2000-01 record: 17-14; 8-8 in C-USA (4th in National) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Arnold 13.4 ppg | Rebounds: Campbell 8.1 rpg | Assists: Johnson 3.3 apg | FG %: Campbell 55.6% | 3pt %: Arnold 36.5% | FT %: Batchelor 83.1% 00-01 Stats: UAB | C-USA

		Saturday, Nov. 3 With seven new players, the key may be the return of Myron Ramson who is back from a torn ACL last year. He was really a good player before he went down. The Blazers' only have three players 6-8 or bigger. The size of the quality players inside isn't as good as it should be. They don't have anybody to replace the guard slot for P.J. Randall who was outstanding.

Outlook
The Blazers have never missed postseason tournament play for three straight years in their 23-year existence. Which puts a little pressure on coach Murry Bartow, whose team sat out both the NCAAs and NIT the past two years.

Fortunately for Bartow, four players who started a minimum of 19 games return, plus two guys who missed the entire season with injuries. (The Blazers lost 85 player games to injuries a year ago.) With nine juniors and seniors on the roster, UAB should have the goods to play somewhere after the Conference USA tournament.

Eric Batchelor (11.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Myron Ransom (11.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg in 1999-2000, before knee surgery) and Will Campbell (8.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg) should make up an undersized-but-rugged front line. Juco transfer Eric Bush is rated "really, really good" by Bartow and might start in the backcourt at point guard next to leading returning scorer P.J. Arnold (13.4 ppg). Another juco transfer, small forward Antonae Roberson, will be called upon to deliver instant offense.

Blazer ball is rarely a thing of beauty, but defense and rebounding can work. Last year UAB shot just 42.5 percent from the field but held opponents to 40.5 percent, and their plus-3.9 rebounding advantage led the league. Look for more of the same this year.

What we like: The Blazers pick you up the minute your plane touches down in Birmingham. They will guard relentlessly, in part to make up for their own offensive shortcomings. They held 14 opponents to less than 40 percent field-goal shooting last year.

What we don't like: Aside from junior guard Tony Johnson, not a single returnee had more assists than turnovers last year. As a team, UAB made 77 more turnovers than assists in 31 games.

The bottom line: The schedule affords UAB enough non-conference opportunities for decent wins (Miami, Richmond, Bradley, Murray State, UNLV and perhaps a game with Clemson). If Bartow doesn't pick up some wins in that group or make a decent run through the softer division of the two in C-USA, he might be facing some pressure. (As much as you can face when your dad founded the program and you play in Bartow Arena.).

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
George P.J. Arnold	Sr.	G	6-5/205	PTS: 13.4 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 1.1
Eric Batchelor	Sr.	F	6-7/210	PTS: 11.5 | REB: 4.1 | AST: 0.8
Will Campbell	Sr.	F	6-8/245	PTS: 8.7 | REB: 8.1 | AST: 0.6

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
LeAndrew Bass	G	6-3/185	PTS: 14.6 | REB: 3.7 | AST: 4.9
David Walker	F	6-5/205	PTS: 9.8 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 1.1

UAB Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Jeffrey Collins	G	6-4	Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay H.S.
Antonae Roberson	F	6-5	San Jose, Calif./San Jose City College
Eric Bush	F G	5-10	Anderson, Ind./Barton County (Kan.) CC
Cedric Davis	F	6-8	Dayton, Ohio/Sinclair (Ohio) CC