BIRMINGHAM – UAB men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy has released the Blazers’ 2021-22 schedule. The 31-game slate features three 2020 NCAA tournament teams and three NIT teams along with 18 Conference USA games and 19 games played in Birmingham.
“We are excited about entering year two with a team, we believe, that has the opportunity to accomplish our mission of playing meaningful basketball deep into the month of March,” Kennedy said. “The challenges of our non-conference schedule will not only afford us early opportunities against quality opponents, but it will also prepare our team for the rigors of conference play.”
Prior to the commencement of the regular season, UAB will host Auburn Montgomery in an exhibition game on Nov. 1.
The Blazers will begin the first three games of the season at Bartow Arena starting with UNC Asheville on Nov. 9. On Nov. 12, defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Morehead State will come to Birmingham. The Eagles are coming off a 23-win season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The home stand wraps up with Rhodes College on Nov. 14.
For the first time since 1992, UAB will play South Carolina. The game, which will be played in Colombia, S.C. on Nov. 18, will pit Kennedy against Frank Martin, who served as an assistant coach for Kennedy during the 2005-06 season at Cincinnati. The two were also assistants under Bob Huggins at UC in 2004-05.
In-state opponent Alabama A&M visits Bartow Arena on Nov. 21. The Blazers are 13-0 all-time against the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M is currently coached by UAB alum Dylan Howard, who led the Blazers to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1986 and 1987 and a NIT Final Four berth in 1989.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Blazers travel to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Classic with New Mexico, San Francisco and Towson. UAB will play two games, one on Nov. 25 and one on Nov. 26. Opponents’ matchups will be announced at a later date.
UAB returns to Birmingham on Dec. 1 to host ETSU.
The Blazers visit Saint Louis on Dec. 4, which marks the first time since 2005 that the teams have met. Last season, SLU fell to Mississippi State in the first round of the NIT. UAB leads the all-time series 18-7, which dates back to the Blazers’ first season of competition.
The nonconference schedule closes out with four straight games in Birmingham. Millsaps comes to Bartow Arena on Dec. 12. followed by Grambling on Dec. 14.
UAB will host West Virginia in Birmingham on Dec. 18. This game is included as part of the 2021-22 season ticket package. Kennedy was an assistant coach under current West Virginia coach Bob Huggins at Cincinnati from 2001-05. Kennedy and Huggins have met head-to-head twice, the last time was on Dec. 23, 2009 in Morgantown when Kennedy was head coach at Ole Miss.
The nonconference schedule wraps up on Dec. 22 against Mississippi Valley State.
The Blazers will begin Conference USA play with a pair of home games starting Dec. 30 against UTEP. Last season UAB swept UTEP at Bartow Arena, winning both games by an average of 13.5 points. On New Year’s Day, the Blazers will host UTSA. The Roadrunners graduated three-time C-USA scoring champion and First Team All-Conference selection Jhivvan Jackson (19.9 ppg).
UAB visits defending conference champion North Texas on Jan. 6. The Mean Green advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament last season after defeating Purdue. The Blazers were the only team to record a sweep on North Texas’ floor last season. UNT graduates Javion Hamlet (15.7 ppg), who was the C-USA Tournament MVP, a First Team All-Conference and NABC First Team All-District selections. On Jan. 8, the Blazers travel to Rice. UAB is 17-2 all-time against the Owls, including a 7-1 record in Houston.
FIU comes to Bartow Arena on Jan. 13 followed by Florida Atlantic on Jan. 15. The Blazers have not met either team since the 2019-20 season.
After a bye on Jan. 20, UAB travels to C-USA West Division champion LA Tech on Jan. 22. The Bulldogs won the consolation game of the NIT and return C-USA Freshman of the Year Kenneth Lofton, Jr. (12.1 ppg). LA Tech is coming off a 24-win campaign last season.
The Blazers remain on the road for a Jan. 27 contest at WKU. The Hilltoppers, who fell to LA Tech in the NIT quarterfinals, graduated All-American and C-USA Player of the Year Charles Bassey (17.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 3.1 bpg), but return C-USA All-Freshman selection Daveion Hollingsworth (5.8 ppg) and All-Defensive Team member Josh Anderson (9.3 ppg). The road trip ends Jan. 29 at Marshall. This will be the first time the teams have met since C-USA Bonus Play in 2020.
UAB will be off on Feb. 3 and will host Middle Tennessee on Feb. 5. The Blazers have won the last five meetings between the schools dating back to March 2019. On Feb. 10, Southern Miss comes to Bartow Arena. UAB has dominated the series recently, winning 10 of the last 12 meetings.
UAB travels to Old Dominion on Feb. 13. The Monarchs will be without Second Team All-Conference selection Malik Curry (15.6 ppg) who transferred to West Virginia.
The next four contests are against teams from Texas. UAB hosts Rice on Feb. 17 followed by North Texas on Feb. 19. The Blazers then travel to UTSA on Feb. 24 and UTEP on Feb. 26.
The final road game of the season is at Southern Miss on Mar. 2, and the regular season concludes at Bartow Arena on Mar. 5 against LA Tech.
MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Men’s basketball season tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their original 2020-21 seat locations prior to social distancing adjustments. Click here to purchase new 2021-22 season tickets which start as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
Fans interested in season tickets can fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 to receive additional information.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
