The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Picked as C-USA MBB Favorite, Jelly Walker Named Preseason Player of the Year
10/20/2022 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Eric Gaines Named to Preseason All-Conference Team
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's basketball was announced as the preseason favorite in the Conference USA Men's Basketball Preseason Poll for the second consecutive season, the league announced on Thursday. The Blazers earned nine of 11 first-place votes among C-USA's coaches.
Jordan Walker was selected as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year by the league's coaches after leading the Blazers to a 2022 C-USA Tournament title and the Blazers' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. Walker was one of only three players nationally to average over 20 points and 4.5 assists per game in 2021-22. "Jelly" established himself as one of the most exciting players to watch in the nation after averaging 36 points per game during the 2022 C-USA Tournament.
Joining Walker on the Preseason All-Conference team is guard Eric Gaines. The LSU transfer averaged 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 2021-22. Gaines has gained recognition for his ability to make highlight-reel plays. His block in the NCAA Tournament against Iowa State drew national attention and his dunk at practice this offseason certainly raised some eyebrows.
The Blazers have two players on the All-Conference team for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Head Coach Andy Kennedy will look to bring the Blazers to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments since reaching the dance in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
C-USA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
C-USA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
PURCHASE YOUR SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2022-23 UAB men's basketball season are still available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages provide the most cost-effective way to attend games during the upcoming season. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1 or request more information by clicking here.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Jordan Walker was selected as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year by the league's coaches after leading the Blazers to a 2022 C-USA Tournament title and the Blazers' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. Walker was one of only three players nationally to average over 20 points and 4.5 assists per game in 2021-22. "Jelly" established himself as one of the most exciting players to watch in the nation after averaging 36 points per game during the 2022 C-USA Tournament.
Joining Walker on the Preseason All-Conference team is guard Eric Gaines. The LSU transfer averaged 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 2021-22. Gaines has gained recognition for his ability to make highlight-reel plays. His block in the NCAA Tournament against Iowa State drew national attention and his dunk at practice this offseason certainly raised some eyebrows.
The Blazers have two players on the All-Conference team for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Head Coach Andy Kennedy will look to bring the Blazers to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments since reaching the dance in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
C-USA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Rank | School (first-place votes) | Total |
| 1. | UAB (9) | 119 |
| 2. | WKU (1) | 102 |
| 3. | North Texas (1) | 100 |
| 4. | Middle Tennessee | 87 |
| 5. | Florida Atlantic | 86 |
| 6. | Louisiana Tech | 63 |
| 7. | Rice | 51 |
| 8. | UTEP | 41 |
| 9. | Charlotte | 39 |
| 10. | FIU | 20 |
| 11. | UTSA | 18 |
C-USA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
| Name | Year | Position | Hometown | School |
| Alijah Martin | Sophomore | Guard | Summit, Miss. | FAU |
| Cobe Williams | Junior | Guard | Dallas, Texas | Louisiana Tech |
| Teafale Lenard | Sophomore | Guard | Snyder, Texas | Middle Tennessee |
| Tylor Perry | Senior | Guard | Fort Coffee, Okla. | North Texas |
| Quincy Olivari | Junior | Guard | Atlanta, Ga. | Rice |
| Eric Gaines | Sophomore | Guard | Lithonia, Ga. | UAB |
| Jordan Walker | Senior | Guard | Long Island, N.Y. | UAB |
| Emmanuel Akot | Graduate | Guard | Winnipeg, Manitoba | WKU |
| Dayvion McKnight | Junior | Guard | Shelbyville, Ky. | WKU |
| Jamarion Sharp | Senior | Center | Hopkinsville, Ky. | WKU |
PURCHASE YOUR SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2022-23 UAB men's basketball season are still available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages provide the most cost-effective way to attend games during the upcoming season. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1 or request more information by clicking here.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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