2018–19 UAB Blazers men's basketball team

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.

2018–19 UAB Blazers men's basketball
CBI, First Round
ConferenceConference USA
Record20–15 (10–8 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBartow Arena
2018–19 Conference USA men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Old Dominion135 .722269  .743
Western Kentucky117 .6112014  .588
Southern Miss117 .6112013  .606
UTSA117 .6111715  .531
UAB108 .5562015  .571
Marshall117 .6112314  .622
FIU108 .5562013  .606
Louisiana Tech99 .5002013  .606
Florida Atlantic810 .4441716  .515
North Texas810 .4442112  .636
Rice810 .4441319  .406
Middle Tennessee810 .4441121  .344
Charlotte513 .278821  .276
UTEP315 .167821  .276
2019 C-USA Tournament winner

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

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Nick Norton2G5'10"166SeniorBloomington, ILGraduate transferred to Drake
Chris Cokley3F6'8"238SeniorSavannah, GAGraduated
Deion Lavender5G6'4"190RS JuniorAlton, ILGraduate transferred to Valparaiso
Hunter Reynolds12G6'0"161FreshmanKnoxville, TNWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons
Nate Darling13G6'5"190SophomoreHalifax, NSTransferred to Delaware
Thomas Smallwood33F7'0"243JuniorBordeaux, FranceGraduate transferred to Chattanooga
William Lee34F6'9"206SeniorPlantersville, ALGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Tyreek Scott-Grayson0G6'5"SophomoreSevern, MDJunior college transferred from State Fair CC
Jeremiah Bell2G6'0"171SeniorLouisville, KYTransferred 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 Butler12F/C6'8"230JuniorTroy, NYJunior college transferred from Pensacola State College
Will Bathurst25G6'3"188RS SeniorOlean, NYTransferred from Cornell. Will be eligible to play immediately since Bathurst graduated from Cornell.
Nolan Bertain32G6'4"185SophomorePortland, ORJunior college transferred from Casper College

Incoming recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
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:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

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:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2018–19 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Tyreek Scott-Grayson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoSuffield Academy
State Fair Community College
Brick, New Jersey
G 1 Zack Bryant 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)183 lb (83 kg) SoProvidence School Hastings, Florida
G 1 Jeremiah Bell Current redshirt 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) SrBoyle County High School
Milwaukee
Louisville, Kentucky
G 3 Tavin Lovan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)196 lb (89 kg) FrFranklin-Simpson High School Franklin, Kentucky
G 4 Anderson McCoy (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)166 lb (75 kg) RS JrCenter Grove High School
Ancilla College
Indianapolis, Indiana
F 5 Makhtar Gueye 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS FrAspire Academy Rufisque, Senegal
G 10 Luis Hurtado 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS FrThe Sagemont School Mérida, Venezuela
F 11 Tamell Pearson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)212 lb (96 kg) FrMorgan Park High School Chicago, Illinois
F 12 Will Butler 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)255 lb (116 kg) JrRedemption Christian Academy
Pensacola State College
Troy, New York
G 15 Joshua Sippial (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrLoveless Academic Magnet Program Montgomery, Alabama
G 21 Jalen Perry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)197 lb (89 kg) SrBallard High School
John A. Logan College
Louisville, Kentucky
F 23 Lewis Sullivan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)231 lb (105 kg) RS SrHazel Green High School Hazel Green, Alabama
G 25 Will Bathurst 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)188 lb (85 kg) RS SrOlean High School
Cornell
Olean, New York
G 32 Nolan Bertain 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)188 lb (85 kg) SoWest Linn High School
Casper College
Portland, Oregon
F 34 Jude Akabueze 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)260 lb (118 kg) FrNorth Marion High School Lagos, Nigeria
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

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]

References

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