Clash at Bartow Arena: UAB Blazers to Host North Texas Mean Green
As the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers gear up to host the North Texas Mean Green at Bartow Arena, fans are eager for what promises to be a riveting matchup. The Blazers have shown a mix of tenacity and skill in their recent games, which could play a pivotal role in the upcoming contest.
In their last game on January 17 against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, the UAB Blazers displayed an impressive resilience. Despite falling short by just one point in overtime with a final score of 73-74, they dominated inside with 40 points in the paint and outrebounded their opponents by a significant margin with 54 total rebounds. Their defensive efforts were notable as well, racking up nine steals and four blocks.
However, shooting accuracy has been an area of concern for UAB. With field goal percentages hovering around 32 percent and three-point shooting at roughly 36 percent during that game, there's room for improvement if they want to secure more wins. The team's free throw performance was stronger though, making 72 percent from the line.
The North Texas Mean Green will certainly test UAB's defense. A balanced attack is expected from them as they come into this game with confidence and strategy. It will be crucial for the Blazers to tighten up their field goal defense and capitalize on turnovers if they wish to emerge victorious.
Looking back further into UAB's season reveals some consistency issues that need addressing before facing North Texas. On January 14 against Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, although securing a win with an impressive scoreline of 81-74 highlighted by strong second-chance points (30) due to aggressive offensive rebounding (19), it also showcased areas needing refinement such as personal fouls (28) which could give away easy points through free throws.
The upcoming game is not just another date on the calendar; it represents an opportunity for redemption and improvement for UAB after narrowly missing out on victory earlier this week. Fans should expect head coach Andy Kennedy to have his squad focused on enhancing their shooting efficiency while maintaining their aggressive rebounding presence.
With home-court advantage at Bartow Arena where they recently played well against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers despite losing narrowly by two points (78-80), there is optimism among supporters that this could provide the necessary edge over North Texas.
Mark your calendars for January 21st when these two teams face off at Bartow Arena in Birmingham at 4:00 PM local time (CT). Fans can catch all the action live via STADIUM network online – don't miss what promises to be an enthralling encounter between these conference rivals!