UAB Blazers men's basketball

The UAB Blazers started their athletics program with the creation of men's basketball in 1978. Setting high standards from the start, UAB was able to lure Gene Bartow away from his post as the head coach at UCLA to start the Blazer program.{{cite news |title=Bartow takes job and heads South |first=Mal |last=Florence |page=D1 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 1977}}{{cite news |title=It's official: Bartow leaves UCLA for Birmingham post |agency=Associated Press |page=D1 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t3YsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v8sEAAAAIBAJ&dq=gene-bartow%20birmingham%20ucla&pg=5173%2C3046977 |newspaper=The Herald-Journal |date=June 15, 1977 |access-date=March 20, 2011}} Known as the "Father of UAB athletics," Coach Bartow was able to guide the Blazers to early success by reaching the NCAA tournament in just their third season of existence. Since their inaugural season, the Blazers have made 17 appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and 13 appearances in the National Invitational Tournament. UAB has been productive in its NCAA tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight once, and the Sweet Sixteen 3 times.2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, pp. 118–123 After 46 years of basketball, UAB has had 40 winning seasons, including 29 seasons with at least 20 wins. UAB's win percentage ranks 28th among NCAA Division I basketball programs with at least 40 seasons. UAB's basketball program has featured wins over many of basketball's most historic programs, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, Kansas, Arizona, Michigan State, Virginia, Villanova, Connecticut and many others.

• 1978–79 – NCAA Division I Independent
• 1979–80 to 1990–91 – Sun Belt Conference
• 1991–92 to 1994–95 – Great Midwest Conference
• 1995–96 to 2022–23 – Conference USA
• 2023–24 to present – American Athletic Conference

{{CBB Yearly Record Start

|type=team

|conference=

|postseason=

|ranking=

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name= UAB

|startyear=1978

|conference=Independent

|endyear=1979

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1978–79

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 15–11

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name= UAB

|startyear=1979

|conference=Sun Belt Conference

|endyear=1991

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1979–80

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 18–12

| conference = 10–4

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NIT First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1980–81

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 23–9

| conference = 9–3

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA Sweet 16

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1981–82

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 25–6

| conference = 9–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Elite 8

| ranking = 17

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1982–83

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 19–14

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1983–84

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 23–11

| conference = 8–6

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1984–85

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 25–9

| conference = 11–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA Second Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1985–86

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 25–11

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = T–3rd

| postseason = NCAA Second Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1986–87

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 21–11

| conference = 10–4

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1987–88

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 16–15

| conference = 7–7

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1988–89

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 22–12

| conference = 8–6

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason = NIT Semifinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1989–90

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 22–9

| conference = 12–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1990–91

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 18–13

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NIT First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|

|name= UAB

|startyear=1991

|conference=Great Midwest Conference

|endyear=1995

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1991–92

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 20–9

| conference = 4–6

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = NIT First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1992–93

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 21–14

| conference = 5–5

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason = NIT Semifinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1993–94

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 22–8

| conference = 8–4

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = 23

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1994–95

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 15–15

| conference = 5–7

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name = UAB

|startyear = 1995

|conference = Conference USA

|endyear = 2023

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1995–96

| name = Gene Bartow

| overall = 16–14

| conference = 6–8

| confstanding = 2nd (Red)

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1996–97

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 18–14

| conference = 7–7

| confstanding = 2nd (Red)

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1997–98

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 21–12

| conference = 10–6

| confstanding = 2nd (National)

| postseason = NIT Second Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| season = 1998–99

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 20–12

| conference = 10–6

| confstanding = 1st (National)

| postseason = NCAA First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1999–2000

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 14–14

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–3rd (National)

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2000–01

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 17–14

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = 4th (National)

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2001–02

| name = Murry Bartow

| overall = 13–17

| conference = 6–10

| confstanding = T–4th (National)

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2002–03

| name = Mike Anderson

| overall = 21–13

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = T–2nd (National)

| postseason = NIT Quarterfinals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2003–04

| name = Mike Anderson

| overall = 22–10

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA Sweet 16

| ranking = 23

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2004–05

| name = Mike Anderson

| overall = 22–11

| conference = 10–6

| confstanding = T–4th

| postseason = NCAA Second Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2005–06

| name = Mike Anderson

| overall = 24–7

| conference = 12–2

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2006–07

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 15–16

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–8th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2007–08

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 23–11

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NIT Second Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2008–09

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 22–12

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NIT First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2009–10

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 25–9

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = T–3rd

| postseason = NIT Quarterfinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2010–11

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 22–9

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA First Four

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2011–12

| name = Mike Davis

| overall = 15–16

| conference = 9–7

| confstanding = T–5th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2012–13

| name = Jerod Haase

| overall = 16–17

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2013–14

| name = Jerod Haase

| overall = 18–13

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–8th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2014–15

| name = Jerod Haase

| overall = 20–16

| conference = 12–6

| confstanding = T–4th

| postseason = NCAA Second Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2015–16

| name = Jerod Haase

| overall = 26–7

| conference = 16–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NIT First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2016–17

| name = Rob Ehsan

| overall = 17–16

| conference = 9–9

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2017–18

| name = Rob Ehsan

| overall = 20–13

| conference = 10–8

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2018–19

| name = Rob Ehsan

| overall = 20–15

| conference = 10–8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = CBI first round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2019–20

| name = Rob Ehsan

| overall = 19–13

| conference = 9–9

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2020–21

| name = Andy Kennedy

| overall = 22–7

| conference = 13–5

| confstanding = 2nd (West)

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2021–22

| name = Andy Kennedy

| overall = 27–8

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = 2nd (West)

| postseason = NCAA First Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = 0

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2022-23

| name = Andy Kennedy

| overall = 29–10

| conference = 14–6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NIT Runner–up

| ranking =

| ranking2 = 0

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name = UAB

|startyear = 2023

|conference = American Athletic Conference

|endyear =

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =conference tournament

| season = 2023–24

| name = Andy Kennedy

| overall = 23–12

| conference = 12–6

| confstanding =4th

| postseason =NCAA First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2024–25

| name = Andy Kennedy

| overall = 24–13

| conference = 13–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =NIT Quarterfinals

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

|overall= 961–560

|poll=no

|polltype=

}}

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UAB has appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 10–17.

UAB has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 14 times, with a combined record of 20–14.

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The Blazers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1

{{main|List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers}}

UAB has retired four jersey numbers since its inception and they now hang from the rafters of Bartow Arena. This honor is bestowed only on players who earn AP All-America honors and who complete their degree at UAB.2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 103

UAB has seen numerous players move on to professional careers in the NBA.2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 115 Some of UAB's highest NBA draft picks include:

• Oliver Robinson (2nd Round/1st Pick/24th Overall) to the San Antonio Spurs
• Walter Sharpe (2nd Round/2nd Pick/32nd Overall) to the Seattle SuperSonics
• Steve Mitchell (2nd Round/12th Pick/36th Overall) to the Washington Bullets
• Robert Vaden (2nd Round/54th Overall) to the Charlotte Bobcats

Other former Blazers to play in the NBA are:

• McKinley Singleton (New York Knicks – 1986–87)
• Alan Ogg (Miami Heat – 1990–92; Milwaukee Bucks – 1992–93; Washington Bullets – 1992–93)
• Stanley Jackson (Minnesota Timberwolves – 1993–94)
• Donell Taylor (Washington Wizards – 2005–07)
• Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson (New Orleans Hornets – 2011–12)
• Elijah Millsap (Utah Jazz – 2015)
• Jordan Walker (Dallas Mavericks 2023-Present
• Trey Jemison (New Orleans Pelicans 2023) (Washington Wizards 2024)(Memphis Grizzlies 2024-Present

• Paul Delaney (class of 2004), basketball player in the Israeli National League

File: UAB v Tulsa.jpg at Bartow Arena]]

{{Main article|Bartow Arena}}

UAB initially played their home games at the BJCC Coliseum, but moved their home games to an on-campus facility starting with the 1988–89 season.2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 60 Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997.{{cite news |title=Bartows still on the go |first=Kevin |last=Scarbinsky |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=January 26, 1997 |page=B16}} The 8,508-seat arena is named after Coach Gene Bartow, the man who built UAB's men's basketball program from scratch starting in 1978.

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{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |title=2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide |year=2010 |publisher=UAB Athletic Media Relations Office |location=Birmingham, Alabama |url=http://uabsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/1011-m-baskbl-media-guide.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121094359/http://uabsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/1011-m-baskbl-media-guide.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2011 }}

{{refend}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}

{{UAB Blazers men's basketball navbox}}

{{American Athletic Conference men's basketball navbox}}

Category:1978 establishments in Alabama