UAB Cheerleaders put on a show in front of a packed crowd during this year's "Hoops on the Green," the official kick-off to UAB's basketball season.Kristina Balciunaite - Contributorkribal@uab.edu
If you wanted to get a seat at “Hoops on the Green” on Thursday, Oct. 13, getting there an hour early was probably a good idea.
Not only the benches, but The Green itself was packed with an estimated 4,200 students, faculty, alumni and fans who came to a be a part of the official kickoff event for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, according to UABsports.com.
The event began with an introduction of the new and returning players of both teams, each of whom passed through an inflatable Blaze to greet audience members.
“Hoops on the Green,” UAB’s rendition of Midnight Madness, is an annual event on campus celebrating the start of the basketball season. The event, which is now five years old, was known as “Hoops on the Haasephalt” after former men’s basketball Head Coach Jerod Haase until this year.
Haase was replaced as head coach by Robert Ehsan this season, and the name of the event changed as a result.
Fannita Leggett, a freshman nursing major who attended “Hoops on the Green” with her face and body painted in green and gold, is satisfied with the name change.
“This is the Green,” Leggett said. “Everybody comes to congregate here, so it just seems right that it’s called ‘Hoops on the Green’ this year.”
Freshman psychology major and Golden Girl Jazmin Ford also thought the name change was a good idea.
“I feel that this year the name is catchier,” Ford said. “Last year’s name was a bit complicated towards the end.”
Ford believes that the name change might have brought more students out to participate in the event, as its location is included in the title.
Basketball fans were also reacquainted with the “Mayor of Blockingham,” junior forward William Lee, who was named the 2016 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.
“Today was super fun. I came from a small school that never had giant sporting events like this,” Leggett said. “I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to be on the front row for all the basketball games.”
Leggett said that she was especially impressed by the women’s team, who won the 3-point shootout competition against the men’s team.
“I couldn’t wait to see the women’s basketball team, because they don’t get enough praise,” said Ford, also adding her expectations for the men’s team this year. “From what I’ve seen, I’m expecting some pretty awesome dunks. Hopefully they can work on their three pointers.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams kickoff the 2016-17 season on Thursday, Nov. 3 with a doubleheader in Bartow Arena starting at 5 p.m.
