-USA -- both the Blazers and Golden Eagles joined the conference at the beginning of the 1995-96 season.
· UAB holds a 156-110 all-time record on Conference USA games and has won two C-USA regular season titles (2004 and 2011) and has appeared in two C-USA tournament title games (2003 and 2006).
UAB Faces Strong Non-Conference Schedule
· UAB enters conference play after playing a tough non-conference schedule that featured matchups against four ranked teams, including this past Saturday’s game against Np. 20 North Carolina. The Blazers faced three-straight ranked teams in three consecutive days at the 2014 Battle 4 Atlantis (No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 16 Florida and No. 22 UCLA). It marked the first time in school history UAB has faced three-straight ranked opponents and the first time a team in NCAA Division I men’s basketball has played a trio of ranked teams in consecutive days during the regular season since VCU accomplished that feat at the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis (played No. 19 Memphis, No. 5 Duke and No. 13 Missouri). UAB has faced two Southeastern Conference teams this year, holding leads in each contest (11 point lead vs. LSU and a seven point lead vs. Florida). In fact, the Blazers led LSU for 22:41and led Florida for 17:43 during those two contests -- both totals were more than the opponent’s time in the lead.
Close Losses For UAB
· Of UAB’s nine losses, five have come by nine points or fewer. Three of UAB’s three double-digit losses this season have come against ranked teams -- then No. 2 ranked Wisconsin, 72-43, on Nov. 26 and then No. 22 ranked UCLA, 88-76, on Nov. 28 and then No. 20 North Carolina, 89-58, on Dec. 27.
What Can Brown Do For You
· UAB redshirt junior guard Robert Brown, who transferred from Virginia Tech after the 2012-13 season, has scored in double figures in five-straight games and a total of nine times this season. The Blazers’ go-to guy has led his team in scoring in seven of 13 games this season and leads UAB in field goals made (62) and 3-point field goals made (21).
Blazers Depending On Youth
· Blazer underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) have accounted for 64 percent of UAB’s scoring total this season. The 10 underclassmen have scored 553 of the Blazers’ 802 points this season.
· There is a combined seven years of NCAA Division I basketball experience on UAB’s roster and only four years of experience at UAB combined. Senior forward C.J. Washington and redshirt junior guard Robert Brown are the veterans on the team with Brown’s two years of experience at Virginia Tech and Washington’s one year at UAB last season.
