. . . was picked as the favorites to win the CUSA basketball title this season.
Andy Kennedy's Blazers just defeated a good New Mexico squad by 13 out in a tournament in Vegas, shown on Fox 1 this evening. They will play the winner of the following game, Towson vs. San Francisco, tomorrow night, also to be shown on FS1. NM was also a pretty overall athletic team, and had a decent big, a 7'0" transfer from Kansas. IMO, some sharp overall shooting and superior team quickness on both ends of the floor was the difference for UAB. Coach Kennedy noted that while his team had a season high number of turnovers, their shooting and winning the rebounding battle were the keys.
Blazers have a super quick guard, "Jelly" Walker, only about a 6 footer, but gets his shot, including 3 pointer, off very quickly. Had another decent, but smaller type, guard named Ertyle, or Hertle. Marshall will have to play quicker game on both ends of the floor, and will have to minimize mistakes, turnovers, etc. Can't get beat badly off the dribble on the D end of the floor, as Blazers are equally adept at both pushing the ball quickly or then running sets in the half court. Loose outside D can mean a lot of open treys from a team with some shooters who can make them!
UAB now 5-1 has upcoming games with ETSU, Grambling, St. Louis, among others. Coach Kennedy and his team will host his former boss's team, Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers, to Birmingham for a late Saturday afternoon game on Dec. 18th. Blazers keep winning, including the game versus the EERS, and they very well could be ranked in the Top 25 heading into CUSA play.
Could be a real old fashion "barn burner" when UAB rolls into Huntington on Saturday, Jan. 29th! Would be a great time to have a packed CAM Henderson Center "Hot and Hoppin" on a cold, Huntington winter night!!