2015–16 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|CoachRank =
|APRank =
|mode = Basketball
|year = 2015–16
|team = UAB Blazers
|image = File:UAB Blazers wordmark.png
|image_size = 150
|conference = Conference USA
|division =
|short_conf = C-USA
|record = 26–7
|conf_record = 16–2
|head_coach = Jerod Haase
|hc_year = 4th
|asst_coach1 = Robert Ehsan
|asst_coach2 = Jeff Wulbrun
|asst_coach3 = Turner Battle
|asst_coach4 =
|stadium = Bartow Arena
|champion = C-USA regular season champions
|bowl = NIT
|bowl_result = First round
}}
{{2015–16 Conference USA men's basketball standings}}
The 2015–16 UAB Blazers basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blazers, led by fourth year head coach Jerod Haase, played their home games at the Bartow Arena as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 26–7, 16–2 in C-USA play to win the C-USA regular season championship. They lost in the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament to WKU. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to BYU.
Following the season, head coach Jerod Haase left UAB to accept the head coaching position at Stanford.{{Cite news|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/03/jerod_haase_uab_stanford.html|title=Jerod Haase leaves UAB after four seasons, heading to Stanford|newspaper=AL.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-25}} On April 4, 2016, the school hired Robert Ehsan, who had been an assistant under Haase at UAB, as head coach .{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15133546/uab-blazers-assistant-robert-ehsan-replace-jerod-haase-coach|title=UAB promotes assistant Ehsan to head coach|newspaper=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-01-25}}
Previous season
The Blazers finished the 2014–15 season 20–16, 12–6 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They defeated WKU, Louisiana Tech, and Middle Tennessee to become champions of the C-USA tournament. They received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 14 seed where they upset No. 3-seeded and No. 9-ranked Iowa State in the Second round before losing in the Third round to No. 11-seeded UCLA.
Departures
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" | Previous School | |||||||
| Jarvis Calhoun | 5 | G | 6'0" | 165 | Freshman | Trussville, AL | Transferred to John A. Logan College |
| C. J. Washington | 25 | F | 6'8" | 219 | Senior | Augusta, GA | Graduated |
| Denzel Collins | 40 | G | 6'2" | 200 | Senior | Savannah, GA | Graduated |
=Incoming transfers=
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" | Previous School | |||||||
| Deion Lavender | 5 | G | 6'3" | 180 | Sophomore | Alton, IL | Transferred from Southern Illinois. Under NCAA transfer rules, Lavender will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility. |
Incoming recruits
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2015}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Dirk Williams
| position = SG
| hometown = Homewood, AL
| highschool = Tallahassee Community College
| feet = 6
| inches = 5
| weight = 175
| 40 =
| commitdate = N/A
| scout stars = NR
| rivals stars = BR
| espn grade = JR
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2015
| rivals ref title = 2015 UAB Basketball Commits
| scout ref title = 2015 UAB Basketball Commits
| espn ref title = 2015 UAB Basketball Commits
| rivals school =
| scout s =
| espn schoolid =
| scout overall =
| rivals overall =
| espn overall =
| accessdate = August 27, 2014
| bball = yes
}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2015|team=UAB Blazers|teamcolors=y|sex=M}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Hakeem|last=Baxter|dab=|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=170|class=Jr|rs=|home=Philadelphia, PA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Denzell|last=Watts|dab=|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=207|class=Jr|rs=|home=Flint, MI}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Nick|last=Norton|dab=|num=2|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=175|class=So|rs=|home=Bloomington, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Chris|last=Cokley|link=y|dab=|num=3|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=216|class=So|rs=|home=Savannah, GA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Robert|last=Brown|dab=|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=190|class=Sr|rs=y|home=Clermont, FL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Deion|last=Lavender|dab=|num=5|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=190|class=So|rs=|home=Alton, IL|cur_rs=yes}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dirk|last=Williams|dab=|num=11|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=175|class=Jr|rs=|home=Homewood, AL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tosin|last=Mehinti|dab=|num=21|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=213|class=Jr|rs=|home=Lithonia, GA}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tyler|last=Madison|dab=|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=225|class=Jr|rs=|home=Columbiana, AL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Thomas|last=Smallwood|link=y|dab=basketball|num=33|pos=F|ft=7|in=0|lbs=217|class=Fr|rs=|home=Bordeaux, France}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=William|last=Lee|dab=|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=210|class=So|rs=|home=Plantersville, AL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lewis|last=Sullivan|dab=|num=35|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=195|class=So|rs=|home=Hazen Green, AL}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lionel|last=Love|dab=|num=45|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=165|class=So|rs=|home=Huntsville, AL|note=W}}
{{CBB roster/Footer|roster_url=http://www.uabsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/albr-m-baskbl-mtt.html|accessdate=
|head_coach=Jerod Haase
|asst_coach=Robert Ehsan
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2015-16 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2013|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UAB Blazers}}|Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Cal State East Bay
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,553
| tv =
| score = 99–59
| overtime =
| record =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UAB Blazers}}|Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Auburn
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Auburn Arena
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 9,121
| tv = SECN+
| score = 74–75
| overtime =
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Alabama State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename = Emerald Coast Classic
| attend = 4,833
| tv = ASN
| score = 72–70
| overtime =
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Troy
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Trojan Arena
| site_cityst = Troy, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 2,887
| tv =
| score = 79–63
| overtime =
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| time = 4:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Jacksonville State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename = Emerald Coast Classic
| attend = 3,939
| tv = ASN
| score = 61–55
| overtime =
| record = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 27
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Arena at NWFSC
| site_cityst = Niceville, FL
| gamename = Emerald Coast Classic semifinals
| attend = 2,222
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 58–72
| overtime =
| record = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| time = 2:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Arena at NWFSC
| site_cityst = Niceville, FL
| gamename = Emerald Coast Classic 3rd place game
| attend = 2,222
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 77–82
| overtime = OT
| record = 3–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Georgia State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,709
| tv = ASN
| score = 64–57
| overtime =
| record = 4–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 5
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Redbird Arena
| site_cityst = Normal, IL
| gamename =
| attend = 5,093
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 74–61
| overtime =
| record = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 13
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Seattle
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,587
| tv =
| score = 79–73
| overtime =
| record = 6–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = USC Upstate
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,395
| tv =
| score = 96–54
| overtime =
| record = 7–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 19
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Florida
| opprank =
| site_stadium = USF Sun Dome
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 2,671
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 79–68
| overtime =
| record = 8–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Hiwassee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,455
| tv =
| score = 116–43
| overtime =
| record = 9–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29
| time = 2:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,956
| tv = ASN
| score = 76–66
| overtime =
| record = 10–3
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|UAB Blazers}}| 2015–16 Conference USA men's basketball season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 3
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 4,279
| tv = ASN
| score = 78–67
| overtime =
| record = 11–3
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 7
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UTSA
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 3,747
| tv =
| score = 104–82
| overtime =
| record = 12–3
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 9
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UTEP
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 4,287
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 87–80
| overtime =
| record = 13–3
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 14
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Old Dominion
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ted Constant Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Norfolk, VA
| gamename =
| attend = 7,162
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 72–71
| overtime = OT
| record = 14–3
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 16
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Charlotte
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Dale F. Halton Arena
| site_cityst = Charlotte, NC
| gamename =
| attend = 4,477
| tv =
| score = 74–72
| overtime =
| record = 15–3
| conference = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 21
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Rice
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 5,535
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 82–70
| overtime =
| record = 16–3
| conference = 6–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 23
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = North Texas
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 6,835
| tv =
| score = 78–57
| overtime =
| record = 17–3
| conference = 7–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 28
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = WKU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = E.A. Diddle Arena
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| gamename =
| attend = 3,892
| tv = FS1
| score = 62–69
| overtime =
| record = 17–4
| conference = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 30
| time = 11:00 am
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marshall
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cam Henderson Center
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename =
| attend = 7,085
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 81–78
| overtime =
| record = 18–4
| conference = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 4
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 6,664
| tv = ASN
| score = 74–69
| overtime =
| record = 19–4
| conference = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 6
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 6,211
| tv =
| score = 104–67
| overtime =
| record = 20–4
| conference = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 11
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Miss
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Reed Green Coliseum
| site_cityst = Hattiesburg, MS
| gamename =
| attend = 2,895
| tv =
| score = 80–77
| overtime = 2OT
| record = 21–4
| conference = 11–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 13
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Louisiana Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Thomas Assembly Center
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| gamename =
| attend = 5,213
| tv = FSN
| score = 76–85
| overtime =
| record = 21–5
| conference = 11–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 21
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Murphy Center
| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
| gamename =
| attend = 7,822
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 77–67
| overtime =
| record = 22–5
| conference = 12–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marshall
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 7,190
| tv =
| score = 95–91
| overtime =
| record = 23–5
| conference = 13–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27
| time = 11:00 am
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = WKU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename =
| attend = 7,510
| tv = FSN
| score = 71–67
| overtime =
| record = 24–5
| conference = 14–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 3
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = FIU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = FIU Arena
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 1,166
| tv =
| score = 77–60
| overtime =
| record = 25–5
| conference = 15–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 5
| time = 11:00 am
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| opprank =
| site_stadium = FAU Arena
| site_cityst = Boca Raton, FL
| gamename =
| attend = 729
| tv = ASN
| score = 73–70
| overtime =
| record = 26–5
| conference = 16–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UAB Blazers}}| 2016 Conference USA men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 10
| time = 12:00 pm
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral = yes
| seed = 1
| opponent = WKU
| oppseed = 8
| site_stadium = Legacy Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| attend = 9,797
| tv = ASN
| score = 77–88
| overtime =
| record = 26–6
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UAB Blazers}}| 2016 National Invitation Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 19
| time = 10:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| seed = 7
| oppseed = 2
| opponent = BYU
| site_stadium = Marriott Center
| site_cityst = Provo, UT
| gamename = First round – St. Bonaventure Bracket
| attend = 8,420
| tv = ESPNU
| score = 79–97
| overtime =
| record = 26–7
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|timezone=Central Time}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{UAB Blazers men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 UAB Blazers men's basketball team}}