Steve Irvine Previews UAB MBB Vs South Alabama
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - November 21, 2025
UAB’s shot at winning an important non-conference game against South Alabama on Friday night at Bartow Arena could very well hinge on how well the Blazers shoot the 3-point shot.
That’s not necessarily by choice. But it is by design when it comes to unbeaten South Alabama and head coach Richie Riley.
“They’re a good team,” said UAB head coach Andy Kennedy. “They play a bunch of zone. They’re going to play 40 minutes in the zone. Richie gets ‘em back in that zone.”
The Jaguars matchup zone generally extends to just inside the 3-point stripe, making it harder to penetrate for points in the paint. The national numbers, before Thursday’s game, tell the story. South Alabama opponents have taken more 3-point shots against the Jaguars than any other team in the country. In six games, South Alabama opponents shot 225 3-pointers in six games. The next closest number of 3-pointers shot against a team is Coppin State, which faced 199 in seven games. For teams that have played six games, Kent State is the next closest with 187 3-pointers shot by opponents. South Alabama opponents attempted 131 2-pointers in the first six games and only attempted 54 free throws. The Jaguars commit the least amount of fouls – 12.3 – per game this season.
On Wednesday, Jacksonville State attempted 38 3-pointers, 26 2-pointers and four free throws in a 71-65 loss to visiting South Alabama. When the 3-pointers were falling the Gamecocks had success. However, the Gamecocks, who is 13th in the country in made 3-pointers per game, also went stretches without as much 3-point shooting success and the Jaguars were able to overcome a lead that stretched to 16 points after halftime. When it was over, South Alabama (6-0) celebrated matching its best start in school history.
UAB (3-2) probably won’t have the luxury of sitting back and expecting to stay in the game with 3-pointers. The Blazers are currently 342nd in 3-point percentage (25.7) and tied for 332nd in 3-pointers made per game (5.6). Ahmad Robinson (9-for-22), Chance Westry (7-for-16) and Salim London (5-for-9) are the top statistical 3-point shooters for UAB. The Blazers need to find ways to attack the zone for points in the paint.
It would help if Dajaun Anderson break out of his long-distance slump. He was second in NJCAA Division I last season at Triton Community College in Illinois. Thus far, though, that success hasn’t carried over to UAB. Anderson is 2-for-23 thus far from 3-point range.
On the other end, South Alabama has blended several transfers into a cohesive unit. Adam Olsen, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound Canadian, who played collegiately in his home country, leads the team in points per game (15) and 3-pointers (17). He struggled in the win over Jacksonville State but 6-foot-6 point guard Chaze Harris, a NAIA All-American at Life College last season, forward Peyton Law and guard Cooper stepped up to lead in scoring. Harris averages 13.8 points, five rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and Law, a 6-foot-7 transfer from NAIA Freed Hardeman, averages 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
“Our guys are tough and resilient like this every day,” Riley, a former UAB assistant coach under Jerod Haase, said after the win over Jacksonville State. “It's a cool deal when you get a group like this from all different backgrounds and in different stages of their careers. They just buy into the work and the true meaning of a team.”
Tip-off for Friday’s game is at 6:30 p.m. at Bartow Arena.