UAB Blazers men's basketball

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.

UAB Blazers men's basketball
2024–25 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
University	University of Alabama at Birmingham
Head coach	Andy Kennedy (5th season)
Conference	The American
Location	Birmingham, Alabama
Arena	Bartow Arena (capacity: 8,508)
Nickname	Blazers
Colors	UAB Green and UAB Gold[1]
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate Alternate
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1982
Other NCAA tournament results Sweet Sixteen 1981, 1982, 2004 Appearances 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2022, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2015, 2022, 2024
Conference regular-season champions
1981, 1982, 1990, 2004, 2011, 2016

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 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.^[4] 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.^[4]

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 men's basketball coaches

Coach	Years	Wins–losses	NCAA tournament appearances
Gene Bartow	1978–1996	366–203 (.643)	9
Murry Bartow	1996–2002	103–83 (.554)	1
Mike Anderson	2002–2006	89–41 (.685)	3
Mike Davis	2006–2012	122–73 (.626)	1
Jerod Haase	2012– 2016	80–53 (.602)	1
Rob Ehsan	2016–2020	76–57 (.571)	0
Andy Kennedy	2020–present	125-50 (.714)	2
Overall	45 seasons	961-560 (.632)	17

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	18–12	10–4	T–2nd	NIT First Round
1980–81	Gene Bartow	23–9	9–3	T–1st	NCAA Sweet 16
1981–82	Gene Bartow	25–6	9–1	1st	NCAA Elite 8
1982–83	Gene Bartow	19–14	9–5	3rd	NCAA First Round
1983–84	Gene Bartow	23–11	8–6	5th	NCAA First Round
1984–85	Gene Bartow	25–9	11–3	2nd	NCAA Second Round
1985–86	Gene Bartow	25–11	9–5	T–3rd	NCAA Second Round
1986–87	Gene Bartow	21–11	10–4	3rd	NCAA First Round
1987–88	Gene Bartow	16–15	7–7	5th
1988–89	Gene Bartow	22–12	8–6	4th	NIT Semifinals
1989–90	Gene Bartow	22–9	12–2	1st	NCAA First Round
1990–91	Gene Bartow	18–13	9–5	2nd	NIT First Round
UAB (Great Midwest Conference) (1991–1995)
1991–92	Gene Bartow	20–9	4–6	5th	NIT First Round
1992–93	Gene Bartow	21–14	5–5	4th	NIT Semifinals
1993–94	Gene Bartow	22–8	8–4	T–2nd	NCAA First Round
1994–95	Gene Bartow	15–15	5–7	6th
UAB (Conference USA) (1995–2023)
1995–96	Gene Bartow	16–14	6–8	2nd (Red)
1996–97	Murry Bartow	18–14	7–7	2nd (Red)	NIT First Round
1997–98	Murry Bartow	21–12	10–6	2nd (National)	NIT Second Round
1998–99	Murry Bartow	20–12	10–6	1st (National)	NCAA First Round
1999–2000	Murry Bartow	14–14	7–9	T–3rd (National)
2000–01	Murry Bartow	17–14	8–8	4th (National)
2001–02	Murry Bartow	13–17	6–10	T–4th (National)
2002–03	Mike Anderson	21–13	8–8	T–2nd (National)	NIT Quarterfinals
2003–04	Mike Anderson	22–10	12–4	T–1st	NCAA Sweet 16
2004–05	Mike Anderson	22–11	10–6	T–4th	NCAA Second Round
2005–06	Mike Anderson	24–7	12–2	2nd	NCAA First Round
2006–07	Mike Davis	15–16	7–9	T–8th
2007–08	Mike Davis	23–11	12–4	2nd	NIT Second Round
2008–09	Mike Davis	22–12	11–5	3rd	NIT First Round
2009–10	Mike Davis	25–9	11–5	T–3rd	NIT Quarterfinals
2010–11	Mike Davis	22–9	12–4	1st	NCAA First Four
2011–12	Mike Davis	15–16	9–7	T–5th
2012–13	Jerod Haase	16–17	7–9	T–7th
2013–14	Jerod Haase	18–13	7–9	T–8th
2014–15	Jerod Haase	20–16	12–6	T–4th	NCAA Second Round
2015–16	Jerod Haase	26–7	16–2	1st	NIT First Round
2016–17	Rob Ehsan	17–16	9–9	7th
2017–18	Rob Ehsan	20–13	10–8	6th
2018–19	Rob Ehsan	20–15	10–8	5th	CBI first round
2019–20	Rob Ehsan	19–13	9–9	7th
2020–21	Andy Kennedy	22–7	13–5	2nd (West)
2021–22	Andy Kennedy	27–8	14–4	2nd (West)	NCAA First Round
2022-23	Andy Kennedy	29–10	14–6	3rd	NIT Runner–up
UAB (American Athletic Conference) (2023–present)
2023–24	Andy Kennedy	23–12	12–6	4th	NCAA First Round
2024–25	Andy Kennedy	24–13	13–5	3rd	NIT Quarterfinals
Total:		961–560
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

NCAA tournament results UAB has appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 10–17.[4] Year Seed Round Opponent Result 1981 #7 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Western Kentucky Kentucky Indiana W 93–68 W 69–62 L 72–87 1982 #4 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Indiana Virginia Louisville W 80–70 W 68–66 L 68–75 1983 #10 First Round Oklahoma L 63–71 1984 #9 First Round BYU L 68–84 1985 #7 First Round Second Round Michigan State Memphis State W 67–55 L 66–67OT 1986 #6 First Round Second Round Missouri North Carolina W 66–64 L 59–77 1987 #11 First Round Providence L 68–90 1990 #10 First Round UCLA L 56–68 1994 #7 First Round George Washington L 46–51 1999 #12 First Round Iowa L 64–77 2004 #9 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Washington Kentucky Kansas W 102–100 W 76–74 L 74–100 2005 #11 First Round Second Round LSU Arizona W 82–68 L 63–85 2006 #9 Round of 64 Kentucky L 64–69 2011 #12 First Four Clemson L 52–70 2015 #14 Second Round Third Round Iowa State UCLA W 60–59 L 75–92 2022 #12 Round of 64 Houston L 68–82 2024 #12 Round of 64 San Diego State L 65–69 NIT results UAB has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 14 times, with a combined record of 20–14. Year Round Opponent Result 1980 First Round Southwestern Louisiana L 74–72 1989 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game Georgia Southern Richmond Connecticut St. John's Michigan State W 83–74 W 64–61 W 85–79 L 65–76 W 78–76 1991 First Round Memphis State L 76–82 1992 First Round Tennessee L 68–71 1993 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game Alabama Clemson SW Missouri State Georgetown Providence W 58–56 W 65–64 W 61–52 L 41–45 W 55–52 1997 First Round TCU L 62–85 1998 First Round Second Round Missouri Minnesota W 93–86 L 66–79 2003 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Louisiana-Lafayette Siena St. John's W 82–80 W 80–71 L 71–79 2008 First Round Second Round VCU Virginia Tech W 80–77 L 49–75 2009 First Round Notre Dame L 64–70 2010 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Coastal Carolina NC State North Carolina W 65–49 W 72–52 L 55–60 2016 First Round BYU L 79–97 2023 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Southern Miss Morehead State Vanderbilt Utah Valley North Texas W 88–60 W 77–59 W 67–59 W 88–86OT L 61–68 2025 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Saint Joseph's Santa Clara UC Irvine W 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

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2019	First Round	Brown	L 78–83

Highest Seeds Beaten in NCAA tournament

Year	Seed	Opponent	Result/Score
2004	1	Kentucky	W 76–74
1982	1	Virginia	W 68–66
1981	2	Kentucky	W 69–62
2015	3	Iowa State	W 60–59

UAB Rivalry Games

Rivalry Games
Rival	First meeting	Last meeting	Overall record
Auburn	1982	2018	Auburn leads 11-10
Charlotte	1980	2024	UAB leads 34-20
Western Kentucky	1981	2023	UAB leads 27-18
Old Dominion	1983	2022	UAB leads 23-16
South Alabama	1978	2022	UAB leads 31-14
Memphis	1984	2024	Memphis leads 40-12
Middle Tennessee	1986	2023	UAB leads 19-10
Southern Mississippi	1979	2023	UAB leads 37-20
South Florida	1978	2024	UAB leads 40-20

Awards

Conference Coach of the Year

Year	Conference	Coach
2004	Conference USA	Mike Anderson
2011	Conference USA	Mike Davis
2016	Conference USA	Jerod Haase

Conference Player of the Year

Year	Conference	Position	Player
1982	Sun Belt	SG	Oliver Robinson
2011	Conference USA	PG	Aaron Johnson
2022	Conference USA	PG	Jordan Walker

All--Conference Players Since 2012

Year	Conference	Team	Position	Player
2012	Conference USA	1st	Forward	Cameron Moore
2013	Conference USA	2nd	Forward	Rod Rucker
2014	Conference USA	1st	Guard	Chad Frazier
2015	Conference USA	3rd	Guard	Robert Brown
2016	Conference USA	2nd	Forward	Chris Cokley
2016	Conference USA	3rd	Guard	Nick Norton
2016	Conference USA	1st	Guard	Robert Brown
2016	Conference USA	3rd	Forward	William Lee
2017	Conference USA	2nd	Forward	William Lee
2018	Conference USA	1st	Forward	Chris Cokley
2019	Conference USA	3rd	Guard	Zack Bryant
2021	Conference USA	2nd	Guard	Tavin Lovan
2022	Conference USA	1st	Guard	Jordan Walker
2022	Conference USA	3rd	Guard	Quan Jackson
2023	Conference USA	1st	Guard	Jordan Walker
2023	Conference USA	3rd	Center	Trey Jemison
2024	American	1st	Forward	Yaxel Lendeborg

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.^[5]

UAB Blazers retired numbers
No.	Player	Career	Ref.
1	Aaron Johnson	2007–2011	[6]
14	Steve Mitchell	1982–1986	[7]
20	Oliver Robinson	1978–1982	[8]
40	Jerome Mincy	1982–1986	[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:

• 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

UAB vs Tulsa at Bartow Arena

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.^[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]

Top 10 Home Games at BJCC Opponent Attendance 1 DePaul (1980) 17,309 2 DePaul (1985) 17,222 3 Auburn (1984) 17,025 4 Indiana (1997) 16,982 5 Virginia Commonwealth (1985) 16,866 6 Auburn (1986) 16,815 7 Auburn (1983) 16,803 8 Auburn (1982) 16,797 9 South Florida (1985) 16,781 10T Virginia (1982) 16,754 10T Louisville (1982) 16,754 [13]

Top 10 Home Games at Bartow Arena Opponent Attendance 1 Memphis (2008) 9,392 2 Louisville (2005) 9,354 3 Cincinnati (2004) 9,312 4 Cincinnati (2000) 9,279 5 Cincinnati (1996) 9,213 6 Memphis (2009) 9,153 7 Memphis (2011) 9,119 8 Alcorn State (1989) 9,010 9 Arkansas (1990) 8,951 10 Cincinnati (1994) 8,907 [13]