The couple of days of rest at Christmas was more ouf of necessity than it was a gift from UAB head coach Mike Anderson to his team.
Anderson knew what his team was facing after the Christmas break. He realized that four games in eight days was going to present a taxing challenge for his team. So he took a break before getting back to work because, according to Anderson, beginning with last Wednesday's win over Oklahoma State it seemed like "everything was coming at once."
The Blazers will play their third game in five days tonight when red-hot Virginia Commonwealth journeys to Bartow Arena for a non-conference game scheduled to tip off at 7:30.
UAB junior Wen Mukubu admitted to being tired after the Blazers knocked off South Florida 59-47 on Friday night in Tampa. That victory came just two days after UAB (8-3) blitzed Oklahoma State by 19 points in Bartow Arena.
But Mukubu did say the extra day to prepare for VCU, which the Blazers didn't have before facing USF, was helpful.
"We have a chance to go back home, work on some stuff and get better," Mukubu said.
Actually, UAB, which plays host to Valdosta State on Thursday, has been pretty good recently. The Blazers have won four consecutive games since losing at Minnesota by a point. During the four-game winning streak, the Blazers have forced 108 turnovers and limited the opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton was impressed enough to proclaim that UAB was better than its record.
"I think that Mike has a very nice ball club," said Sutton. "I've looked at film. I think they very easily could have won two more of the games that they lost. The game with Minnesota and the game with DePaul. I think they are a better team than both of those ballclubs."
What's important today, however, is being better than a VCU team which is 8-2 overall and winner of six in a row. The Rams knocked off Houston earlier this season, but have lost to Appalachian State and UNC Wilmington.
VCU, which goes eight deep in its playing rotation, is led by 6-foot-2 junior guard B.A. Walker (12.7 points per game) and 6-6 senior forward Nick George (12.3 ppg) and 6-4 junior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (9.7 ppg, 5.1 rebounds per game).
"They play a lot of people and have balanced scoring," Anderson said. "(Coach Jeff Capel) has done a very good job of keeping guys and they are more acclimated to his system. They're playing well and with a lot of confidence."
Anderson knew what his team was facing after the Christmas break. He realized that four games in eight days was going to present a taxing challenge for his team. So he took a break before getting back to work because, according to Anderson, beginning with last Wednesday's win over Oklahoma State it seemed like "everything was coming at once."
The Blazers will play their third game in five days tonight when red-hot Virginia Commonwealth journeys to Bartow Arena for a non-conference game scheduled to tip off at 7:30.
UAB junior Wen Mukubu admitted to being tired after the Blazers knocked off South Florida 59-47 on Friday night in Tampa. That victory came just two days after UAB (8-3) blitzed Oklahoma State by 19 points in Bartow Arena.
But Mukubu did say the extra day to prepare for VCU, which the Blazers didn't have before facing USF, was helpful.
"We have a chance to go back home, work on some stuff and get better," Mukubu said.
Actually, UAB, which plays host to Valdosta State on Thursday, has been pretty good recently. The Blazers have won four consecutive games since losing at Minnesota by a point. During the four-game winning streak, the Blazers have forced 108 turnovers and limited the opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton was impressed enough to proclaim that UAB was better than its record.
"I think that Mike has a very nice ball club," said Sutton. "I've looked at film. I think they very easily could have won two more of the games that they lost. The game with Minnesota and the game with DePaul. I think they are a better team than both of those ballclubs."
What's important today, however, is being better than a VCU team which is 8-2 overall and winner of six in a row. The Rams knocked off Houston earlier this season, but have lost to Appalachian State and UNC Wilmington.
VCU, which goes eight deep in its playing rotation, is led by 6-foot-2 junior guard B.A. Walker (12.7 points per game) and 6-6 senior forward Nick George (12.3 ppg) and 6-4 junior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (9.7 ppg, 5.1 rebounds per game).
"They play a lot of people and have balanced scoring," Anderson said. "(Coach Jeff Capel) has done a very good job of keeping guys and they are more acclimated to his system. They're playing well and with a lot of confidence."
