The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Visits Big 10 Member Minnesota
12/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The UAB men's basketball team faces Big 10 contender Minnesota in a mid-week, regionally-televised contest Wednesday in Minneapolis. The Blazers and Golden Gophers tip at 7 p.m. CT in Williams Arena. The contest will be televised live by FoxSportsNet North.
"I've been very impressed with them on tape," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "They just got Vincent Grier back from an injury and he is probably one of the top players in the Big 10. We have our work cut out for us, especially in an environment like Williams Arena."
UAB is coming off an 81-59 home win over Alcorn State. The Blazers have already taken down a Big 12 opponent this season, beating Nebraska on the road, 73-72, on Dec. 3.
Demario Eddins continues to lead the Blazes with a 15.8 points per game average. Marvett McDonald (13.0) and Wen Mukubu (12.2) also average double digits for Mike Anderson's club. Point guard Squeaky Johnson ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists (6.7) and steals (3.7) per game as well.
Anderson's "Fastest 40 Minutes In Basketball" is pressuring teams into over 23 turnovers per contest. The Blazers, who have led the nation in steals per game for three straight years, average 12.5 thus far in 2005-06.
"I'm hoping to establish a little more consistency on the defensive end of things," Anderson said. "If you look at the game at DePaul (a 70-66 Blue Demons win in Chicago on Dec. 6), we didn't force as many turnovers and got away from what we do best a little. When you play on the road, you have to get the other team out of their comfort zone, which is what good defense does. If you do that and knock down some shots, you can be successful."
Minnesota is 5-2 on the season and last beat UNLV, 72-67, on Saturday in Williams Arena. The Gophers got a boost in that contest when Grier returned to the lineup after missing six games with a broken hand. The swingman scored 19 points to lead the way in the victory.
Grier averages 20 points per game in his two appearances this season. Maurice Hargrow chips in with 15.2 points per game. Adam Boone, who has 15 three-pointers in seven games, averages 14 for Minnesota as well. The Golden Gophers were 21-11 last year and made the NCAA Tournament field. They have wins over UNLV and Arizona State, among others this season. Their two losses are at Maryland (83-66 on Nov. 30) and at home to upstart Gardner-Webb (73-72 on Nov. 28).
UAB is 1-2 all-time against Minnesota, but winless in two tries at Williams Arena. UAB's lone win was an 86-80 victory over the Gophers in Bartow Arena on Dec. 14, 1991. UAB lost at Minnesota, 74-59 on Jan. 2, 1993, and 79-66 on March 16, 1998 in the second round of the NIT.
With the win at Nebraska earlier this month, the Blazers have an opportunity to register another road victory over a major conference school. UAB is 0-5, however, when playing on the home court of a Big 10 foe.
In addition to the regional television coverage, the game will air live on the ISP/Blazer Sports Network which can be heard locally in Birmingham on WYDE-101.1 FM.
UAB Men's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format
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