The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Balanced Play Continues to Propel UAB to Success
1/25/2018 2:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
One of the worst kept secrets in Conference USA women's basketball is UAB's ability to shoot the deep ball.
Granted, it's hard to hide that fact when four out of the top-5 3-point shooting percentages in program history have come under head coach Randy Norton, including last year's school record 37.3 shooting percentage from deep and the C-USA record for most 3-pointers in league play (187).
This year has been no exception as the Blazers are shooting a league-high 42.0 percent from behind the arc and have been ranked in the top-two in the nation in that category for the last three weeks, battling for the top spot with the Pac 12's Oregon State.
Sophomore Rachael Childress has led the charge for the Blazers' attack this season as she is leading the team with 14.6 points per game. Her 3-point shooting has also been lights out as she paces the conference and ranks 10th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (45.6%), while also leading the league in 3-point field goals made per contest (3.4).
But with all the hype surrounding the team's hot hand, there are some equally impressive stat lines and rankings that have propelled UAB to its 15-3 record and current spot at the top of the C-USA standings.
"One of the things I don't think a lot of people understand is that we did not set out to be the top-ranked 3-point shooting team in the country," Norton said. "Offensively, we just want to have balance and I think that starts with us playing inside-out and really being able to share the basketball."
The unselfish nature of this team has been one of the unsung attributes of its success this year. Without it, there is no hot shooting. There isn't 15 wins.
As a unit, the Blazers' lead C-USA and are ranked No. 14 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 1.4, while also boasting the top-two performers in assist/turnover ratio in Deanna Kuzmanic and Miyah Barnes.
Kuzmanic is tops in the conference with a 2.6 assist/turnover ratio and currently ranks second on the team in assists with 66. Barnes is the team's assist leader with 92 on the year, inching closer to the top-10 in single season assists in program history.
UAB also continues to rack up the assists, as it is again ranked first in the league and No. 18 in the NCAA in assists per game with 17.9.
"This kind of production shows what happens when you play with two point guards," Norton added. "Both Miyah and Deanna have done a great job with their decision making this year and taking care of the basketball. The stats really speak for themselves."
Each player on the team knows the importance of sharing the basketball and is willing to sacrifice their own stat line for the good of the team. Some of them even enjoy passing the ball more than taking the big shot.
"Passing the ball to my teammates is a lot of fun," Barnes said. "It is really enjoyable to see them make a big shot. Before every game, Coach Norton preaches to me about assist/turnover ratio and making it simple. That is what I try to do every game. Make the simple play."
There is still plenty of basketball to be played, though. But this team is up for the challenges that lie ahead and when it is able to put these things all together on the court, UAB is virtually unstoppable.
"When you put this together, it makes us extremely hard to guard because we are so balanced," Norton said. You can't key in on just one or two players. Certainly, we have had opponents who have tried to do that, but we always have someone else who steps up and scores for us. Moving forward, we have to continue to share the basketball and take the best shot for the team. If we can get the girls to lock in on that, we will be able to win on some of those nights when the ball might not be falling in the hole for us."
The Blazers will have another chance to put their unselfishness on display on Thursday night when the team faces off with FIU in Miami. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. (CST).
Granted, it's hard to hide that fact when four out of the top-5 3-point shooting percentages in program history have come under head coach Randy Norton, including last year's school record 37.3 shooting percentage from deep and the C-USA record for most 3-pointers in league play (187).
This year has been no exception as the Blazers are shooting a league-high 42.0 percent from behind the arc and have been ranked in the top-two in the nation in that category for the last three weeks, battling for the top spot with the Pac 12's Oregon State.
Sophomore Rachael Childress has led the charge for the Blazers' attack this season as she is leading the team with 14.6 points per game. Her 3-point shooting has also been lights out as she paces the conference and ranks 10th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (45.6%), while also leading the league in 3-point field goals made per contest (3.4).
But with all the hype surrounding the team's hot hand, there are some equally impressive stat lines and rankings that have propelled UAB to its 15-3 record and current spot at the top of the C-USA standings.
"One of the things I don't think a lot of people understand is that we did not set out to be the top-ranked 3-point shooting team in the country," Norton said. "Offensively, we just want to have balance and I think that starts with us playing inside-out and really being able to share the basketball."
The unselfish nature of this team has been one of the unsung attributes of its success this year. Without it, there is no hot shooting. There isn't 15 wins.
As a unit, the Blazers' lead C-USA and are ranked No. 14 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 1.4, while also boasting the top-two performers in assist/turnover ratio in Deanna Kuzmanic and Miyah Barnes.
Kuzmanic is tops in the conference with a 2.6 assist/turnover ratio and currently ranks second on the team in assists with 66. Barnes is the team's assist leader with 92 on the year, inching closer to the top-10 in single season assists in program history.
UAB also continues to rack up the assists, as it is again ranked first in the league and No. 18 in the NCAA in assists per game with 17.9.
"This kind of production shows what happens when you play with two point guards," Norton added. "Both Miyah and Deanna have done a great job with their decision making this year and taking care of the basketball. The stats really speak for themselves."
Each player on the team knows the importance of sharing the basketball and is willing to sacrifice their own stat line for the good of the team. Some of them even enjoy passing the ball more than taking the big shot.
"Passing the ball to my teammates is a lot of fun," Barnes said. "It is really enjoyable to see them make a big shot. Before every game, Coach Norton preaches to me about assist/turnover ratio and making it simple. That is what I try to do every game. Make the simple play."
There is still plenty of basketball to be played, though. But this team is up for the challenges that lie ahead and when it is able to put these things all together on the court, UAB is virtually unstoppable.
"When you put this together, it makes us extremely hard to guard because we are so balanced," Norton said. You can't key in on just one or two players. Certainly, we have had opponents who have tried to do that, but we always have someone else who steps up and scores for us. Moving forward, we have to continue to share the basketball and take the best shot for the team. If we can get the girls to lock in on that, we will be able to win on some of those nights when the ball might not be falling in the hole for us."
The Blazers will have another chance to put their unselfishness on display on Thursday night when the team faces off with FIU in Miami. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. (CST).
Players Mentioned
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