The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Confident Blazers Ready For Birmingham-Hosted C-USA Tourney
3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PURCHASE TICKETS!
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's basketball team left any chance for momentum behind during a difficult long weekend in Florida that concluded the regular season. But that doesn't mean the confidence was completely drained from the Blazer players as they prepare to play host to the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championships.
UAB earned the No. 4 seed in the C-USA Tournament and will wait to see its opening assignment. Western Kentucky, the No. 5 seed, plays No. 12 seed Marshall on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to play UAB on Thursday at the same time. All games in the men's tournament will be played at Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
"I think there is something to be said for momentum but I've always been a believer that you gain momentum once you're into a tournament," said UAB head coach Jerod Haase. "To be totally truthful, I don't think we played horribly down in Florida. Even with the losses, I feel like the guys are in great spirits, really motivated, very confident and I think we'll be playing our best basketball at the end of the year. That's what we wanted."
While it's hard to forget about the final weekend, it's also hard to forget the turnaround the Blazers made once the C-USA portion of the schedule tipped off. The Blazers limped into C-USA with a 4-9 record against perhaps the most stringent non-conference schedule among conference teams. UAB won six of its first seven conference games, has wins over C-USA champion Louisiana Tech and No. 3 seed Old Dominion and was in contention to claim at least a tie for the C-USA title in the final week of the season. And the Blazers did all this with a lineup that includes eight freshmen or sophomores in a playing rotation that can reach 10 deep.
Two of the freshmen - point guard Nick Norton and William Lee - were selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and another freshmen - Chris Cokley - was honored as the C-USA Sixth Man of the Year. The three combined for an average of 23.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. UAB also received quality minutes from freshman Lewis Sullivan at times during C-USA play.
Haase said the amount of minutes played by his freshmen takes away any apprehension of fielding a young lineup during postseason play.
"I don't look at them and think `We're going in with a bunch of freshmen, I'm worried,'" Haase said. "I think the experience part of it, with our freshmen and our sophomores, is really, really good. Their confidence level, I think, is very good as well."
The Blazers are generally more confident, particularly on defense, with 6-foot-9 sophomore Tosin Mehinti in the middle. Mehinti, who averages 7.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game, has been slowed by an ankle injury. He hasn't played more than 14 minutes in the past five games and completely missed a win over Middle Tennessee and a loss at FIU.
UAB junior Robert Brown said the Blazers lose "defensive presence" and the "confidence he brings and give everyone" with Mehinti on the sideline.
Haase acknowledges his team is stronger on both ends of the floor with a healthy Mehinti.
"Without Tosin, you're losing a lot of defense, a lot of shot blocking but he's been really efficient offensively as well," Haase said. "Without him, you are losing a lot of different things. We're very, very hopeful that he gets healthier as the week goes on here and can contribute in the tournament."
Haase and his players also look forward to the UAB faithful contributing to what they hope is a successful week. The Blazers were 9-0 at Bartow Arena during conference play.
"Hopefully we can take the Bartow effect over to the BJCC," Norton said.
Haase added that "it's fantastic" to play the tournament in Birmingham.
"It's a great commitment from the university, from the administration," Haase said. "It isn't Bartow but it is Birmingham. On our gold jerseys, they say Birmingham, and I feel like it is the home court advantage. We're going to be excited and I'm hopeful a lot of fans will come out to support us. We feel like we can put on a good show."
