Steve Irvine Previews UAB MBB vs Memphis
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - February 4, 2026
Andy Kennedy has enough UAB-Memphis men’s basketball knowledge, both personally and historically, to know that there is a different feeling when the teams get together in the same arena.
No matter what some in the Memphis fan base suggest, it is a rivalry game. Sure, it’s been a one-sided rivalry, with Memphis claiming a 12-43 advantage since the teams first met in 1984, but it’s a rivalry just the same.
On Thursday at 8 p.m. the rivalry continues at Bartow Arena in an American Conference game that begins at 8 p.m. and will be telecast nationally on ESPN 2.
This one comes with a twist. This one will need a history lesson for both rosters to understand what this game means to each program. Ashton Hardaway is the lone player expected to play on Thursday with any prior on-the-court experience of Memphis vs. UAB.
“You know, for me, I understand the importance and I understand the importance of it to our fan base,” Kennedy said. “To our players, it's a lot like we've discussed in the past with the home court advantage. You're not there in a place long enough to really get a feeling of protecting something that is yours because it's so transient now with monster turnover. I think when you play “rivalry” opponents, you get that same type of feel because they've never experienced it before. Rivalries and protecting something take time to establish. In today's day and age, I'm not sure you have that time.”
Kennedy said his team and Penny Hardaway’s Memphis team are two of approximately 15 Division I programs in the country to field a completely different scholarship roster from last season. Ashton Hardaway played for his father in the 2023-24 season, transferred to Saint Mary’s last season and returned this season. He played at Bartow Arena in 2024, scoring seven points in seven minutes during a 97-88 UAB win, and played five scoreless minutes when the teams met in Memphis.
Other than that, it’s a clean slate for both teams.
“Penny had to bring in a whole new team as well,” Kennedy said. “When you do that, you’re not always going to bat a thousand. The pieces have to fit and the players you bring in to perform at a certain level have to perform at that level. I think we’re both experiencing that this year.”
Heading into Wednesday’s game, UAB (14-8 overall) and Memphis (10-11 overall) were each 5-4 in The American and tied for sixth place with Wichita State in the standings.
“The teams are not super similar,” Kennedy said. “They’re really long and fast. They’re the best defensive team from an efficiency standpoint in the American. But the one similarity that we do have is neither one has shot the ball good.”
Memphis is ninth in The American in field goal percentage (43.2 percent) and 3-point percentage (32 percent) and 10th in 3-pointers made (146). UAB is fifth in field goal percentage (44.8 percent) but 11th in 3-point percentage (29 percent) and 3-pointers made (121).
“We're right at the bottom, both of us, in the American Conference as it relates to three-point percentage,” Kennedy said. “Now, they don't shoot a lot of them, we don't shoot a lot of them, but neither one of us make a lot. It doesn't mean that (Thursday) they can't come in here and make 12 or we can't come in here and make 12 and completely change the dynamic of the game. But I do think it's one of the reasons that both of our teams have been inconsistent.”
Kennedy signed Dayjaun Anderson to provide outside shooting. For the most part, the former junior college 3-point specialist has struggled. He burst out of the shooting slump the past two games by hitting three 3-pointers in a win at UTSA and making three more in a victory at North Texas. He scored 13 points in each game with all of them coming after halftime.
“He really, really struggled percentage-wise early,” Kennedy said. “He got the opportunity at San Antonio and came out and he played from the first tip like you would typically expect of a guy that's never started a Division I game to play,” Kennedy said. “We stayed with him and to his credit knocked down three big 3s in the second half and made some other plays. He earned the start against North Texas. Had some clean looks early, didn't make them, just kind of hung in there, hung in there. He was probably the catalyst for us, him and Chance Westry, in the second half for us being able to win in North Texas.”
UAB will need outside shooting on Thursday against a Memphis team that includes Aaron Bradshaw and Simon Majok, who are both listed at 7-foot-1, in the regular rotation. The Tigers also put pressure on an opposing offense on the perimeter, particularly with point guard Dug McDaniel, who leads The American in overall steals (48) and steals per game (2.3).
“We've got to be really, really solid in our ball security,” Kennedy said. “They lead the league in forcing turnovers. They lead the league in steals. It allows them to get out in the open floor where they're at their best. So we've got to do a good job of making sure we have quality offensive possessions and don't turn it over, which we've been pretty good at all year. We've got to be timely in our shot making.”