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UAB Blazers men's basketball

American men's college basketball team

American men's college basketball team

FieldValue
current2025–26 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
nameUAB Blazers men's basketball
logoUab blazers primarylogo25.png
logo_size200
universityUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
conferenceThe American
locationBirmingham, Alabama
coachAndy Kennedy
tenure6th
arenaBartow Arena
capacity8,508
nicknameBlazers
bestfinish8
NCAAeliteeight1982
NCAAsweetsixteen1981, 1982, 2004
NCAAroundof321981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2015
NCAAtourneys1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2022, 2024
conference_tournament1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2015, 2022, 2024
conference_season1981, 1982, 1990, 2004, 2011, 2016
h_body1E6B52
h_pattern_b_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts1E6B52
h_pattern_s_blanksides2
a_body1E6B52
a_pattern_b_thinwhitesides
a_shorts1E6B52
a_pattern_s_thinwhitesides
3_bodyD2C780
3_pattern_b_thindarkgreensides
3_shortsD2C780
3_pattern_s_dkgreensides
4_body454545
4_pattern_b_thindarkgreensides
4_shorts454545
4_pattern_s_dkgreensides

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 2023–24 season being the Blazers' first as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Blazers play home games at Bartow Arena and are coached by Andy Kennedy. UAB has appeared 17 times in the NCAA men's basketball tournament and most recently appeared in 2024.

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. 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 17 appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and 13 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. After 46 years of basketball, UAB has had 40 winning seasons, including 29 seasons with at least 20 wins. UAB's win percentage ranks 28th 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.

Conference affiliations

  • 1978–79 – NCAA Division I Independent
  • 1979–80 to 1990–91 – Sun Belt Conference
  • 1991–92 to 1994–95 – Great Midwest Conference
  • 1995–96 to 2022–23 – Conference USA
  • 2023–24 to present – American Athletic Conference

UAB head coaches

UAB season-by-season records

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Postseason Results

NCAA tournament results

UAB has appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 10–17.

2024#12Round of 64San Diego StateL 65–69

NIT results

UAB has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 14 times, with a combined record of 20–14.

2025First Round
Second Round
QuarterfinalsSaint Joseph's
Santa Clara
UC IrvineW 69–65
W 88–84
L 77–81OT

CBI Results

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

2019First RoundBrownL 78–83

Highest Seeds Beaten in NCAA tournament

20153Iowa StateW 60–59

UAB Rivalry Games

Rivalry GamesRivalFirst meetingLast meetingOverall record
Auburn19822018Auburn leads 11-10
Charlotte19802024UAB leads 34-20
Western Kentucky19812023UAB leads 27-18
Old Dominion19832022UAB leads 23-16
South Alabama19782022UAB leads 31-14
Memphis19842024Memphis leads 40-12
Middle Tennessee19862023UAB leads 19-10
Southern Mississippi19792023UAB leads 37-20
South Florida19782024UAB leads 40-20

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
2024American1stForwardYaxel Lendeborg
2025American1stForwardYaxel Lendeborg
2025American2ndGuardAlejandro Vasquez

Blazers of Note

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball 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.

UAB Blazersborder=0}}"No.UAB Blazersborder=0}}"PlayerUAB Blazersborder=0}}"CareerUAB Blazersborder=0}}"Ref.
1Aaron Johnson2007–2011
14Steve Mitchell1982–1986
20Oliver Robinson1978–1982
40Jerome Mincy1982–1986

In the NBA

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

  • Oliver Robinson (2nd Round/1st Pick/24th Overall) to the San Antonio Spurs
  • Walter Sharpe (2nd Round/2nd Pick/32nd Overall) to the Seattle SuperSonics
  • Steve Mitchell (2nd Round/12th Pick/36th Overall) to the Washington Bullets
  • Robert Vaden (2nd Round/54th Overall) to the Charlotte Bobcats

Other former Blazers to play in the NBA are:

  • McKinley Singleton (New York Knicks – 1986–87)
  • Alan Ogg (Miami Heat – 1990–92; Milwaukee Bucks – 1992–93; Washington Bullets – 1992–93)
  • Stanley Jackson (Minnesota Timberwolves – 1993–94)
  • Donell Taylor (Washington Wizards – 2005–07)
  • Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson (New Orleans Hornets – 2011–12)
  • Elijah Millsap (Utah Jazz – 2015)
  • Jordan Walker (Dallas Mavericks 2023–Present
  • Trey Jemison (New Orleans Pelicans 2023) (Washington Wizards 2024)(Memphis Grizzlies 2024–Present

In international leagues

  • Paul Delaney (class of 2004), basketball player in the Israeli National League

UAB Basketball facilities

Main article: 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. Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997. 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.

OpponentAttendance
1DePaul (1980)
2DePaul (1985)
3Auburn (1984)
4Indiana (1997)
5Virginia Commonwealth (1985)
6Auburn (1986)
7Auburn (1983)
8Auburn (1982)
9South Florida (1985)
10TVirginia (1982)
10TLouisville (1982)
OpponentAttendance
1Memphis (2008)
2Louisville (2005)
3Cincinnati (2004)
4Cincinnati (2000)
5Cincinnati (1996)
6Memphis (2009)
7Memphis (2011)
8Alcorn State (1989)
9Arkansas (1990)
10Cincinnati (1994)

References

General

Specific

References

  1. Florence, Mal. (June 14, 1977). "Bartow takes job and heads South". Los Angeles Times.
  2. (June 15, 1977). "It's official: Bartow leaves UCLA for Birmingham post". The Herald-Journal.
  3. 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, pp. 118–123
  4. https://theamerican.org/news/2024/3/12/american-athletic-conference-announces-mens-basketball-honors.aspx
  5. https://theamerican.org/news/2025/3/11/american-athletic-conference-announces-2024-25-mens-basketball-awards.aspx
  6. 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 103
  7. [https://uabsports.com/news/2020/1/15/mens-basketball-uab-set-to-retire-aaron-johnsons-jersey UAB Set to Retire Aaron Johnson’s Jersey], 15 Jan 2020
  8. [https://sites.uab.edu/in/2020/07/05/steve-mitchell/ Steve Mitchell is IN. Are you?] at UAB Alumni
  9. [https://www.al.com/sports/2017/06/uab_should_leave_the_disgraced.html UAB should leave Oliver Robinson's retired jersey right where it is] at Alabama.com, Jun. 27, 2017
  10. [https://www.al.com/sports/2011/03/will_aaron_johnsons_jersey_num.html Will Aaron Johnson's jersey number be retired by UAB?], Alabama.com, Mar. 17, 2011
  11. 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 115
  12. 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 60
  13. Scarbinsky, Kevin. (January 26, 1997). "Bartows still on the go". The Birmingham News.
  14. 2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 62
Info: Wikipedia Source

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