UAB Basketball: Blazers a real threat in Conference USA in 2018-19

When it comes to Conference USA Basketball, Western Kentucky and Marshall appear to be at the top for 2018-19. Can UAB Basketball be the sleeper team?

With only a month to go before tipoff of the 2018-19 season, UAB Head Coach Robert Ehsan and the Blazers set their sights on the possibilities of improvement and success. After finishing 6^th in Conference USA with a 10-8 record, the young Blazers did not live up to expectations from past squads. However, Ehsan received a one-year extension on his contract to further build and recruit an already young roster. In fact, only one true senior is listed.

Chris Cokley, who averaged almost 17 points per game and 9 rebounds last year is gone. So are William Lee and Nate Darling. Both played in 33 games and averaged over 10 points per game. Lee also racked up 224 rebounds. So that means there are spots to fill, leaving rising star Zack Bryant to lead the young Blazers. Bryant, who is only a sophomore, played in 32 games and averaged nearly 14 points per game. He will be looked upon to fill the shoes of Cokley as the team’s vocal leader.

Coach Ehsan can rely on some returning experience as all is not left to recruits getting thrown to the wolves. Junior forward Lewis Sullivan has game experience but will need to up his production from 7 points per game last year. As a unit, production must increase and it must increase fast.

In a few short weeks, the home crowd of Bartow Arena will be rocking with anticipation. Not just to see what their Blazers look like this year, but rocking for a big-time game to open things up as the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia come to Birmingham: a mighty test for Ehsan and his squad.

Once that adrenaline wears off, November holds its own challenges for the Blazers. Dates with Florida State, Memphis and Auburn will show how UAB stacks up against national competition before heading into conference play. Let the countdown begin.