| 2018–19 UAB Blazers men's basketball | |
|---|---|
CBI, First Round  | |
| Conference | Conference USA | 
| Record | 20–15 (10–8 C-USA) | 
| Head coach | 
  | 
| Assistant coaches | 
  | 
| Home arena | Bartow Arena | 
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Old Dominion † | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 26 | – | 9 | .743 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Kentucky | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 20 | – | 14 | .588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTSA | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 17 | – | 15 | .531 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UAB | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 20 | – | 15 | .571 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 23 | – | 14 | .622 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIU | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana Tech | 9 | – | 9 | .500 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida Atlantic | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 17 | – | 16 | .515 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Texas | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 21 | – | 12 | .636 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rice | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 13 | – | 19 | .406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 11 | – | 21 | .344 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlotte | 5 | – | 13 | .278 | 8 | – | 21 | .276 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTEP | 3 | – | 15 | .167 | 8 | – | 21 | .276 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| † 2019 C-USA Tournament winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2018–19 UAB Blazers basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blazers, led by third-year head coach Robert Ehsan, played their home games at the Bartow Arena as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 20-15, 10-8 in C-USA Play to finish in 5th place. They defeated Middle Tennessee and UTSA to advance to the semifinals of the C-USA tournament where they lost to Old Dominion. They received an at-large bid to the College Basketball Invitational where they lost in the first round to Brown.
Previous season
The Blazers finished the 2017–18 season 20–13, 10–8 C-USA play to finish in sixth place. They defeated Florida Atlantic in the first round of the C-USA tournament before losing to Western Kentucky. Despite winning 20 games, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.
Offseason
Departures
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Norton | 2 | G | 5'10" | 166 | Senior | Bloomington, IL | Graduate transferred to Drake | 
| Chris Cokley | 3 | F | 6'8" | 238 | Senior | Savannah, GA | Graduated | 
| Deion Lavender | 5 | G | 6'4" | 190 | RS Junior | Alton, IL | Graduate transferred to Valparaiso | 
| Hunter Reynolds | 12 | G | 6'0" | 161 | Freshman | Knoxville, TN | Walk-on; left the team due to personal reasons | 
| Nate Darling | 13 | G | 6'5" | 190 | Sophomore | Halifax, NS | Transferred to Delaware | 
| Thomas Smallwood | 33 | F | 7'0" | 243 | Junior | Bordeaux, France | Graduate transferred to Chattanooga | 
| William Lee | 34 | F | 6'9" | 206 | Senior | Plantersville, AL | Graduated | 
Incoming transfers
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyreek Scott-Grayson | 0 | G | 6'5" | Sophomore | Severn, MD | Junior college transferred from State Fair CC | |
| Jeremiah Bell | 2 | G | 6'0" | 171 | Senior | Louisville, KY | Transferred from Milwaukee. Under NCAA transfer rules, Bell will have to sit out for the 2018–19 season. Will have one year of remaining eligibility. | 
| Willesley Butler | 12 | F/C | 6'8" | 230 | Junior | Troy, NY | Junior college transferred from Pensacola State College | 
| Will Bathurst | 25 | G | 6'3" | 188 | RS Senior | Olean, NY | Transferred from Cornell. Will be eligible to play immediately since Bathurst graduated from Cornell. | 
| Nolan Bertain | 32 | G | 6'4" | 185 | Sophomore | Portland, OR | Junior college transferred from Casper College | 
Incoming recruits
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jude Akabueze  #24 C  | 
Farmington, WV | North Marion High School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | Nov 19, 2017 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
| Tamel Pearson  #31 C  | 
Chicago, IL | Morgan Park High School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | N/A | Sep 4, 2017 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
| Tavin Lovan  SG  | 
Franklin, KY | Hargrave Military Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | Apr 6, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
 Sources: 
  | ||||||
Recruiting class of 2019
| US college sports recruiting information for 2019 recruits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
| Jahein Spencer  SG  | 
Napoleonville, LA | Assumption High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Aug 3, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR | ||||||
| Jalen Benjamin  PG  | 
Norcross, GA | Meadowcreek High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 135 lb (61 kg) | Aug 28, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
 Sources: 
  | ||||||
Roster
| 2018–19 UAB Blazers men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | 
 
 
 
 
 
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule and results
| Date time, TV  | 
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | Site (attendance)  city, state  | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibition | |||||||||||
| Oct 18, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
Georgia  Charity Exhibition Game  | 
L 54–56 | Bartow Arena (3,437) Birmingham, AL  | ||||||||
| Nov 1, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
Morehouse | W 75–54 | Bartow Arena (2,828) Birmingham, AL  | ||||||||
| Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
| Nov 6, 2018* 7:00 pm, CUSA.TV  | 
Mercer | W 75–67 | 1–0 | 
Bartow Arena (3,185) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Nov 14, 2018* 7:00 pm, CUSA.TV  | 
New Orleans | W 75–68 | 2–0 | 
Bartow Arena (2,874) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Nov 18, 2018* 4:00 pm, CUSA.TV  | 
West Alabama  AdvoCare Invitational non-bracket game  | 
W 77–47 | 3–0 | 
Bartow Arena (2,602) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Nov 22, 2018* 8:30 pm, ESPN2  | 
vs. No. 14 Florida State  AdvoCare Invitational quarterfinals  | 
L 63–81 | 3–1 | 
HP Field House (2,226) Lake Buena Vista, FL  | |||||||
| Nov 23, 2018* 6:00 pm, ESPN3  | 
vs. College of Charleston  AdvoCare Invitational consolation semifinals  | 
L 51–74 | 3–2 | 
HP Field House (2,185) Lake Buena Vista, FL  | |||||||
| Nov 25, 2018* 9:30 am, ESPNU  | 
vs. Canisius  AdvoCare Invitational  | 
W 68–58 | 4–2 | 
HP Field House (3,127) Lake Buena Vista, FL  | |||||||
| Nov 29, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
at Alabama A&M | W 67–57 | 5–2 | 
Elmore Gymnasium (2,109) Huntsville, AL  | |||||||
| Dec 4, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
North Alabama | W 73–67 | 6–2 | 
Bartow Arena (3,222) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Dec 8, 2018* 12:00 pm, ESPN3  | 
at Memphis | L 76–94 | 6–3 | 
FedEx Forum (14,652) Memphis, TN  | |||||||
| Dec 15, 2018* 6:30 pm, CBSSN  | 
vs. No. 8 Auburn  Rivalry/Mike Slive Invitational  | 
L 71–75 OT | 6–4 | 
Legacy Arena (15,856) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Dec 18, 2018* 3:30 pm  | 
Alcorn State | W 76–49 | 7–4 | 
Bartow Arena (2,299) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Dec 21, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
Troy | L 73–74 | 7–5 | 
Bartow Arena (3,212) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Dec 29, 2018* 7:00 pm  | 
Arkansas–Monticello | W 75–67 | 8–5 | 
Bartow Arena (2,629) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Conference USA regular season | |||||||||||
| Jan 3, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
Florida Atlantic | W 67–50 | 9–5 (1–0)  | 
Bartow Arena (2,667) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Jan 5, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
FIU | W 84–65 | 10–5 (2–0)  | 
Bartow Arena (2,878) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Jan 10, 2019 6:30 pm, beIN  | 
at Louisiana Tech | L 53–64 | 10–6 (2–1)  | 
Thomas Assembly Center (3,081) Ruston, LA  | |||||||
| Jan 12, 2019 4:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
at Southern Miss | L 68–73 | 10–7 (2–2)  | 
Reed Green Coliseum (2,886) Hattiesburg, MS  | |||||||
| Jan 17, 2019 7:00 pm  | 
UTEP | W 76–63 | 11–7 (3–2)  | 
Bartow Arena (2,927) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Jan 19, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
UTSA | W 83–73 | 12–7 (4–2)  | 
Bartow Arena (3,256) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Jan 24, 2019 7:00 pm, beIN  | 
at North Texas | W 52–49 | 13–7 (5–2)  | 
The Super Pit (4,368) Denton, TX  | |||||||
| Jan 26, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
at Rice | W 89–86 | 14–7 (6–2)  | 
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,731) Houston, TX  | |||||||
| Jan 30, 2019 6:30 pm, ESPN+  | 
at Middle Tennessee | L 65–71 | 14–8 (6–3)  | 
Murphy Center (3,963) Murfreesboro, TN  | |||||||
| Feb 2, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
Middle Tennessee | L 78–79 | 14–9 (6–4)  | 
Bartow Arena (4,075) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Feb 7, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
Old Dominion | L 59–70 | 14–10 (6–5)  | 
Bartow Arena (3,276) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Feb 9, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
Charlotte | L 62–69 | 14–11 (6–6)  | 
Bartow Arena (3,601) Birmingham, AL  | |||||||
| Feb 14, 2019 7:00 pm, CBSSN  | 
at Marshall | W 77–68 | 15–11 (7–6)  | 
Cam Henderson Center (5,521) Morgantown, WV  | |||||||
| Feb 16, 2019 1:00 pm, Stadium/Facebook  | 
at Western Kentucky | W 68–60 | 16–11 (8–6)  | 
E. A. Diddle Arena (6,839) Bowling Green, KY  | |||||||
| Feb 23, 2019 2:00 pm, Stadium  | 
at Southern Miss | W 76–72 OT | 17–11 (9–6)  | 
Reed Green Coliseum (4,456) Hattiesburg, MS  | |||||||
| Feb 28, 2019 6:30 p.m., beIN  | 
Western Kentucky | L 67–73 | 17–12 (9–7)  | 
Bartow Arena (3,021) Birmingham, Al  | |||||||
| Mar 3, 2019 2:00 pm  | 
at UTSA | L 70–76 | 17–13 (9–8)  | 
Convocation Center (1,259) San Antonio, TX  | |||||||
| Mar 9, 2019 2:00 pm  | 
Old Dominion | W 64–50 | 18–13 (10–8)  | 
Bartow Arena (2,868) Birmingham, Al  | |||||||
| Conference USA tournament | |||||||||||
| Mar 13, 2019 6:30 pm, ESPN+  | 
(5) | vs. (12) Middle Tennessee  First Round  | 
W 70–61 | 19–13 | 
Ford Center at The Star (2,704) Frisco, TX  | ||||||
| Mar 14, 2019 6:30 pm, Stadium  | 
(5) | vs. (4) UTSA  Quarterfinals  | 
W 85–76 | 20–13 | 
Ford Center at The Star  Frisco, TX  | ||||||
| Mar 15, 2019 12:30 pm, CBSSN  | 
(5) | vs. (1) Old Dominion  Semifinals  | 
L 59–61 | 20–14 | 
Ford Center at The Star  Frisco, TX  | ||||||
| College Basketball Invitational | |||||||||||
| Mar 20, 2019* 6:00 pm, ESPN+  | 
at Brown  First round  | 
L 78–83 | 20–15 | 
Pizzitola Sports Center (683) Providence, RI  | |||||||
*Non-conference game.  #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.      All times are in Central Time.  | |||||||||||
Source[1]