BIRMINGHAM –UAB head men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy has announced that the Blazers will play Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Dec. 6.
“We are excited to announce our game against Kentucky in legendary Rupp Arena next season,” said Kennedy. “I reached out to Coach Cal about the opportunity and he graciously agreed to the game which will be tremendously beneficial to our program on many fronts. Although we are certainly well aware of the daunting challenge of playing the ‘Cats in Rupp Arena, our players and staff are grateful for the opportunity. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Coach Cal, Kentucky’s storied program and Big Blue Nation.”
UK finished the 2019-20 season 25-6 and 15-3 in SEC play. The Wildcats were the SEC regular season champions and were ranked No. 8 in the nation by the Associated Press and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll prior to the play being stopped in March.
The Blazers and Wildcats have met six times, with each team owning three wins. Prior to last season’s game at Rupp Arena, the schools met on Dec. 15, 2007 when Robert Vaden scored 33 points – including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:15 to play – as UAB rallied past Kentucky 79-76 at Freedom Hall in Louisville. UAB also defeated UK in a pair of NCAA tournament games – 69-62 in the 1981 Second Round and the historic 2004 Second Round game when Mo Finley’s jumper with 12.2 seconds remaining stunned the No.1 overall seed 76-75, advancing UAB to the Sweet 16.
The Blazers return five players from last year’s roster – leading scorer Tavin Lovan (13.2 ppg), Conference USA All-Rookie Team member Jalen Benjamin (11.9 ppg), Tyreek Scott-Grayson (10.0 ppg), Kassim Nicholson (5.7 ppg) and Koby Jeffries who redshirted last season.
New to the 2020-21 roster are a pair of graduate transfers Michael Ertel and Quan Jackson. Ertel comes from Louisiana Monroe and Jackson from Georgia Southern. Both were named Second Team All- Sun Belt Conference in 2020.
Birmingham native Trey Jemison comes home to Birmingham after playing his first two seasons at Clemson. Junior college transfer Simeon Kirkland comes to the Magic City by way of Florida SouthWestern State. Alabama natives Tony Toney and Rongie Gordon, along with Terrell Ard, Jr. and Tobias Rotegaard will make up the freshmen class.
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2020-21 UAB men’s basketball season tickets are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their seats for the upcoming season. Fans interested in purchasing new season tickets can do so starting as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
For questions regarding your 2020-21 UAB Basketball season ticket order, email the UAB Athletics Ticket Sales and Service team at tickets@uab.edu or call (205) 975-UAB1. Ticket representatives can be contacted during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Fans can also request more information on ticket options for the upcoming season here.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball program, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram. Also be sure to follow @CoachAK13 on Twitter.
