Last year's practice stars ready to lead UAB in real games
In rare exceptions, teams with inferior talent do well. Butler was a nice example last season. But more often the teams with superior players are superior and the teams with inferior players are inferior, and UAB now has superior players relative to everybody in C-USA not named Memphis.
How superior?
UAB will unveil those four top 100 prospects next season, but -- according to Scout.com's rankings -- no other C-USA school outside of Memphis has signed a single top 100 prospect in the past four years. Talent wise, only Houston even compares (the Cougars got Dion Dowell, No. 53 in the Class of 2004, to transfer from Texas and will have Lanny Smith, No. 87 in the Class of 2003, playing a fifth year), which is why UAB is an early candidate to be the most-improved team in the country during Davis' second season after replacing Mike Anderson.
"UAB had had a really good program, but the quickest way for me to get it where I wanted was to sit guys out, so I did that," Davis explained. "We were fortunate enough to have three really good players sitting out last season, and then my next direction was to bring in a couple of junior college kids with some high school players. So everything we envisioned came to pass."
The prize of the group is Vaden, who starred for Davis before making the move with his coach after Davis resigned from Indiana under pressure in February 2006. The 6-foot-5 wing started every game in two seasons with the Hoosiers, averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a sophomore in 2005-06. And assuming those numbers increase, Vaden should challenge Memphis' Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey for C-USA Player of the Year honors.
"I think Robert can be one of the top players in the country," Davis said. "I say this with no disrespect (to C-USA), but at Indiana he averaged 14 points a game and was the leading assist guy, and that was in the Big Ten. He's the ultimate player, and he can do a lot of different things. So I'm excited and our fans are excited to see him."
On TV rather than in open gyms.
In games more than during practices.
It's a development that should cut down on the confusion.
Because finally with UAB, what you'll see is actually what you'll get.
