March 16, 2011

While they've turned out many a decent forward in recent years, UAB are short of size this season. They have only four big men on the roster, one of whom (6'11 Beas Hamga) is not in the rotation. The only backup to the starters, therefore, is 6'9 freshman Anthony Criswell, who, at this point in his UAB career, cannot make a shot. He is a physical interior defender, who provides toughness, rebounding, and the closest thing the Blazers have to girth. But he's rather limited.

This leaves Cameron Moore and Ovie Soko as the only big men on the roster. Fortuitously, both are in the midst of breakout seasons on both ends. The finesse-based 6'10 junior Moore is an inside/outside offensive threat, a very good athlete, and by far the team's best shot blocker (1.4bpg) and rebounder (9.4rpg), although those numbers belie his somewhat anti-physical interior defense. Moore has become a nightly mismatch with his height, speed, agility, good jumpshot with three point range, and decent dribble-drive game for one his size, and he uses his length and agility for opportunity baskets, putbacks, and the like. 6'8 sophomore Englishman Soko is defensively versatile, able to guard the 3 through 5 spots at times, albeit not without constant foul problems. Soko improved significantly offensively throughout the season, cutting down on his rather ludicrous turnover numbers, and becoming a considerably more efficient interior scorer. He brings hustle, strength and energy to the team, all far more useful assets now that he's stopped being as clumsy in their deployment.

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