Can SMU Mustangs Blaze Past UAB at Bartow Arena?
As the Southern Methodist University Mustangs prepare to face off against the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward the momentum from their recent performances. The upcoming battle on January 14th at Bartow Arena is expected to be a showcase of resilience and strategy.
The Mustangs come off an electrifying double-overtime victory against the Memphis Tigers, where they scored 91 points. Despite a high personal foul count of 32 and a less than stellar assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.23, they managed to secure the win thanks to their relentless attack on the basket which led them to attempt an impressive 60 free throws, making 67 percent of them.
This tenacity was slightly lacking in their game against Rice Owls on January 7th, where they fell short by two points in a regular time match-up. The Mustangs showed balance with assists and turnovers but struggled from beyond the arc with only a 38 percent success rate for three-pointers. However, they did manage better ball distribution with an improved assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5.
Against Florida Atlantic Owls earlier in January, SMU displayed defensive prowess by limiting FAU's scoring opportunities and maintaining control throughout the game leading to a five-point win. They capitalized on turnovers scoring 26 points off FAU's mistakes and shot an impressive 46 percent from three-point range.
The Blazers should not be underestimated though; as hosts, they will have home-court advantage and will look to disrupt SMU's rhythm early on. UAB has been known for its solid defense which could pose challenges for SMU's offensive strategies.
For fans looking forward to this clash, it is crucial that SMU maintains its aggressive approach towards scoring while tightening up defensively without accruing excessive fouls that could cost them valuable players during critical moments.
The scheduled tip-off is set for January 14th at Bartow Arena in Birmingham at precisely two o'clock post-meridian Central Time (CT). Fans who cannot make it to Alabama can catch all the action live as it unfolds right before their eyes through local broadcasts or streaming services dedicated to college sports coverage.