Mike Anderson's television was where you would expect it to be this past Tuesday night - tuned to ESPN.
The third-year UAB men's basketball head coach got to see first-hand No.5 Oklahoma State's handling of the No.4 Syracuse Orange in the Jimmy V Classic.
"They're very impressive," Anderson said. "They're a very good basketball team. They've got five senior starters, they have experience and, of course, they've got a Hall of Famer in coach (Eddie) Sutton on the sideline."
Final exams might just be starting on the Southside, butAnderson's 4-0 Blazers will get their most difficult test of the early season tonight when they face the 6-0 OSU Cowboys at 9 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. ESPN2 and FM-101.1 are carrying the contest.
UAB has acquitted itself well through its first four games, rolling to a 3-0 record at home and slipping past Marshall 81-78 on the road last week.
But OSU is no Marshall. The Cowboys are favorites to win the Big 12 and return to the Final Four, despite the loss of guard Tony Allen to the NBA.
"This is a big test for us, a true challenge," Anderson said. "At the same time, you're going into one of the most hostile environments in college basketball.
"The tempo will be a key factor," he said. "You've got to make shots. Anytime you go on the road, you've got to make shots. You can't keep them on the free-throw line either, and you've got to get to the free-throw line yourself."
All eyes again will be on UAB's post production. Senior Marques Lewis, junior Brandon Tobias and sophomore Ernest Little are averaging 16.6 points and 11.5 rebounds between them. Junior forward Demario Eddins is contributing 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while playing out of position at the four.
So far, it's been more than enough to fill the shoes of the departed Gabe Kennedy and Sidney Ball inside, but OSU's frontcourt of Joey Graham, Ivan McFarlin and Terrence Crawford is averaging 33 points and 15 rebounds.
Another key matchup tonight will be UAB point guard Squeaky Johnson against OSU's John Lucas III. Johnson's defense will test Lucas, OSU's star and leading scorer at 18.5 points a contest.
UAB is a large underdog in this contest, but Anderson's squad knocked off No.1 seed Kentucky in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The difference between tonight's game and the NCAA win over Kentucky is that the Kentucky win was on a neutral floor, a win over OSU will have to come on the Cowboys' home floor.
As usual, UAB isn't backing down from the challenge.
"Our guys will compete," Anderson said. "I'm not worried about that."
The third-year UAB men's basketball head coach got to see first-hand No.5 Oklahoma State's handling of the No.4 Syracuse Orange in the Jimmy V Classic.
"They're very impressive," Anderson said. "They're a very good basketball team. They've got five senior starters, they have experience and, of course, they've got a Hall of Famer in coach (Eddie) Sutton on the sideline."
Final exams might just be starting on the Southside, butAnderson's 4-0 Blazers will get their most difficult test of the early season tonight when they face the 6-0 OSU Cowboys at 9 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. ESPN2 and FM-101.1 are carrying the contest.
UAB has acquitted itself well through its first four games, rolling to a 3-0 record at home and slipping past Marshall 81-78 on the road last week.
But OSU is no Marshall. The Cowboys are favorites to win the Big 12 and return to the Final Four, despite the loss of guard Tony Allen to the NBA.
"This is a big test for us, a true challenge," Anderson said. "At the same time, you're going into one of the most hostile environments in college basketball.
"The tempo will be a key factor," he said. "You've got to make shots. Anytime you go on the road, you've got to make shots. You can't keep them on the free-throw line either, and you've got to get to the free-throw line yourself."
All eyes again will be on UAB's post production. Senior Marques Lewis, junior Brandon Tobias and sophomore Ernest Little are averaging 16.6 points and 11.5 rebounds between them. Junior forward Demario Eddins is contributing 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while playing out of position at the four.
So far, it's been more than enough to fill the shoes of the departed Gabe Kennedy and Sidney Ball inside, but OSU's frontcourt of Joey Graham, Ivan McFarlin and Terrence Crawford is averaging 33 points and 15 rebounds.
Another key matchup tonight will be UAB point guard Squeaky Johnson against OSU's John Lucas III. Johnson's defense will test Lucas, OSU's star and leading scorer at 18.5 points a contest.
UAB is a large underdog in this contest, but Anderson's squad knocked off No.1 seed Kentucky in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The difference between tonight's game and the NCAA win over Kentucky is that the Kentucky win was on a neutral floor, a win over OSU will have to come on the Cowboys' home floor.
As usual, UAB isn't backing down from the challenge.
"Our guys will compete," Anderson said. "I'm not worried about that."
