The UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The Blazers compete as a member of the American Conference and play their home games at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. The team is coached by Andy Kennedy. UAB has appeared in the NCAA tournament 17 times, most recently in 2024.
The UAB Blazers started their athletics program with the creation of men's basketball in 1978. Setting high standards from the start, UAB was able to lure Gene Bartow away from his post as the head coach at UCLA to start the Blazer program. Known as the "Father of UAB athletics," Coach Bartow was able to guide the Blazers to early success by reaching the NCAA tournament in just their third season of existence. Since their inaugural season, the Blazers have made 17 appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and 13 appearances in the National Invitational Tournament. UAB has been productive in its NCAA tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight once, and the Sweet Sixteen 3 times. After 46 years of basketball, UAB has had 40 winning seasons, including 29 seasons with at least 20 wins. UAB's win percentage ranks 28th among NCAA Division I basketball programs with at least 40 seasons. UAB's basketball program has featured wins over many of basketball's most historic programs, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, Kansas, Arizona, Michigan State, Virginia, Villanova, Connecticut and many others.
Contents
History
Gene Bartow era (1978-1996)
The UAB men's basketball program was established in 1978 under the leadership of Gene Bartow, who resigned from UCLA to become the university’s inaugural head coach and athletic director. Bartow’s appointment was a pivotal moment in the history of the university, signaling an immediate commitment to national-level athletics.
UAB played its first season in 1978–79 as an independent before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 1979. The program achieved rapid success, securing its first NCAA Tournament berth in 1981. This was followed by a landmark 1981–82 season in which the Blazers reached the Elite Eight. During this tournament run, UAB defeated the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers and the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, the latter led by three-time National Player of the Year Ralph Sampson.
Under Bartow, UAB became a dominant force in the Sun Belt, winning four consecutive conference tournament championships (1982–1985) and seven consecutive NCAA Tournament bids. As the program’s profile grew, Bartow spearheaded shifts into more competitive leagues. In 1991, UAB became a founding member of the Great Midwest Conference, and in 1995, it joined Conference USA.
By the time of his retirement from coaching in 1996, Bartow had compiled a record of 350–193 at UAB. He led the program to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT berths, establishing a foundation of consistent postseason participation that defined the program's first two decades.
Murry Bartow era (1996-2002)
Following the retirement of Gene Bartow, the university appointed his son and lead assistant, Murry Bartow, as the second head coach in program history. His tenure coincided with the early, highly competitive years of Conference USA, which at the time included programs such as Cincinnati, Louisville, and Memphis.
Murry Bartow’s coaching tenure was characterized by maintaining the program’s competitive standing within a deep conference field. His most successful season occurred in 1998–99, when the Blazers finished with a 20–12 record and secured a share of the Conference USA regular-season championship. This performance earned the program an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, its first of the post-Gene Bartow era. Following a 13–17 finish in the 2001–02 season, the university opted for a change in leadership, marking the end of the Bartow family’s 24-year direct coaching oversight of the program.
Mike Anderson era (2002-2006)
In 2002, UAB hired, Birmingham native, Mike Anderson as their third head coach. UAB was coming off a 13–17 season and had only one NCAA appearance since 1995. Anderson quickly turned the program around, and his aggressive, fast tempo style of play was nicknamed "fastest 40 minutes in basketball". In his first season Anderson lead the team to 22 wins and a National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals appearance. Anderson then led the Blazers to three straight appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. In 2004, the Blazers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen by virtue of a 76–75 upset victory over the University of Kentucky, the tournament's overall #1 seed. UAB ended the season ranked 23rd in the USA Today coaches' poll. Anderson was named Conference USA Coach of the Year, and is the only coach in UAB history to take the Blazers to the post season every year of his tenure.
Mike Davis era (2006-2012)
On April 7, 2006, Mike Davis was hired as the new head coach of the UAB Blazers. Davis replaced Mike Anderson, who left UAB after a successful stint to become the head coach at Missouri. The Blazers finished 15–16 in Davis' first season at the helm, earning a 9th seed in the Conference USA tournament and losing to 8th seed Marshall 53–52 in the first round. UAB subsequently failed to qualify for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, ending the Blazers' three-year streak of appearances in the NCAA post-season and causing some to question whether Davis was the right man for the job.
Despite several injuries and academic casualties in Davis's second year at UAB, Davis led the Blazers to a 22–9 regular season record and a 2nd-place finish in Conference USA. The Blazers narrowly missed making the NCAA men's basketball tournament and instead were rewarded with an appearance in the NIT.
On April 24, 2007, the University Board of Trustees rewarded Davis with a 2-year contract extension. The extended contract ran through and the 2012–13 season featured a base salary that was increased to $625,000 from $600,000 annually. He was also eligible for increased incentives, including $35,000 for taking UAB to the NCAA Tournament, $75,000 each for a Sweet 16 appearance and a Final Four appearance and $100,000 for appearing in the national championship game. The buyout clause in the contract was increased from $500,000 to $625,000. This contract is fully guaranteed. On March 16, 2012, after a 15–16 record (9–7 in Conference USA) Davis was fired as the head basketball coach at UAB due to "poor ticket sales and attendance" as well as waning fan support and a history of disappointing performances in postseason action.
Jerod Haase era (2012-2016)
On March 26, 2012, UAB hired Jerod Haase as the fifth UAB Men's basketball coach.
Haase managed to get UAB back to the big dance in his third year in Birmingham. The Blazers, a 14 seed, upset third-seeded Iowa State in the 2015 NCAA tournament before losing to UCLA in the round of 32.
His final season saw the Blazers win a conference title, but a loss in the conference tournament relegated them to the NIT. On March 25, 2016, Haase was named head coach at Stanford University.
Rob Ehsan era (2016-2020)
Rob Ehsan was hired as UAB head coach on April 4, 2016, replacing Jerod Haase. Ehsan took over a team that went 26–7 the year before and lost one senior, Robert Brown. "We strongly believe Rob has the experience and background to build on the already strong foundation he helped establish and take Blazer Basketball to new levels of success," said UAB athletics director Mark Ingram.
Ehsan was fired on March 13, 2020, after compiling a record of 76–57.
Andy Kennedy era (2020-present)
On March 20, 2020, Andy Kennedy was hired as the head coach at UAB, his alma mater. In his inaugural season, he led the Blazers to a 22–7 record, marking the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history. The team finished the season ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense and turnover margin. Kennedy’s second season in 2021–22 saw further progression as the Blazers set a then-school record for wins with a 27–8 record. Led by Conference USA Player of the Year Jordan Walker, UAB won the C-USA tournament and secured its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2015.
The program continued its upward trajectory during the 2022–23 season, setting a new program record with 29 wins. During this campaign, UAB reached the NIT final for the first time in school history and recorded three victories over SEC opponents. In 2023–24, the program’s first year in the American Conference (AC), Kennedy led the Blazers to a 23–12 record and an AC tournament championship, resulting in a second NCAA tournament berth in three years. This season was highlighted by the performance of Yaxel Lendeborg, who was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-AAC selection. During this season, Kennedy became the fastest coach in UAB history to reach the 100-win milestone, doing so in 136 games.
Kennedy’s later tenure was defined by unprecedented consistency and milestones. By the 2025–26 season, he had led the Blazers to six consecutive 20-win seasons and six straight top-four conference finishes, both program records. The 2025–26 team achieved a perfect 9–0 road record in AC play and set a school record with 10 consecutive road wins. Over his first six seasons, Kennedy amassed 145 wins, the winningest six-year stretch in UAB history. During this period, Kennedy also surpassed the 400-career win milestone and became the second-winningest coach in the history of the Blazers' program.
Conference affiliations
1978–79 – NCAA Division I Independent
1979–80 to 1990–91 – Sun Belt Conference
1991–92 to 1994–95 – Great Midwest Conference
1995–96 to 2022–23 – Conference USA
2023–24 to present – American Conference
UAB season-by-season records
This is a list of seasons completed by the Blazers.
Postseason Results
NCAA tournament results
UAB has appeared in 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 10–17.
NIT results
UAB has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 14 times, with a combined record of 20–14.
CBI Results
The Blazers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1
UAB Rivalry Games
University of Memphis
UAB's primary rival is Memphis, a fellow member of the American Conference. The rivalry began in 1984, when the two schools first met in men's basketball. Memphis currently leads the series at 44–13. The rivalry is anchored by the legacy of Gene Bartow, who led Memphis, then Memphis State, to the 1973 National Championship game before resigning from UCLA in 1977 to found the UAB athletic department and serve as the Blazers' inaugural head coach. On February 22, 2026 UAB snapped an 18-game road losing streak by defeating Memphis 78-67 at the FedExForum. UAB's first win in Memphis since 1999.
University of North Texas
The matchup with North Texas has gained prominence in multiple sports, particularly following both programs’ membership in Conference USA and the American Conference. The series received national attention in men’s basketball when the two teams competed in the 2023 NIT Championship game. This marked a rare instance of conference opponents meeting for a national postseason title. UAB currently leads the series 12-9.
Auburn University
In men’s basketball, UAB maintains an in-state rivalry with Auburn Tigers men's basketball, who holds the series lead at 11–10 after winning six straight. The rivalry was on hiatus for several years before a four-game series beginning in 2015, and has been dormant again since 2018.
Awards
Blazers of Note
Retired numbers
UAB has retired four jersey numbers since its inception and they now hang from the rafters of Bartow Arena. This honor is bestowed only on players who earn AP All-America honors and who complete their degree at UAB.
In the NBA
UAB has seen numerous players move on to professional careers in the NBA. Some of UAB's highest NBA draft picks include:
Oliver Robinson (2nd Round/1st Pick/24th Overall) to the San Antonio Spurs
Walter Sharpe (2nd Round/2nd Pick/32nd Overall) to the Seattle SuperSonics
Steve Mitchell (2nd Round/12th Pick/36th Overall) to the Washington Bullets
Robert Vaden (2nd Round/54th Overall) to the Charlotte Bobcats
Other former Blazers to play in the NBA are:
McKinley Singleton (New York Knicks – 1986–87)
Alan Ogg (Miami Heat – 1990–92; Milwaukee Bucks – 1992–93; Washington Bullets – 1992–93)
Stanley Jackson (Minnesota Timberwolves – 1993–94)
Donell Taylor (Washington Wizards – 2005–07)
Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson (New Orleans Hornets – 2011–12)
Elijah Millsap (Utah Jazz – 2015)
Jordan Walker (Dallas Mavericks 2023–Present)
Trey Jemison (New Orleans Pelicans 2023) (Washington Wizards 2024)(Memphis Grizzlies 2024–Present
In international leagues
Paul Delaney (class of 2004), basketball player in the Israeli National League
UAB Basketball facilities
Bartow Arena
UAB moved their home games to an on-campus facility starting with the 1988–89 season. Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997. The 8,508-seat arena is named after Coach Gene Bartow. In 2026 the arena will undergo a $15.4 Million renovation that will expand the lobby, add a premium club, and provide student seating along the sideline.
Basketball Practice Facility
UAB’s basketball practice facility, housed in a renovated 35,000-square-foot Physical Education Building, serves the men’s and women’s basketball programs. It includes two full-length practice courts, locker rooms, player lounges, film rooms, workout rooms, and coaching offices.
BJCC Arena
The BJCC Arena was home of the UAB men's basketball team before it moved into Bartow Arena in 1988.