The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Basketball A Family Tradition For UAB Guard Tyler Madison
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB sophomore Tyler Madison didn’t have to travel far to find basketball role models as a young kid growing up in Shelby County. All he did was look to the next room inside his childhood home.
Madison’s oldest brother, Kei, was a nationally-recruited 6-foot-10 post player, who signed with Bob Knight’s Indiana program but didn’t qualify as a freshman. Tyler, who is 15 years younger than Kei, doesn’t remember all the details of his brother’s recruitment but the family does have a scrapbook that includes pictures of Knight holding the youngest Madison and Bob Huggins lounging on the family couch.
Kei played in junior college before opting to play professionally overseas and eventually landed a gig with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Bobby Madison, the middle of the three basketball-playing brothers, began at a junior college before finishing his collegiate eligibility at Western Michigan University. Bobby, who is 12 years older than Tyler, also played in professional leagues overseas.
But they were more than just role models for Tyler. They were also teachers.
“From the time I was two or three years old, I always had a basketball in my hands,” Madison said. “I think I’m so tough right now because when I was young – a little kid in elementary school and middle school – they always beat up on me on the court. I think it helped my game right now.”
At the time, though, Madison wasn’t as thankful for the rough treatment from his older brothers.
“I hated it,” Madison said. “I felt that they were just picking on me, not knowing it was going to help me out in the long run. Now that I can see what they were doing, I appreciated everything they did.”
Toughness is certainly one of the most notable characteristics of the sturdy sophomore, who plays bigger than his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame. He’s strong enough to muscle backcourt players and relentless enough to mix it up under the backboard. He’s also able to set the tone defensively.
“The guys really feed off of him and it really starts with his energy and the rebounding,” said UAB head coach Jerod Haase. “When I look at his stat line, the first thing I’m looking at is not ‘What is he from the field?’ The rebounding part of it, making sure he’s handling the ball without turning it over is important but his activity level is something we really look at.”
He played a much different role at Shelby County High, even though his energetic nature helped get him on the floor right away. Madison played in the post as a freshman and sophomore before moving into the backcourt for his final two seasons. He became one of the state’s top players, averaging 27 points and 13 rebounds as a junior and 23.7 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior. He was an all-state performer, Mr. Basketball finalist and the AHSAA Birmingham Tip-Off Club Player of the Year.
Madison learned quickly that college basketball was different when he joined a senior-laden UAB team last season.
“Not just in games, it happened in practice, where I saw a lane, I’d drive the lane, they’d be there and I’m being cut off by three or four defenders,” Madison said. “It happened a bunch of times last year.”
He sat and watched much of the year but finally joined the regular rotation late in the season. He concluded his first college season with a season-best 11 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes during a Conference USA Tournament loss to Charlotte.
It became evident quickly that Madison would play a bigger role as a sophomore. He scored in double digits in the team’s first three regular season games, including a career-high 17 points against USF.
“I learned a lot from the guys last year and I just kind of used their teaching points in teaching me how to go about my role this year,” Madison said.
At times, his role can be told by a box score. Some examples came in a tough Conference USA win at UTSA when Madison corralled six offensive rebounds or two wins over Southern Miss when he was a combined 15-of-16 from the free throw line. Most of the time, as Haase said, box scores aren’t necessary to judge his contribution.
“When things weren’t going well, we relied on Tyler to always bring the energy,” Haase said. “Now a lot of the other guys have more energy on a consistent basis. His offensive rebounding and defense are really a key for him in helping us go. Defensively, just his overall energy level gives another spark to the team.”
UAB takes on North Texas at 7 p.m. CT in Denton, Texas.
