UAB
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UAB Basketball Timeline
Gene Bartow was named the first athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at UAB.
Summer, 1977: Coach Gene Bartow is hired as UAB’s first intercollegiate athletic director and head basketball coach. Preparations begin for the hiring of coaches and support staff, recruitment of student-athletes, establishment of the Golden 100 scholarship foundation, scheduling, etc. Fall, 1978: UAB athletic teams begin intercollegiate competition for the first time; the university begins an 11-year association with the Sun Belt Conference. Nov. 24, 1978: The UAB men’s basketball team plays its first game, a 66-54 loss to Nebraska, before a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. Center Stan Scales scored the first UAB basket on a driving layup with 18:06 remaining in the first half.
All-American Steve Mitchell concluded his UAB career as the leading scorer in school history with 1,866 points.
Nov. 25, 1978: The Blazers’ loss to Nebraska was quickly forgotten as they earned their first victory in only the second game in the young program’s history. UAB defeated San Francisco State, 67-51, in Birmingham, Ala. Jan. 7, 1980: The Blazers earn the program’s 25th victory with an 82-71 win over Virginia Commonwealth University. March 6, 1980: UAB plays its first-ever postseason game, dropping a 74-72 decision to Southwestern Louisiana in the opening round of the NIT. Feb. 12, 1981: UAB earns the 50th victory in school history, defeating UNC Charlotte, 73-57. March 13, 1981: UAB defeats Western Kentucky, 93-68, in the NCAA Tournament. 1 0
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The win was the first NCAA Tournament victory for UAB. March 15, 1981: The Blazer men’s basketball team defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Mideast Regional and reaches the NCAA “Sweet 16.” March, 1982: UAB has its greatest year to date, adding to its amazing basketball success story. The Blazers defeated the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ralph Sampson-led Virginia Cavaliers in the Southeast Regional and reached the NCAA “Elite Eight.” The team would fall just short of the Final Four, losing to Louisville, 75-68. The Southeast Regional in Birmingham is the first of five NCAA Tournament events to be hosted by UAB (’82, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88).