The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Thursday, January 27
Bowling Green, Ky.
8 p.m.
UAB
at
WKU
Photo by: Mario Terrana
UAB Travels to WKU to Open Weekend C-USA Road Swing
1/26/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB men's basketball team will look to extend its winning streak to four games when the Blazers battle WKU Thursday night in E.A. Diddle Arena. Thursday's game will tip off at 8 p.m. and will be carried live on CBS Sports Network.
UAB (16-4, 6-1 C-USA) vaulted into first place of the Conference USA's West Division with an 83-76 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. The Blazers will look to make it back-to-back victories over the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky, winning the previous matchup in E.A. Diddle Arena 68-60 on Feb. 16, 2019.
Head coach Andy Kennedy had great success against the Hilltoppers in his UAB playing career, holding a 5-1 overall record and 2-1 road record against WKU. The Hilltoppers (10-9, 2-4 C-USA) are 9-2 at home this season and will look to snap their three-game losing streak. UAB leads the all-time series 25-17, but the Hilltoppers hold a 10-6 advantage in Bowling Green.
UAB LATELY
UAB led for 37:52 of Saturday's huge road victory at Louisiana Tech, handing the Bulldogs their first loss in the Thomas Assembly Center since Jan. 2, 2021, a span of 18 straight victories until Saturday's loss to the Blazers. Jordan "Jelly" Walker, the two-time reigning C-USA Player of the Week, poured in a career-high 36 points in the victory, scoring 21 of his points in the second half. UAB's KJ Buffen also served a key role in the victory, recording his team-high fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. UAB's victory not only moved the Blazers back into a tie for first place in the C-USA's West Division, but it also marked their first win in the Thomas Assembly Center in program history.
WKU LATELY
WKU, who finished nonconference play with an 8-5 record with double-digit Power Five wins over both Ole Miss (71-48) and Louisville (82-72), has struggled at the beginning of Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers are 2-4 in league play this season, but all but one of their losses have come by two possessions or fewer. WKU dropped a heartbreaker to LA Tech in Ruston to open Conference USA action, seeing a 17-point lead in the second half slip away as the Bulldogs roared back to win 74-73. The Hilltoppers went 0-2 this past weekend with losses at Florida Atlantic and FIU, giving up a combined 27 3-pointers between the two defeats. The talented WKU lineup is led by sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight, who has averaged an impressive stat line of 15.0 points, 6.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. McKnight is one of two Hilltoppers to play and start in all 19 games this season. The nation's leading shot blocker, Jamarion Sharp, holds down the paint for WKU. Sharp averages 4.4 blocks per game this season while chipping in with 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
COMMON OPPONENTS -- WKU
The Blazers and Hilltoppers shared three common nonconference opponents this season -- South Carolina, Alabama A&M and Rhodes. The Blazers and Hilltoppers each went 2-1 with their sole defeats coming to South Carolina within a week of each other in November.
LAST 10 MATCHUPS IN THE SERIES
3/10/16_ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 77-88
1/12/17_ WKU_______________________ W, 94-78
2/19/17_ at WKU______________________ L, 64-76
1/18/18_ at WKU______________________ L, 69-77
3/3/18__ WKU______________________ W, 101-73
3/8/18__ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 70-98
2/16/19_ at WKU_____________________ W, 68-60
2/28/19_ WKU________________________ L, 67-73
1/9/20__ WKU_______________________ W, 72-62
3/12/21_ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 60-64
NEW WEEK, SAME NEWS: JELLY AGAIN NAMED C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
With a career-high 36 points in Saturday's key Conference USA road victory at Louisiana Tech, Jordan Walker was once again named Conference USA's Player of the Week for the second straight week. After earning C-USA Player of the Week honors for the first time this past week, Walker followed up a then career-high 27 points with 36 points and nine made 3-pointers in Saturday's 83-76 road win at LA Tech. His clinical performance from behind the 3-point line helped him tie a school record with nine made 3-pointers, while his 36 points tied a Thomas Assembly Center record and his nine 3-pointers set a new Thomas Assembly Center record. His performance not only helped UAB snap LA Tech's 18-game home winning streak, but it also helped the Blazers capture their first win in Ruston in program history. Walker joins LA Tech star Kenneth Lofton, Jr. as the only C-USA players to earn Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks this season.
EXPECTATIONS WELCOMED
In October, the league's coaches selected UAB as the favorite to win the Conference USA regular season championship. The Blazers, who won a league-best 13 C-USA games this past season, earned eight of the 14 first-place votes.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
In 2020-21, the UAB defense led the Blazers to a 22-7 record and a league-best 13 C-USA victories. So far this season, both the offense and defense have fueled UAB's success, ranking second in the nation in turnover margin (6.8) while ranking 15th nationally with 81.2 points per game on offense. The Blazers also rank fifth nationally with 360 total turnovers forced this season.
STACKING UP NICELY IN THE LEAGUE
UAB ranked first among Conference USA programs in a number of different team statistical categories entering C-USA play on Dec. 30, including scoring offense (82.2 points per game), scoring margin (21.2), steals per game (12.4) and turnover margin (8.6). Entering Thursday's slate of league games, UAB ranks first in the league in field-goal percentage defense (39.2%), scoring margin (18.2), scoring offense (81.2), steals per game (10.8), total steals (215), turnover margin (6.8), turnovers forced per game (18.0), fewest turnovers committed per game (11.2) and win-loss percentage (.800) at 16-4.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday beginning Dec. 28. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @UABLearfield.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
WATCH
Thursday's game will be carried live on CBS Sports Network. Chris Hassel (play-by-play) and Mike O'Donnell (analyst) will be on the call.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will conclude their weekend road trip Saturday when UAB takes on Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia. Saturday's game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. CT and will stream live on ESPN+.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
UAB (16-4, 6-1 C-USA) vaulted into first place of the Conference USA's West Division with an 83-76 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. The Blazers will look to make it back-to-back victories over the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky, winning the previous matchup in E.A. Diddle Arena 68-60 on Feb. 16, 2019.
Head coach Andy Kennedy had great success against the Hilltoppers in his UAB playing career, holding a 5-1 overall record and 2-1 road record against WKU. The Hilltoppers (10-9, 2-4 C-USA) are 9-2 at home this season and will look to snap their three-game losing streak. UAB leads the all-time series 25-17, but the Hilltoppers hold a 10-6 advantage in Bowling Green.
UAB LATELY
UAB led for 37:52 of Saturday's huge road victory at Louisiana Tech, handing the Bulldogs their first loss in the Thomas Assembly Center since Jan. 2, 2021, a span of 18 straight victories until Saturday's loss to the Blazers. Jordan "Jelly" Walker, the two-time reigning C-USA Player of the Week, poured in a career-high 36 points in the victory, scoring 21 of his points in the second half. UAB's KJ Buffen also served a key role in the victory, recording his team-high fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. UAB's victory not only moved the Blazers back into a tie for first place in the C-USA's West Division, but it also marked their first win in the Thomas Assembly Center in program history.
WKU LATELY
WKU, who finished nonconference play with an 8-5 record with double-digit Power Five wins over both Ole Miss (71-48) and Louisville (82-72), has struggled at the beginning of Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers are 2-4 in league play this season, but all but one of their losses have come by two possessions or fewer. WKU dropped a heartbreaker to LA Tech in Ruston to open Conference USA action, seeing a 17-point lead in the second half slip away as the Bulldogs roared back to win 74-73. The Hilltoppers went 0-2 this past weekend with losses at Florida Atlantic and FIU, giving up a combined 27 3-pointers between the two defeats. The talented WKU lineup is led by sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight, who has averaged an impressive stat line of 15.0 points, 6.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. McKnight is one of two Hilltoppers to play and start in all 19 games this season. The nation's leading shot blocker, Jamarion Sharp, holds down the paint for WKU. Sharp averages 4.4 blocks per game this season while chipping in with 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
COMMON OPPONENTS -- WKU
The Blazers and Hilltoppers shared three common nonconference opponents this season -- South Carolina, Alabama A&M and Rhodes. The Blazers and Hilltoppers each went 2-1 with their sole defeats coming to South Carolina within a week of each other in November.
LAST 10 MATCHUPS IN THE SERIES
3/10/16_ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 77-88
1/12/17_ WKU_______________________ W, 94-78
2/19/17_ at WKU______________________ L, 64-76
1/18/18_ at WKU______________________ L, 69-77
3/3/18__ WKU______________________ W, 101-73
3/8/18__ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 70-98
2/16/19_ at WKU_____________________ W, 68-60
2/28/19_ WKU________________________ L, 67-73
1/9/20__ WKU_______________________ W, 72-62
3/12/21_ vs. WKU_____________________ L, 60-64
NEW WEEK, SAME NEWS: JELLY AGAIN NAMED C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
With a career-high 36 points in Saturday's key Conference USA road victory at Louisiana Tech, Jordan Walker was once again named Conference USA's Player of the Week for the second straight week. After earning C-USA Player of the Week honors for the first time this past week, Walker followed up a then career-high 27 points with 36 points and nine made 3-pointers in Saturday's 83-76 road win at LA Tech. His clinical performance from behind the 3-point line helped him tie a school record with nine made 3-pointers, while his 36 points tied a Thomas Assembly Center record and his nine 3-pointers set a new Thomas Assembly Center record. His performance not only helped UAB snap LA Tech's 18-game home winning streak, but it also helped the Blazers capture their first win in Ruston in program history. Walker joins LA Tech star Kenneth Lofton, Jr. as the only C-USA players to earn Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks this season.
EXPECTATIONS WELCOMED
In October, the league's coaches selected UAB as the favorite to win the Conference USA regular season championship. The Blazers, who won a league-best 13 C-USA games this past season, earned eight of the 14 first-place votes.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
In 2020-21, the UAB defense led the Blazers to a 22-7 record and a league-best 13 C-USA victories. So far this season, both the offense and defense have fueled UAB's success, ranking second in the nation in turnover margin (6.8) while ranking 15th nationally with 81.2 points per game on offense. The Blazers also rank fifth nationally with 360 total turnovers forced this season.
STACKING UP NICELY IN THE LEAGUE
UAB ranked first among Conference USA programs in a number of different team statistical categories entering C-USA play on Dec. 30, including scoring offense (82.2 points per game), scoring margin (21.2), steals per game (12.4) and turnover margin (8.6). Entering Thursday's slate of league games, UAB ranks first in the league in field-goal percentage defense (39.2%), scoring margin (18.2), scoring offense (81.2), steals per game (10.8), total steals (215), turnover margin (6.8), turnovers forced per game (18.0), fewest turnovers committed per game (11.2) and win-loss percentage (.800) at 16-4.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday beginning Dec. 28. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @UABLearfield.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
WATCH
Thursday's game will be carried live on CBS Sports Network. Chris Hassel (play-by-play) and Mike O'Donnell (analyst) will be on the call.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will conclude their weekend road trip Saturday when UAB takes on Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia. Saturday's game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. CT and will stream live on ESPN+.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
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