UAB Blazers
2023–24 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Head coachAndy Kennedy (4th season)
ConferenceThe American
LocationBirmingham, Alabama
ArenaBartow Arena
(Capacity: 8,508)
NicknameBlazers
ColorsForest green and old gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1982
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1981, 1982, 2004
NCAA tournament round of 32
1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2015
NCAA tournament appearances
1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2022
Conference tournament champions
1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2015, 2022
Conference regular season champions
1981, 1982, 1990, 2004, 2011, 2016

The UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in NCAA Division I men's college basketball, with the upcoming 2023–24 season being the Blazers' first as members of the American Athletic Conference.

History

The UAB Blazers started their athletics program with the creation of men's basketball in 1978. Setting high standards from the start, UAB was able to lure Gene Bartow away from his post as the head coach at UCLA to start the Blazer program.[2][3] Known as the "Father of UAB athletics," Coach Bartow was able to guide the Blazers to early success by reaching the NCAA tournament in just their third season of existence. Since their inaugural season, the Blazers have made 15 appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and 12 appearances in the National Invitational Tournament. UAB has been productive in its NCAA tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight once, and the Sweet Sixteen 3 times.[4] After 40 years of basketball, UAB has had 36 winning seasons, including 24 seasons with at least 20 wins. UAB's win percentage ranks 30th among NCAA Division I basketball programs with at least 40 seasons. UAB's basketball program has featured wins over many of basketball's most historic programs, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, Kansas, Arizona, Michigan State, Virginia, Villanova, Connecticut and many others.[4]

Conference affiliations

UAB head coaches

UAB men's basketball coaches
Coach Years Wins–losses NCAA tournament appearances
Gene Bartow1978–1996366–203 (.643)9
Murry Bartow1996–2002103–83 (.554)1
Mike Anderson2002–200689–41 (.685)3
Mike Davis2006–2012122–73 (.626)1
Jerod Haase2012– 201680–53 (.602)1
Robert Ehsan2016–202076–57 (.571)0
Andy Kennedy2020–present78-25 (.757)1
Overall 44 seasons 914-535 (.631) 16

UAB Season-By-Season Records

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UAB (Independent) (1978–1979)
1978–79 Gene Bartow 15–11
UAB (Sun Belt Conference) (1979–1991)
1979–80 Gene Bartow 18–1210–4T–2ndNIT 1st Round
1980–81 Gene Bartow 23–99–3T–1stNCAA Sweet 16
1981–82 Gene Bartow 25–69–11stNCAA Elite 8
1982–83 Gene Bartow 19–149–53rdNCAA 1st Round
1983–84 Gene Bartow 23–118–65thNCAA 1st Round
1984–85 Gene Bartow 25–911–32ndNCAA 2nd Round
1985–86 Gene Bartow 25–119–5T–3rdNCAA 2nd Round
1986–87 Gene Bartow 21–1110–43rdNCAA 1st Round
1987–88 Gene Bartow 16–157–75th
1988–89 Gene Bartow 22–128–64thNIT Final Four
1989–90 Gene Bartow 22–912–21stNCAA 1st Round
1990–91 Gene Bartow 18–139–52ndNIT 1st Round
UAB (Great Midwest Conference) (1991–1995)
1991–92 Gene Bartow 20–94–65thNIT 1st Round
1992–93 Gene Bartow 21–145–54thNIT Final Four
1993–94 Gene Bartow 22–88–4T–2ndNCAA 1st Round
1994–95 Gene Bartow 15–155–76th
UAB (Conference USA) (1995–2023)
1995–96 Gene Bartow 16–146–82nd (Red)
1996–97 Murry Bartow 18–147–72nd (Red)NIT 1st Round
1997–98 Murry Bartow 21–1210–62nd (National)NIT 2nd Round
1998–99 Murry Bartow 20–1210–61st (National)NCAA 1st Round
1999–2000 Murry Bartow 14–147–9T–3rd (National)
2000–01 Murry Bartow 17–148–84th (National)
2001–02 Murry Bartow 13–176–10T–4th (National)
2002–03 Mike Anderson 21–138–8T–2nd (National)NIT Quarterfinals
2003–04 Mike Anderson 22–1012–4T–1stNCAA Sweet 16
2004–05 Mike Anderson 22–1110–6T–4thNCAA 2nd Round
2005–06 Mike Anderson 24–712–22ndNCAA 1st Round
2006–07 Mike Davis 15–167–9T–8th
2007–08 Mike Davis 23–1112–42ndNIT 2nd Round
2008–09 Mike Davis 22–1211–53rdNIT 1st Round
2009–10 Mike Davis 25–911–5T–3rdNIT Quarterfinals
2010–11 Mike Davis 22–912–41stNCAA First Four
2011–12 Mike Davis 15–169–7T–5th
2012–13 Jerod Haase 16–177–9T–7th
2013–14 Jerod Haase 18–137–9T–8th
2014–15 Jerod Haase 20–1612–6T–4thNCAA 3rd Round
2015–16 Jerod Haase 26–716–21stNIT 1st Round
2016–17 Robert Ehsan 17–169–97th
2017–18 Robert Ehsan 20–1310–86th
2018–19 Robert Ehsan 20–1510–85thCBI first round
2019–20 Robert Ehsan 19–139–97th
2020–21 Andy Kennedy 22–713–52nd (West)
2021–22 Andy Kennedy 27–814–42nd (West)NCAA First Round
2022-23 Andy Kennedy 29–1014–63rd NIT Runner–up
UAB (American Athletic Conference) (2023–present)
2023–24 Andy Kennedy
Total:914-535

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason Results

CBI Results

The Blazers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1

Year Round Opponent Result
2019First RoundBrownL 78–83

Highest Seeds Beaten in NCAA tournament

Year Seed Opponent Result/Score
20041KentuckyW 76–74
19821VirginiaW 68–66
19812KentuckyW 69–62
20153Iowa StateW 60–59

UAB Rivalry Games

Rivalry Games
Rival First meeting Last meeting Overall record
Auburn19822018Auburn leads 11-10
Old Dominion19832022UAB leads 23–16
Charlotte19802022UAB leads 33–19
Western Kentucky19812023UAB leads 27–18
Middle Tennessee19862023UAB leads 18-11
Memphis19842019Memphis leads 39–11
South Alabama19782022UAB leads 31–14
Southern Mississippi19792023UAB leads 37–19

Awards

Conference Coach of the Year

YearConferenceCoach
2004Conference USAMike Anderson
2011Conference USAMike Davis
2016Conference USAJerod Haase

Conference Player of the Year

YearConferencePositionPlayer
1982Sun BeltSGOliver Robinson
2011Conference USAPGAaron Johnson
2022Conference USAPGJordan Walker

All--Conference Players Since 2012

YearConferenceTeamPositionPlayer
2012Conference USA1stForwardCameron Moore
2013Conference USA2ndForwardRod Rucker
2014Conference USA1stGuardChad Frazier
2015Conference USA3rdGuardRobert Brown
2016Conference USA2ndForwardChris Cokley
2016Conference USA3rdGuardNick Norton
2016Conference USA1stGuardRobert Brown
2016Conference USA3rdForwardWilliam Lee
2017Conference USA2ndForwardWilliam Lee
2018Conference USA1stForwardChris Cokley
2019Conference USA3rdGuardZack Bryant
2021Conference USA2ndGuardTavin Lovan
2022Conference USA1stGuardJordan Walker
2022Conference USA3rdGuardQuan Jackson
2023Conference USA1stGuardJordan Walker
2023Conference USA3rdCenterTrey Jemison

Blazers of Note

Retired numbers

UAB has retired four jersey numbers since its inception and they now hang from the rafters of Bartow Arena. This honor is bestowed only on players who earn AP All-America honors and who complete their degree at UAB.[5]

UAB Blazers retired numbers
No. Player Career Ref.
1Aaron Johnson2007–2011[6]
14Steve Mitchell1982–1986[7]
20Oliver Robinson1978–1982[8]
40Jerome Mincy1982–1986[9]

In the NBA

UAB has seen numerous players move on to professional careers in the NBA.[10] Some of UAB's highest NBA draft picks include:

Other former Blazers to play in the NBA are:

In international leagues

UAB Basketball facilities

UAB vs Tulsa at Bartow Arena

UAB initially played their home games at the BJCC Coliseum, but moved their home games to an on-campus facility starting with the 1988–89 season.[11] Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997.[12] The 8,508-seat arena is named after Coach Gene Bartow, the man who built UAB's men's basketball program from scratch starting in 1978.[11][12]

References

General

  • 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide. Birmingham, Alabama: UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2011.

Specific

  1. ↑ University of Alabama at Birmingham Style Guide (PDF). March 11, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ Florence, Mal (June 14, 1977). "Bartow takes job and heads South". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
  3. ↑ "It's official: Bartow leaves UCLA for Birmingham post". The Herald-Journal. Associated Press. June 15, 1977. p. D1. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, pp. 118–123
  5. ↑ 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 103
  6. ↑ UAB Set to Retire Aaron Johnson’s Jersey, 15 Jan 2020
  7. ↑ Steve Mitchell is IN. Are you? at UAB Alumni
  8. ↑ UAB should leave Oliver Robinson's retired jersey right where it is at Alabama.com, Jun. 27, 2017
  9. ↑ Will Aaron Johnson's jersey number be retired by UAB?, Alabama.com, Mar. 17, 2011
  10. ↑ 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 115
  11. 1 2 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 60
  12. 1 2 Scarbinsky, Kevin (January 26, 1997). "Bartows still on the go". The Birmingham News. p. B16.
  13. 1 2 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 62
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