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(03-18-2024 01:36 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Seem to recall him saying that every season.

Yeah, I don’t know why anyone would read much into that comment. He says this will the last time this group of guys will play together. Which is just a factual statement. JD, along with Sigmon and Jon Coleman, won’t be on the team/in the locker room next year, so next season there will be (in theory) three news guys in the locker room. So it’ll be a new group of guys.

Could there be more guys leave? Sure. But I’m not basing that off AK’s comments. More of the general chaos of college sports at the moment. Personally, the only main contributor I see potentially leaving is EG. Hope he stays though.

(03-18-2024 12:38 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 12:01 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  The only thing I feel like I have to add is this:
Sometimes shots just don’t go in. Let’s not go back to crucifying him when he has a game where the shots don’t fall.

Our next game is against the best defensive team we have played since Houston the last time we were in the NCAA tournament. They have a bunch of athletic 6-7ish guys who are hard to drive against and get their long arms in passing lanes. EG isn’t going to have as many open shots as he had last week. The passes are going to be more difficult and turnovers will go up. I hope all can keep that in mind and refrain from passing judgement.

As long as he takes good quality shots, I am not going to dog him ever again.

He's mostly done that the last quarter or more of the season.

His transformation from what he was when he came to UAB, to where he is now, is damn near astonishing. Yes, this is coming from who most think is his biggest critic.

His career at UAB started out damn near terrible. Turnover machine. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his jumper. Jumped in the air with no idea what to do with the ball like the pass button was broke on his PlayStation controller. Was terrible in clutch moments. Had awful body language. Took terrible shots. Got beat one on one on defense like a drum. Was out muscled and beat up by bigger players. Basically, almost every time there was an option to do something on the court, the original EG pushed the "make the wrong play" button.

Fast forward a year and a half, and it's like I'm not watching the same player. He's corrected, or drastically improved, nearly every deficiency in his game. No, he is still not a natural jumper shooter, but he has improved the quality of his shots. His percentages lately have subsequently improved. He's gotten better at everything else too.

Maybe EG was poorly coached all along. He came in trying to be a high volume, shoot first, turnover-prone, position-less tweener guard.

He's morphed into a savvy, composed, efficient, smart decision making, floor general. He's looked like a natural point guard lately. Maybe whoever was coaching him to be the previous version of himself was doing him a disservice, or maybe he wasn't open to coaching back then... Who knows? But the transformation is real, and I am the first to admit it. AK talks about "best version of self," and I think we've seen that from EG lately.

He CAN score, but he is the rare player who could score 0 points and still affect the game in so many ways. This version of EG I could see pushing to get a shot in the NBA.

Anyways, hats off to you EG. I talked a lot of noise about you. Regardless of whether I thought it was factually correct or not, you proved me wrong and it's been a heck of a ride this season lol..

Great post. EG has really worked hard and matured a ton!

If we keep everyone but the seniors with exhausted eligibility then this team will be amazing! Going to another school is risky. These guys need to run it back!

Thanks for starting this thread. Eric Gaines games have been well worth the price of admission for so many reasons. To see him jump sky high to secure an important rebound or watch the timing of a big block has been exhilarating. I've enjoyed watching him shut down passing lanes with athletic steals that lead to thunderous dunks. His handle is like an extension of his body. He does not panic when the double comes. I was probably the only person wondering if he was going to play point guard or steal time away from better shooting 2guards. . Now he IS the point guard for AAC Champions UAB Blazers!

(03-18-2024 02:15 PM)uabblazer2012 Wrote:  Feels like the Yax is gone talk is to a P6 more so than the pros.

Yax seems very comfortable at UAB. I’m sure he can get offered a truck load of cash at another school, but we all saw how long it took him to adjust to UAB. It’s not going to be that simple, and his leash won’t be nearly as long at most p6 schools.

AK has proven that he can put guys in the league, and he has proven that he will let his guy run the team. Yax is that guy next year. He is the rare older guy who needs another year in school to develop, and I can’t think of a better place for him to do it than a place that he is already comfortable and familiar with.

I would love to see Jelly, Yax and Trey all be ambassadors for this program for years to come. It would be huge for us going forward.

(03-18-2024 12:38 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 12:01 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  The only thing I feel like I have to add is this:
Sometimes shots just don’t go in. Let’s not go back to crucifying him when he has a game where the shots don’t fall.

Our next game is against the best defensive team we have played since Houston the last time we were in the NCAA tournament. They have a bunch of athletic 6-7ish guys who are hard to drive against and get their long arms in passing lanes. EG isn’t going to have as many open shots as he had last week. The passes are going to be more difficult and turnovers will go up. I hope all can keep that in mind and refrain from passing judgement.

As long as he takes good quality shots, I am not going to dog him ever again.

He's mostly done that the last quarter or more of the season.

His transformation from what he was when he came to UAB, to where he is now, is damn near astonishing. Yes, this is coming from who most think is his biggest critic.

His career at UAB started out damn near terrible. Turnover machine. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his jumper. Jumped in the air with no idea what to do with the ball like the pass button was broke on his PlayStation controller. Was terrible in clutch moments. Had awful body language. Took terrible shots. Got beat one on one on defense like a drum. Was out muscled and beat up by bigger players. Basically, almost every time there was an option to do something on the court, the original EG pushed the "make the wrong play" button.

Fast forward a year and a half, and it's like I'm not watching the same player. He's corrected, or drastically improved, nearly every deficiency in his game. No, he is still not a natural jumper shooter, but he has improved the quality of his shots. His percentages lately have subsequently improved. He's gotten better at everything else too.

Maybe EG was poorly coached all along. He came in trying to be a high volume, shoot first, turnover-prone, position-less tweener guard.

He's morphed into a savvy, composed, efficient, smart decision making, floor general. He's looked like a natural point guard lately. Maybe whoever was coaching him to be the previous version of himself was doing him a disservice, or maybe he wasn't open to coaching back then... Who knows? But the transformation is real, and I am the first to admit it. AK talks about "best version of self," and I think we've seen that from EG lately.

He CAN score, but he is the rare player who could score 0 points and still affect the game in so many ways. This version of EG I could see pushing to get a shot in the NBA.

Anyways, hats off to you EG. I talked a lot of noise about you. Regardless of whether I thought it was factually correct or not, you proved me wrong and it's been a heck of a ride this season lol..

So well said.


As for next season, I'm pretty sure EG is gone and I can't blame him. He's an old junior and he needs to start developing against a higher level and making money while he can. I'm really 50/50 on Yax. I don't see him going pro next year but he can easily leave for a power program. I really think it comes down to how much he enjoys being at UAB, and it does seem he enioys it.

I think Gaines is gone because he is an "old man" when it comes to starting your professional basketball career. He needs to go make his money.

My take on Yax is that there are few more intoxicating drugs for NBA scouts than the often mysterious and always immeasurable trait known as "upside." The NBA had to pass a rule banning the drafting of high school kids because teams were wasting millions of dollars chasing upside. Yax, because of his lack of high school ball and his missing out on all the bad habits he would have learned in countless AAU games, is positively oozing upside. I hope his gimpy leg from the AAC championship game is healed for Friday because his match-up against Jaedon LeDee, who is arguably more explosive and outweighs him by 20 pounds, could be a big showcase game for Yax.

I should probably mention that I think Gaines and Yax will likely be gone partly because i think its a sub 50% chance that AK returns next season, and I see no scenario where either would return if AK leaves.

(03-18-2024 07:46 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  I think Gaines is gone because he is an "old man" when it comes to starting your professional basketball career. He needs to go make his money.

My take on Yax is that there are few more intoxicating drugs for NBA scouts than the often mysterious and always immeasurable trait known as "upside." The NBA had to pass a rule banning the drafting of high school kids because teams were wasting millions of dollars chasing upside. Yax, because of his lack of high school ball and his missing out on all the bad habits he would have learned in countless AAU games, is positively oozing upside. I hope his gimpy leg from the AAC championship game is healed for Friday because his match-up against Jaedon LeDee, who is arguably more explosive and outweighs him by 20 pounds, could be a big showcase game for Yax.

I should probably mention that I think Gaines and Yax will likely be gone partly because i think its a sub 50% chance that AK returns next season, and I see no scenario where either would return if AK leaves.

You think there's less than 50% chance AK returns? Is that just a personal feeling, or is there inside knowledge attached to it? AK leaving a year prior to possibly having one of the greatest regular seasons in UAB history would be devastating.

Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

[quote='blazers9911' pid='19524840' dateline='1710780561']
This team was always going to go as far as EG took us. As good as a lot of the other guys are, without EG, we aren't winning much. He is the PG for this team, whether the fit is natural or not. When he leaves the court, it is very noticeable that simply getting the ball up the court becomes a bit of a chore. I'm glad we saw the best version of EG over the weekend, and I hope we see that again this week.
I agree completely. UAB started playing well when EG started making great decisions. I loved his the drive to the basket Sunday where he layed ball up softly instead of trying to slam it down. He's getting everyone involved. Plus what an incredible day for AJ too. EG set him up and all of his teammates. The PG play sets our bigs up over and over. Just incredible turn around by EG and so happy for his success.

(03-18-2024 09:33 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

We are a self loathing bunch. Always expecting the next shoe to drop. I'll enjoy this run for however long it is and then worry about coach and player retainage later.

(03-18-2024 09:33 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

Of course not. This is Blazerbitch 24/7/365.

(03-19-2024 09:02 AM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 09:33 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

Of course not. This is Blazerbitch 24/7/365.

And twice on Sundays.

(03-19-2024 09:02 AM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  

(03-18-2024 09:33 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

Of course not. This is Blazerbitch 24/7/365.

and here you are to add to it!! thanks for joining the party.

(03-18-2024 09:33 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Can we not just have one thread where we enjoy nice things?

This.

Cool AI renderings of UAB ready to rock the NCAA

ready to rock the NCAAs.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FyrqvjGBykS88cBi9