BlazerSportsReport.com - Davis Optimistic About Blazers' Basketball Season

October 30, 2009

Larry Powell
BlazerSportsReport.com Senior Writer

Basketball coach Mike Davis was in a good mood Friday for UAB's basketball media day. As he waited for the press to arrive, he joked and laughed with women's coach Audra Smith, his assistant coaches, and the players in the room. He even went to the podium to introduce Coach Smith, and instructed the TV camera crews, "When she comes up here, make sure you turn the lights off." Why all the joking? Perhaps it's because he has a talented, if untrained team. Seven lettermen from last year's team are gone, but they've been replaced by some talented newcomers.

The departures included starters Robert Vaden, Paul Delaney III, Lawrence Kinnard, and Channing Toney. Between the four, they accounted for more than 50 points per game for the Blazers last season. They've been replaced by a combination of freshmen, JUCO transfers, and two new fifth-year seniors.

The result is a talented, if untrained team. "We've got seven or eight guys who can play," Davis said, "But I don't know who will be in the starting lineup yet."

That's because most of the players can play several different positions. That provides Davis with more match-up flexibility than he had last year.

"Last year, we had to use the players we had," Davis said. "We couldn't match up against Cincinnati, because they were too big. This year, we have three or four different starting lineups possible, depending on how we match up."

"If we get the guys to play with intensity, we have a chance to win some games." he added. "The expectations we have for ourselves are high."

Davis is high on the two fifth-year seniors, Louisiana Tech-transfer Kenneth Cooper and former Vanderbilt player George Drake. "We really feel good about those guys," Davis said.

Returnees Aaron Johnson and Howard Crawford are expected to provide leadership for the newcomers. "I feel like I've been a leader on the team since the day I came on campus," Johnson said. "Coach Davis told me the team goes as I go."

Johnson likes his new teammates. He just has to help them adjust to their new school. "They don't know the system as well as I do," Johnson said.

"Howard [Crawford] and Eli [Millsap] are the other two leaders on the team," Johnson added. "It's not just on me. . . . They know the effort it takes to win games."

Crawford was also optimistic about his new teammates, with one reservation. "They fit in well," Crawford said, "but it's taking them a little time to learn the plays."

"Eli" is Elijah Millsap, a junior who transferred last year from Louisiana-Lafayette. Millsap sat out last season, but is expected to be a major player this year. "He's one of the guys we're really excited about," Davis said.

Davis, himself, is not too worried about the pre-conference schedule, which includes a home game against national powerhouse Butler. He's more concerned about getting ready for the Conference USA schedule. "Our focus [in the pre-conference games] is not whether we win or lose, but whether we get better," he said.

Women's coach Smith is also optimistic about her team, which is loaded with talented freshmen. "This is the youngest team I've ever had," she said, "but they're very talented. This is probably the most skilled team I've ever had."

"It will be crucial that the returnees we do have play a big role for us this year," Smith added. "With so many young players, I am going to count on the veterans for their leadership skills, both on and off the court."

Both teams will play one exhibition game before moving into the regular schedule. The men's team will host Miles College on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena. The women will play the same venue the next day (Wed., Nov. 8) in a 2:00 p.m. game against Augusta State.

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