The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1969 in the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest single employer, with more than 24,200 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university and in the health system. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".
Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow, the coach who built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, now known as Legacy Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.
The UAB Blazers are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs that represent the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The school is one of the fourteen member institutions of the American Athletic Conference and participates in Division I of the NCAA. The school's men's basketball team plays in 8,508-seat Bartow Arena. The Blazers' colors are forest green and old gold. The men's basketball program has a long history of success spanning several decades.
The UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in NCAA Division I men's college basketball, with the upcoming 2023–24 season being the Blazers' first as members of the American Athletic Conference.
The UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham in women's basketball. The school competes in the American Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Blazers play home basketball games at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 2017–18 UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blazers, led by fifth year head coach Randy Norton, play their home games at the Bartow Arena and are members of Conference USA. They finished the season 27–7, 13–3 in C-USA play to win the C-USA regular season. They advanced to the championship game of the C-USA women's tournament where they lost to Western Kentucky. They received an automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Chattanooga in the first round before losing to Georgia Tech in the second round.
The 2018–19 UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blazers, led by sixth year head coach Randy Norton, play their home games at the Bartow Arena and are members of Conference USA. They finished the season 26–7, 12–4 in C-USA play to finish in second place. They advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA women's tournament where they lost to Middle Tennessee. They received an automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Troy in the first round before losing to Arkansas in the second round.
The 1989–90 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's 12th season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at UAB Arena. They finished the season 22–9, 12–2 in Sun Belt play and lost in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 10 seed in the East region. The Blazers fell in the opening round to UCLA, 68–56.
The 2020–21 UAB Blazers women's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach Randy Norton, and played their home games at the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of Conference USA.
The 2003–04 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Conference USA during the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Mike Anderson's second season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at Bartow Arena. They finished the season 22–10, 12–4 in C-USA play and lost in the semifinals of the C-USA tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 9 seed in the St. Louis region. The Blazers defeated Washington and No. 1 seed Kentucky to reach the Sweet Sixteen. In the Regional semifinal, UAB fell to Kansas, 100–74.
The 2021–22 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by second-year head coach Andy Kennedy, and played their home games at the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of Conference USA. They finished the season 27–8, 14–4 in C-USA play to finish second in the West Division. As the No. 2 seed out of the West Division, they defeated Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech to win the C-USA tournament. They received the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 12 seed in the South Region, where they lost in the first round to Houston.
The 1981–82 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's fourth season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at BJCC Coliseum. They finished the season 25–6, 9–1 in Sun Belt play and won the Sun Belt tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 4 seed in the Mideast region. After beating No. 5 seed Indiana in the second round, UAB upset No. 1 seed Virginia to reach the Elite Eight. The Blazers fell to Louisville in the Mideast regional final, 75–68. As of 2021, that is the furthest a UAB men’s team has advanced in NCAA Tournament play.
The 2021–22 UAB Blazers women's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The team was led by ninth-year head coach Randy Norton, and played their home games at the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of Conference USA.
The 1983–84 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's sixth season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at BJCC Coliseum. They finished the season 23–11, 8–6 in Sun Belt play and won the Sun Belt tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 9 seed in the Mideast region. The Blazers fell to BYU in the opening round, 84–68.
The 1986–87 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's 9th season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at UAB Arena. They finished the season 21–11, 10–4 in Sun Belt play and won the Sun Belt tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 11 seed in the Southeast region. The Blazers fell in the opening round to eventual Final Four participant Providence, 90–68.
The 2004–05 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Conference USA during the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Mike Anderson's third season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at Bartow Arena. They finished the season 22–11, 10–6 in C-USA play and lost in the semifinals of the C-USA tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 11 seed in the Chicago region. The Blazers defeated No. 6 seed LSU in the opening round. In the round of 32, UAB fell to No. 3 seed Arizona, 85–63.
The 1984–85 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's 7th season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at BJCC Coliseum. They finished the season 25–9, 11–3 in Sun Belt play and lost in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 7 seed in the Midwest region. The Blazers defeated Michigan State in the opening round before falling to No. 2 seed and eventual Final Four participant Memphis State in the round of 32, 67–66.
The 1982–83 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's fifth season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at BJCC Coliseum. They finished the season 19–14, 9–5 in Sun Belt play and won the Sun Belt tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 10 seed in the Mideast region. The Blazers fell to Oklahoma in the opening round, 71–63.
The 1985–86 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Gene Bartow's 8th season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at BJCC Coliseum. They finished the season 25–11, 9–5 in Sun Belt play and lost in the championship game of the Sun Belt tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 6 seed in the West region. The Blazers defeated Missouri in the opening round before falling to No. 3 seed North Carolina in the round of 32, 77–59.
The 2005–06 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the Conference USA during the 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Mike Anderson's fourth season at UAB, and the Blazers played their home games at Bartow Arena. They finished the season 24–7, 12–2 in C-USA play and lost in the semifinals of the C-USA tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 9 seed in the East region. The Blazers fell in the opening round to No. 8 seed Kentucky, 69–64.
