The UAB Blazers men’s basketball team triumphantly punched their ticket to 2022’s March Madness tournament after a strong 27-7 record and an impressive victory over Louisiana Tech to win the Conference USA title. They earned a #12 seeding and will now play the #5 ranked Houston Cougars in a Friday night matchup as part of the South region’s tough bracket–and are currently being discussed as a top upset favorite in the first round of 64 teams. UAB’s success isn’t too big of a surprise for fans who’ve been following the team over the last couple seasons, but this March showcase is sure to energize the entire city. One thing is for sure–something exciting is happening with the UAB basketball program.
This year’s Blazers are both talented and fun–which makes for a great group of guys to support. Jordan “Jelly” Walker has quickly found a place in every UAB fan’s heart with his fun personality on top of being a star player. He won the Conference USA Player of the Year award and was also named the conference tournament MVP–something that has only been done by one other UAB player in the program’s history. These are only a few of the many honors he’s won in a season that saw the Blazers lose just one game at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena.
Walker is far from UAB’s only stellar basketball player, as athletes like Quan Jackson, Michael Ertel, KJ Buffen, Tavin Lovan, and Josh Leblanc Sr rise up together to form a team that will be quite tough for anyone to beat. Fan favorites like Trey Jemison, Jamal Johnson, and Justin Brown all played with and against each other while attending high schools in the greater Birmingham area. They had fun and some already won championships back then, and they are ready to work together to reach new heights now. There is a natural connection among these players, and it’s been a thrill to watch.
The team is helmed by Head Coach Andy Kennedy, who has also scored the second-highest total points by a player in UAB’s history as a former on-the-court star from 1988 to 1991. He also had the honor of being UAB’s single game scoring leader for multiple decades–until Jelly scored 42 points against Middle Tennessee State in February. Kennedy is in his second season as the Blazer’s head coach after an impressive career that includes being named the SEC Coach of the Year twice while coaching for Ole Miss. Kennedy already has experience coaching with the team as an assistant from 1996 to 2001–it’s safe to say this is an organic relationship between coach and team. Kennedy’s skill in basketball and passion for his alma mater are clearly translating into a successful program that is filled with electric moments.
We are super proud of this team, and are excited to cheer on the Blazers from Birmingham tonight (there are many great places to do so)! Here’s to one heck of a great regular season, and hard work paying off in the best of ways. Now let’s go mess up some brackets and show the nation what this Magic City team is made of.
Cover photo from UAB Athletics