NIT Second Round Recap - UAB vs NC State

(2) UAB 72, (6) North Carolina State 52

The Alabama-Birmingham Blazers have been notorious for flaming out late in seasons that produced NIT bids instead of tickets to the NCAA Tournament.

At least this year, perhaps the boys from UAB will be able to make something of their place in the nation's second-biggest postseason tournament.

While only 24 teams are still playing NCAA Tournament basketball on the morning of Sunday, March 21, UAB is also still alive in the NIT and will be playing basketball by the time the NCAA field is whittled down to 16. The Blazers and Coach Mike Davis made sure of this on Saturday afternoon at Bartow Arena, as they whipped the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a convincing 20-point takedown. UAB moves into the NIT quarterfinals with a full head of steam, and perhaps the belief that it can win meaningful games in the month of March.

Over the past three years in the world of college basketball, a number of things have been as certain as death and taxes: Purdue wins a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament; Clemson coach Oliver Purnell loses a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament; Kansas earns a high seed; Tom Izzo draws up great set plays; and, among other things, UAB loses prematurely in the Conference USA Tournament to fall into the NIT. The Blazers have run out of both energy and confidence when the calendar turns to the most important month in the realm of college roundball. Without a powerful low-post presence or the shot selection needed to create higher-percentage opportunities, the Blazers - with a balky offense and unreliable long-range performers - have gone south precisely when at-large NCAA bids have sat on the table, waiting to be claimed.

Now in yet another NIT, the Blazers - who have failed to reach New York City in each of their previous two appearances - might finally be able to knock the door down and get to the NIT Final Four on March 30. Thanks to this win over Coach Sidney Lowe's N.C. State squad, the path to the Big Apple just got easier for the Blazer boys.

Earlier in the day, fourth-seeded North Carolina upset top-seeded Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. Because UAB was able to hold serve as the higher seed against NCSU, the Blazers denied North Carolina a home game in the NIT quarterfinals against the rival Wolfpack. UAB would have had to play a round-of-eight game at Mississippi State, but now the Blazers will be able to host Carolina when the quarters come calling.

Just how did UAB wipe out the Wolfpack? There wasn't much guesswork involved. The Blazers quickly sucked any and all suspense from this contest, as they roared to a 26-7 lead in the first part of the first half and established a 37-17 halftime bulge. UAB hasn't trailed for a single second in each of its first two NIT wins, and in light of the fact that Elijah Millsap - a guard, not a center - threw down 27 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, it's entirely unsurprising that this revived roster rolled over the 11th-place team in the ACC.

One win over one North Carolina school is done. Having disposed of N.C. State, the UAB Blazers now need to take care of the Tar Heels in their final home game of the year. Do so, and a trip to New York for NIT festivities awaits. That would be a nice reward for a program whose labors have so often failed to bear fruit in recent years.