Houston vs UAB: 2022 NCAA Tournament game preview, TV schedule

Coming off a Final Four appearance a year ago, Houston takes on UAB in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

When: Friday, March 18 at 9:20 pm ET on TNT

Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

The AAC champions taking on the C-USA champions, Houston and UAB collide in one of four 5-vs-12 matchups in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

The 2021-22 AAC regular season and tournament champions, Houston enters the 2022 NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country winning nine of their last ten games, with the lone loss coming on the road to another NCAA Tournament team in Memphis in the regular season finale. Winning the AAC conference tournament last week, the Cougars rattled-off three straight dominant wins to claim the conference tournament title, topping Cincinnati, Tulane, and Memphis.

Entering the Big Dance with a 29-5 overall record (18-3 combined in AAC, regular and postseason), the Cougars were the No. 3 team nationally in the NCAA NET rankings, and own a resume that includes wins over NCAA Tournament teams such as Memphis and Bryant, as well as close non-conference losses to Wisconsin and Alabama. A Top 15 team nationally as well in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom, Houston is especially good defensively, allowing only 58.9 PPG to opponents.

Speaking of offense, Houston ranks 61st nationally with an average of 75.8 PPG led by four double-digit scorers in Kyler Edwards, Fabian White Jr, Josh Carlton, and Taze Moore. Guard Jamal Shead is also an impact scorer for the Cougars at 9.4 PPG, while others such as Ramon Walker Jr, Reggie Chaney, and J’Wan Roberts could all see time.

UAB on the other hand had yet another phenomenal season in the second year under head coach Andy Kennedy, one in which the Blazers won the C-USA Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Blazers seventh straight win, UAB defeated Louisiana Tech in the C-USA Tournament title game 82-73, marking an impressive third win over the Bulldogs this season.

Entering the 2022 NCAA Tournament with a 27-7 overall record for the year, the Blazers also finished second in the C-USA West during the regular season at 14-4, behind only North Texas at 16-2. One of the top offensive teams in the entire country, the Blazers rank seventh nationally in PPG at 80.7, as well as being solid defensively allowing only 66.3 to opponents.

A roster featuring a notable amount of Power 5 experience, UAB is led by one of the top scorers in the country in guard Jordan Walker (20.4 PPG on 40.3%/40.6%/88.3% shooting), as well as other impact players on the offensive end in Quan Jackson, Michael Ertel, and KJ Buffen. Tavin Lovan and Jamal Johnson are also key names to watch for in the backcourt, while Trey Jemison and Josh Leblanc play key roles in the frontcourt.

When asking the question on if UAB has the potential to upset Houston in the Round of 64, the answer is certainly yes. This Blazers team has all the pieces needed to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament, including a potential Cinderella run to the Sweet 16.

However, when predicting this game, the pick to win is Houston. Expect the Blazers to keep it close with the Cougars early into the second half, but for Houston to pull away late, with their defense being the difference-maker with some key stops down the stretch.

Prediction: Houston 75, UAB 67