Clash at Charles Koch Arena: UAB Blazers Prepare to Face Wichita State Shockers
As the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers gear up for their next challenge, all eyes are on the upcoming clash against the Wichita State Shockers at Charles Koch Arena. The Blazers' recent performances have been a mixed bag, but there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this tenacious team.
In their last outing on December 21, the UAB Blazers fell short against Saint Joseph's Hawks with a final score of 57-63. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways that could be pivotal in their next game. The Blazers showed resilience in scoring distribution across quarters and demonstrated accuracy from the charity stripe with an impressive free throw percentage of 85 percent. However, turnovers were a glaring issue as they committed 13 in total.
Looking back further to December 20, UAB showcased what they're capable of when things click into place. They dominated Wagner Seahawks with a convincing victory margin, ending the game at 79-39. Their defensive prowess was on full display as they racked up an astonishing number of steals (14) and capitalized on turnovers by scoring 34 points off them.
The most telling performance came during their home game against South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs on December 12 where they emerged victorious with a scoreline of 69-54. The Blazers excelled defensively with eight steals and four blocks while maintaining an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 – indicating smarter ball handling and teamwork.
The Wichita State Shockers should not be underestimated though; playing at home gives them an edge that can't be ignored. But if UAB can harness their defensive strengths and maintain discipline in possession – minimizing turnovers while exploiting fast-break opportunities – they stand a good chance to upset the Shockers on their own court.
Fans should expect head coach Randy Norton to emphasize these aspects in preparation for this matchup: tightening defense without fouling excessively, improving ball movement for quality shot selection, and maintaining focus throughout all four quarters.
The stage is set for January 25th when these two teams will battle it out under the bright lights of Charles Koch Arena at midnight Eastern Time (ET). For fans who want to catch every dribble and dunk live from Wichita, Kansas – unfortunately no broadcast networks have been announced yet; however keeping an eye out for streaming options or local listings might just do the trick so you won't miss any action from your beloved UAB Blazers.