|
#46 UAB Blazers
Conference USA
2004-05: 22-11, 10-6,
4th
2004-05 postseason:
NCAA
By
Joel Welser
Coach Mike Anderson
has brought the ‘fastest 40 minutes in basketball’ to
UAB and has had great
success with the run and gun tempo. The Blazers beat LSU in the
first round of the NCAAs last year and were a surprise Sweet
Sixteen squad two years ago. Led by Squeaky Johnson, UAB will
once again be a delight to watch and a dangerous team come
March.
Who’s Out:
The loss of the twin duo of Donell and Ronell Taylor will take a
little explosiveness out of the offense. Donell led the squad
with 15.5 points per game and tacked on 4.4 boards and 3.0
assists. Ronell averaged 11.0 points and 3.6 boards. Starting
big man Marques Lewis will leave some questions behind for the
Blazer frontcourt. Lewis averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 boards in
30 starts.
Who’s In:
The frontcourt could use some depth
behind Demario Eddins. Returnees Ernest Little and Brandon
Tobias will have to step up as will newcomers Wen Mukubu,
Lawrence Kinnard and Roderick Ollie. Mukubu, a transfer from
Arkansas is undersized to battle in the paint at 6-6, but he’s
long enough to pull it off if he has to. Two years ago for the
Razorbacks, Mukubu averaged 1.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 24
contests. Kinnard is a nice pickup for UAB. The 6-8 forward from
Memphis, Tennessee averaged 14.8 points and 8.9 rebounds last
year at Raleigh-Egypt High School. Kinnard will compete for
playing time immediately, but might not find much early in the
year. The same goes for Ollie, who will need some time to
develop. Ollie averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and
three steals last year at Indianola Gentry High School in
Gentry, Mississippi. Maurice Gibbs, a transfer from Moberly Area
(MO) Community College, will provide another scoring option from
the perimeter. Rounding out the group is the coaches son,
Michael Anderson, Jr. The redshirt walk-on isn’t expected to see
many quality minutes this year.
Who to Watch:
Point guard Squeaky Johnson is one
of the most exciting players to watch in the nation, but the key
to the season will be the play of forwards Ernest Little, Frank
Holmes and Brandon Tobias. None of the trio averaged more than
11 minutes per game last year, but at least one of them needs to
step up and shore up the frontcourt. Little, the biggest of the
bunch at 6-9 and 230 pounds, averaged 3.4 points and 2.4 boards
as a sophomore last year. Holmes only averaged 1.5 points and
1.5 boards as a freshman, but with a year of experience under
his belt, the 6-9 Somerville, Tennessee product will be ready
for more minutes. Tobias earned seven starts last year, but
failed to produce big numbers. The senior has one last year to
play a big role for the Blazers.
Projected
Conference Rank:
Squeaky Johnson, Marvett McDonald
and Demario Eddins provide a nice core to build around. The
options aren’t great in the frontcourt, but there is a mix of
experience and youth. Even if nobody steps up as a go-to-guy,
the group as a whole can fill in and do fine in the running
style of Mike Anderson. The Blazers always seem to pull it
together and make it to the big dance. Even a 2nd
place finish in the CUSA isn’t a guarantee for the NCAAs this
year, but after the Blazers recent success, you can bet that if
they are on the bubble, they won’t be left out.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Squeaky Johnson,
Senior, Guard, 5.0 points per game
Marvett McDonald,
Senior, Guard, 10.8 points per game
Demario Eddins,
Senior, Forward, 12.5 points per game
Wen Mukubu, Junior,
Forward, DNP last season
Ernest Little, Junior,
Forward, 3.4 points per game
|
