DALLAS – UAB has been selected to finish fourth in the 2020-21 Conference USA men’s basketball preseason poll, the league announced Thursday. The annual preseason poll and team are voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.
The Blazers, under first-year head coach Andy Kennedy, return starters Tavin Lovan, Tyreek Scott-Grayson and Jalen Benjamin from last season’s squad. UAB will have nine newcomers on the roster, including graduate transfers Michael Ertel and Quan Jackson – both who were Sun Belt All-Conference selections last season at ULM and Georgia Southern respectively. Additionally, Birmingham native Trey Jemison, a 7-0 Clemson transfer, will be eligible for the upcoming season.
WKU was deemed the 2020-21 Conference USA men’s basketball preseason favorite. Reigning C-USA Regular Season Champion North Texas collected three first-place votes and is the predicted runner-up after clinching its first regular season title in 31 years. Marshall rounds out the top three.
C-USA’s 26th season of men’s hoops tips off Wednesday, Nov. 25 and culminates in the 2021 Conference USA Basketball Championships March 10-13 in Frisco, Texas. C-USA will host 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams inside Ford Center at The Star for the fourth-straight year. The men’s final is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
2020-21 C-USA Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. WKU (11)
2. North Texas (3)
3. Marshall
4. UAB
5. Old Dominion
6. Charlotte
7. Louisiana Tech
8. UTEP
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. FIU
12. Middle Tennessee
13. Southern Miss
14. Rice
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.
