Streaking Blazers head to S. Florida

[Papa_Bull]

Streaking Blazers head to S. Florida

Friday, January 07, 2005

TORAINE NORRIS

News staff writer

The UAB Blazers are returning to the site of last season's Great Escape.

The Blazers (11-3, 1-0 Conference USA) will take their five-game winning streak into the Sun Dome on Saturday to face the improved University of South Florida Bulls (8-4, 1-0). The noon tipoff is being carried locally on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast and FM-101.1.

UAB needed a jumper by Sidney Ball with 0.8 seconds left to beat a basement-dwelling USF squad 61-59 last season. The win propelled the Blazers to the league championship in C-USA and kept the Blazers' NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

"That's what it was, an escape," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "That just shows you the level of play in Conference USA.

"Robert (McCullum) does a very good job with his team. His kids play hard, they defend and they have possibly an NBA player in Terrance Leather."

UAB is coming off an 83-75 C-USA opening night win over Southern Miss on Wednesday night.

For the second time in three games, the Blazers fell behind by double digits in the first half before rebounding with a strong second-half effort. While the comebacks are a source of confidence, the slow start is not something UAB wants to carry on the road in league play.

"That's something you don't want to get used to," Anderson said. "At the same time, if there's a half you want to play well in, it's the second half."

Point guard Squeaky Johnson said the second half is where UAB hits its stride.

"The wear and tear and the bench start getting to the other teams in the second half," Johnson said. "The 10-minute mark of the second half is where we hit our stride."

But can the Blazers play that way on the road against a USF club that has already surpassed last season's win total? The Bulls have won three straight under McCullum, a Birmingham native who is in his second year at the helm, and are coming off a 72-71 road win over East Carolina. USF is 5-0 at home this season.

The 6-foot-9 Leather is the big concern. He is averaging 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Leather had 18 points and 16 rebounds against ECU.

In last season's meeting in Tampa, Leather dropped 20 points on UAB and was virtually unstoppable around the basket in the second half.

"We have to figure out how to make Leather work for it," Anderson said. "We've definitely got to figure out where he is and keep him off the boards."

UAB counters with Donell and Ronell Taylor. Donell continues to reach new levels of play, as evidenced by his career-high 27 points against Southern Miss. Ronell, who Anderson has moved to the bench to give that unit more pop, scored 18 in the win over USM.

However, Anderson would like to see junior forward Demario Eddins be more of a factor early. Eddins keyed the second-half comeback against Southern Miss by scoring all 12 of his points in the half.

"He's got to get going earlier," Anderson said. "He gives us another option offensively because he creates mismatches."

As in the case of Eddins, all the Blazers want to start quickly to take the Sun Dome crowd out of the game.

"It won't be an easy game, but if we can get it going earlier, we'd love that," said Johnson.

E-mail: tnorris@bhamnews.com

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1105096779254081.xml

[79 Bull]

Hey, where is the prediction contest?

[TripleB]

As in the case of Eddins, all the Blazers want to start quickly to take the Sun Dome crowd out of the game.

[79 Bull]

Our reputation precedes us.

[NormalBull]

Our reputation exceeds us.

Normal

[79 Bull]

Our reputation exceeds us.

Normal

Exceeds is the word I was looking for!  Good one.

[dabull80]

They want to get the crowd out of it ?  Do they know something I don't.  There is going to be a crowd at the game ?

[79 Bull]

Hopefully enough students will be back to at least fill their 2 side sections.  I think the band will be lonely once again behind the basket.

[TripleB]

Our reputation exceeds us.

Normal

Perfect ...........  8)

[PingBull]

i'll be there    GO BULLS!