Blazers open season in Tip-Off Classic

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UAB men's basketball coach Mike Anderson won't overlook the educational aspect - both off the floor and on - when his team opens the regular season today in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic at the birthplace of basketball.

The off-the-floor education took place on Thursday when the Blazers took a private tour of the Basketball Hall of Fame facilities in Springfield, Mass.

The on-the-floor education takes place today at noon, when UAB begins the season against UMass at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
"I'm anxious to see how we do and see how we act in an environment such as this," said Anderson.

This is Anderson's second experience at the event. He was an assistant coach at Arkansas in 1994 when the Razorbacks dropped a 104-80 decision to a Marcus Camby-led UMass team.

Earlier this week he looked forward to seeing how the UAB players reacted to exploring the Hall of Fame. "That's the thing they haven't experienced," Anderson said. "They look forward to the game, but we're going to the birthplace of basketball. Our kids nowadays don't think about that. There's a lot of history and I'm anxious to see how they react."

Today it's on to the business of beginning a new season. The Blazers are the final Conference USA team to open the regular season, although they do have exhibition wins over West Alabama and North Georgia.

Anderson said the leaders of this team - point guard Squeaky Johnson, shooting guard Marvett McDonald and forward Demario Eddins - are clear-cut. Johnson is one of the best defensive guards in C-USA, McDonald is one of the top shooters in the conference and Eddins should be UAB's top scoring threat.

But the importance of the early season games is setting up a playing rotation.

"I think we've got a lot of pieces," Anderson said. "Where those pieces fit we'll have to see. I think a guy such as Wen Mukubu brings excitement and energy coming off the bench. I think some of the key guys are going to be Derrick Broom, Richard Jones and Brandon Tobias."

Anderson also expects a lot out of true freshman Lawrence Kinnard and redshirt freshman Frank Holmes, who could round out the starting lineup today.

Travis Ford is in his first season as the coach at UMass. The former Kentucky guard directed Eastern Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament last season before taking over a program which was once one of the elite teams in the nation.

 

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UMass ready to run

SPRINGFIELD - When the Alabama-Birmingham men's basketball team tries to speed up the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic game, the University of Massachusetts won't respond by trying to slow it down.

The Minutemen are in the up-tempo mode for the duration, according to new coach Travis Ford. Today at the MassMutual Center, they'll have their quickened feet put to the fire against an opponent that lives in the fast lane.

"We know UAB is going to be very aggressive," Ford said, as UMass readied itself for today's matinee (1 p.m.) against UAB, which is opening its season. "They play defense to create offense.

"I still think we're better when we push the ball, though," Ford said. "We'll be two teams trying to push it. It will be important for us to handle their pressure early for two reasons - not to get blown out, and so we can build some confidence."

UAB returns nine players from last year's 22-11 team that beat Louisiana State (82-68) in the NCAA tournament's first round. There's scoring power from 6-foot-7 Demario Eddins and 6-2 Marvett McDonald, and size with Frank Holmes (6-9) and Lawrence Kinnard (6-8).

There's also wizardry with 5-10 Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson, one of the nation's better point guards and a matchup test for freshman Chris Lowe and junior Maurice Maxwell, who have been playing the point for UMass.

The Blazers have led the nation in steals for three straight years, an unprecedented feat. Last season, they averaged 11.6 thefts per game, creating scoring opportunities that helped fuel a 77.5 scoring average.

The 2004-05 Blazers' defense forced 674 turnovers, or 20.4 a game, while the UAB offense committed only 444.

This is their opening game, a late start that resembles last year's, when their Nov. 27 first game made them the nation's last Division I team to get underway.

UMass (1-1) is coming off Tuesday's 66-63 loss at Davidson. The execution broke down in the final minutes, but Ford also saw some positive signs, many of them on the defensive end.
"Stephane Lasme (10 points, 11 rebounds, nine blocked shots) played really well," he said. "He not only defended his man, he defended everybody else's man."

Even the offense, which is averaging a modest 65 points a game, had its moments.

"I thought we got out better on the break, even if it wasn't evident in the score," Ford said. "Davidson ran 30 seconds off the clock, every time down"Their fast break went from one top of the key to the another," he said. "They weren't necessarily trying to score, just pressure the defense. UAB will be trying to score."

Playing in the Tip-Off is exciting for the Minutemen, who get a TV game and a presence in the Springfield market they want to cultivate. Senior forward Jeff Viggiano says it's still an adjustment.

"We're on the road, even though Springfield isn't really the road for us," Viggiano said. "You get used to the court and the rims at the Mullins Center, and one practice or one shootaround (at the MassMutual Center) isn't enough to adjust."

Viggiano, who is from Suffield and figures to bring his usual hometown fan base today, wants to see the renovated MassMutual Center.

"I hear they fixed it up," he said. "I always felt it was a little dark in there."

the floor.