| Current: | 2023–24 UAB Blazers men's basketball team |
| UAB Blazers | |
| University: | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Conference: | The American |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Coach: | Andy Kennedy |
| Tenure: | 4th |
| Arena: | Bartow Arena |
| Capacity: | 8,508 |
| Nickname: | Blazers |
| Ncaaeliteeight: | 1982 |
| Ncaasweetsixteen: | 1981, 1982, 2004 |
| Ncaaroundof32: | 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2015 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2022, 2024 |
| Conference Tournament: | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2015, 2022, 2024 |
| Conference Season: | 1981, 1982, 1990, 2004, 2011, 2016 |
| H Body: | 1E6B52 |
| H Pattern B: | _thinsidesonwhite |
| H Shorts: | 1E6B52 |
| H Pattern S: | _blanksides2 |
| A Body: | 1E6B52 |
| A Pattern B: | _thinwhitesides |
| A Shorts: | 1E6B52 |
| A Pattern S: | _thinwhitesides |
| 3 Body: | D2C780 |
| 3 Pattern B: | _thindarkgreensides |
| 3 Shorts: | D2C780 |
| 3 Pattern S: | _dkgreensides |
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.
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.[1] [2] 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.[3] 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.[3]
| 1978–1996 | 366–203 | 9 | |
| 1996–2002 | 103–83 | 1 | |
| 2002–2006 | 89–41 | 3 | |
| 2006–2012 | 122–73 | 1 | |
| 2012– 2016 | 80–53 | 1 | |
| 2016–2020 | 76–57 | 0 | |
| 2020–present | 101-37 | 2 | |
UAB has appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 10–17.[3]
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | W 93–68 W 69–62 L 72–87 | |||
| Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | W 80–70 W 68–66 L 68–75 | |||
| First Round | L 63–71 | |||
| First Round | L 68–84 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 67–55 L 66–67OT | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 66–64 L 59–77 | |||
| First Round | L 68–90 | |||
| First Round | L 56–68 | |||
| First Round | L 46–51 | |||
| First Round | L 64–77 | |||
| First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | W 102–100 W 76–74 L 74–100 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 82–68 L 63–85 | |||
| First Round | Kentucky | L 64–69 | ||
| First Four | L 52–70 | |||
| Second Round Third Round | Iowa State UCLA | W 60–59 L 75–92 | ||
| First Round | L 68–82 | |||
| First Round | L 65–69 |
UAB has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 13 times, with a combined record of 18–13.
| First Round | L 74–72 | |||
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game | W 83–74 W 64–61 W 85–79 L 65–76 W 78–76 | |||
| First Round | L 76–82 | |||
| First Round | L 68–71 | |||
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game | W 58–56 W 65–64 W 61–52 L 41–45 W 55–52 | |||
| First Round | L 62–85 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 93–86 L 66–79 | |||
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Louisiana-Lafayette Siena St. John's | W 82–80 W 80–71 L 71–79 | ||
| First Round Second Round | W 80–77 L 49–75 | |||
| First Round | L 64–70 | |||
| First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | W 65–49 W 72–52 L 55–60 | |||
| First Round | L 79–97 | |||
| 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 |
The Blazers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1
| First Round | L 78–83 |
| 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 |
| Rivalry Games | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rival | First meeting | Last meeting | Overall record | |
| 1982 | 2018 | Auburn leads 11-10 | ||
| 1980 | 2024 | UAB leads 34-20 | ||
| 1983 | 2022 | UAB leads 23-16 | ||
| Western Kentucky | 1981 | 2023 | UAB leads 27-18 | |
| Middle Tennessee | 1986 | 2023 | UAB leads 19-10 | |
| 1984 | 2024 | Memphis leads 40-12 | ||
| South Alabama | 1978 | 2022 | UAB leads 31-14 | |
| Southern Mississippi | 1979 | 2023 | UAB leads 37-20 | |
| Year | Conference | Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Conference USA | Mike Anderson | |
| 2011 | Conference USA | Mike Davis | |
| 2016 | Conference USA | Jerod Haase |
| Year | Conference | Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Sun Belt | Oliver Robinson | ||
| 2011 | Conference USA | Aaron Johnson | ||
| 2022 | Conference USA | Jordan Walker |
| 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 |
See 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.[4]
| UAB Blazers retired numbers | |||||||
| width=40px style="" | No. | width=150px style="" | Player | width=100px style="" | Career | width=40px style="" | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007–2011 | [5] | |||||
| 14 | 1982–1986 | [6] | |||||
| 20 | 1978–1982 | [7] | |||||
| 40 | 1982–1986 | [8] | |||||
UAB has seen numerous players move on to professional careers in the NBA.[9] Some of UAB's highest NBA draft picks include:
Other former Blazers to play in the NBA are:
See main article: article and 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.[10] Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997.[11] 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.[10] [11]
| 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 | |
| [12] | |||
| 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 | |