The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

USA comes into Saturday night's game at Bartow Arena 4-4, after just dropping a home game to New Mexico State (58-52). USA is already 2-0 in the Sun Belt with road victories over Florida International and Florida Atlantic. Speaking of Florida, USA also has a huge win at Florida State in their first game of the season. Their worst losses have been to Monmouth and Georgia State, by two points each.

KenPom likes UAB in this game 72-67. The KenPom probability of a UAB victory is 68%.

USA is projected to go 16-12 (13-7) this season, tying with WKU for second place in the Eastern Division of the Sun Belt. Middle TN is projected to win everything in the Sun Belt this year.

USA doesn't have a lot of height, as they have two players at 6-7 and one at 6-6, otherwise everybody else is 6-1 or shorter. They shoot free throws quite well, although they didn't against New Mexico State and that cost them. Their big-time three point shooters are Xavier Roberson (6-1 195), Freddie Goldstein (5-10 160), Antoine Allen (6-1 180), and Mychal Ammons (6-6 225).

Their go-to player is Augustine Rubit (6-7 230). He is an excellent free throw shooter and he hits about 50% of his field goals. He rarely shoots 3 pointers. He is also highly rated for offensive rebounds.

It appears USA's top two players are Rubit and Roberson.

UAB is a good free throw shooting team, except for Rucker. Rod is 22-47, and has 13 more free throw attempts than Swing (who is second in attempts). Teams will continue to foul Rucker to minimize his effectiveness. Swing is now hitting 52.5% of his 3-pointers. Rucker is hitting 56% of his shots inside the arc, as long as they aren't from the foul line.

(12-07-2012 04:25 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  USA doesn't have a lot of height, as they have two players at 6-7 and one at 6-6, otherwise everybody else is 6-1 or shorter.

Yikes! That sounds like a high school team.