CNNSI.com - 2000-01 Men's NCAA Basketball Preview - CNNSI.com's UAB preview

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UAB Blazers

Bartow's crew sure to break .500

Last season

14-14, 7-9 C-USA

Coach

Murry Bartow (fifth season, 73-52)

Projected starting lineup

G LeAndrew Bass, 6-3, Sr. One of the league’s taller PGs, Bass averaged 8.9 points with 90 assists. Can drive to the basket, but is a weak perimeter shooter.

G Morris Finley, 5-11, So.
A streak shooter (6.3 points) who’s a big-time scorer when he’s hot. Problem is, he’s not hot all that often.

C Igor Nikolic, 7-1, Sr.
Dare we say it? Could this be the year Nikolic has an impact? Last year in limited playing time, he blocked a team-high 30 shots.

F Myron Ransom, 6-5, Sr.
Out with a torn ACL, but should be back for conference play. UAB needs him; he’s the Blazers’ leading returning scorer (11.4).

F David Walker, 6-5, Sr.
Tough and solid, contributed 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds and was superb on the offensive glass. Newcomers could cut his minutes.

Top guy off the bench

F Eric Batchelor, 6-7, Jr.
Talented transfer from Northeast Mississippi JC who could get Ransom’s starting spot while the latter rehabs that knee.

Key games

Nike Hawaii Festival (Dec. 20-22). A good trip and a weak field, so they might win it.

Tulane (Jan. 7). First home conference game; Green Wave should provide a good start.

Memphis (Jan. 27). Could be one of the division’s more significant matchups.

Outlook

Bartow needs a good season, and the pieces are in place for him to have one. This may be the quickest team the Blazers have fielded under the younger Bartow, led by Finley and Bass in the backcourt. It should be a solid defensive team. A key is how rapidly the three jucos adjust. Batchelor adds a tremendous amount of athleticism in the frontcourt, and George Arnold has the potential to turn into a real scorer. They'll need it after losing Eric Holmes' 16.6-point average.

--Stan Olson