BIRMINGHAM – The 2020-21 UAB men’s basketball season features 18 Conference USA contests. This week UABSports.com will preview each of UAB’s C-USA opponents for the upcoming season, with today featuring Middle Tennessee (away Jan. 28, home Jan. 31) and UTEP (home Feb. 5-6).
MIDDLE TENNESSEE QUICK FACTS:
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2019-20 Record: 8-23
2019-20 C-USA Record: 4-14, 14th
Head Coach: Nick McDevitt
Record at Middle Tennessee: 19-44 / 3rd season
Career record: 117-110
THE SERIES:
UAB leads the series 13-9 against Middle Tennessee. The initial game was on December 30, 1986 that resulted in a 93-91 overtime win for the Blazers. UAB won the last meeting 79-66 in Murfreesboro.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT A GLANCE:
Middle Tennessee finished last year with a record of 8-23. The Blue Raiders return six players including two starters (Donovan Simms 8.8 PPG) (Jayce Johnson 8.3 PPG). Middle Tennessee also welcomes nine newcomers including eight transfers.
DID YOU KNOW?
UAB has won the last three meetings including a win in Fresco, Texas in the first round of the Conference-USA tournament.
UTEP QUICK FACTS:
Location: El Paso, Texas
2019-20 Record: 17-15
2019-20 C-USA Record: 8-10, T-9th
Head Coach: Rodney Terry
Record at UTEP: 25-36 / 3rd season
Career record: 151-144
THE SERIES:
UAB leads the series 12-9 against UTEP. The initial game was on December 29, 1987 that resulted in a 58-72 loss for the Blazers. UAB won the last meeting 69-55 in El Paso, Texas.
UTEP AT A GLANCE:
UTEP finished last year with a 17-15 record with an impressive 13-4 record at home. The Miners return two of their top three scorers from last year in Bryson Williams (16.4 PPG) and Souley Boum (14.0 PPG)
DID YOU KNOW?
UAB freshman Tobias Rotegaard and UTEP redshirt sophomore Kristian Sjolund are from Kongsberg, Norway.
All UAB men’s basketball season ticket holders who completed their purchase by October 19 were able to be accommodated within the social distancing reallocation for the 2020-21 season. A limited number of season tickets remain in the upper level and can be purchased on a first come, first served basis. For those interested in season tickets, please fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. A member of the UAB Athletics Ticket Sales and Service team will follow up with you regarding available seating options.
As a reminder, original season ticket locations from the men’s basketball priority seat allocation will be utilized for 2021-22 renewals or if capacity restrictions change during the 2020-21 season.
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.
