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William Lee is fouled as he goes up against Alabama State (Jimmy Mitchell / UAB athletics communications)
(Jimmy Mitchell)
For better or worse, two games isn't enough of a sample size to generate excitement or concern for a player.
Will UAB's Chris Cokley keep up his averages of 20.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game? Can preseason all-conference forward William Lee shake off a 2-for-11 start from the floor and 2-for-7 from the free throw line?
UAB head coach Jerod Haase is absolutely confident in the latter, and the sophomore will get another chance to improve after scoring just six points in the first two games when UAB plays at Troy tonight at 7.
"He's fine," Haase said. "He hasn't shot that many shots.
"Absolutely no concerns from my standpoint. I think he's this close to really having things click on both ends of the floor He's playing hard, his mind's in a good spot and I have full confidence he's going to continue to produce and produce at a higher rate."
Cokley's firepower off the bench has been a huge boost for the Blazers. He won Conference USA Player of the Week honors after scoring 25 with 12 rebounds in a 75-74 loss at Auburn, and led UAB with 16 points and 11 rebounds in Monday's 72-70 win over Alabama State.
Cokley and Lee each have a team-high five blocks.
Haase said he asked Cokley how comfortable he was in his role, and he said that the 6-foot-8 sophomore said he didn't care if he was the last man off the bench, as long as he was producing to help his team."
"It really wasn't lip service," Haase said. "He really wants to see the team do well. When people scout us, they won't say that UAB has five starters and that's it. We have six, seven, eight guys or more that can be very good and Chris Cokley is right at the top of that list."
UAB is 7-0 all-time against Troy, but will run into a challenge tonight at four-year-old Trojan Arena. Troy is off to a 2-0 start, which includes an 82-77 win at South Florida.
Jordon Varnado, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound freshman and younger brother of former Mississippi State center Jarvis, leads the Sun Belt with 23.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Wesley Person, a sophomore from Brantley who Haase UAB recruited "to a certain extent," is scoring 18 points per game.
"I did think we competed (against Alabama State) and that's a great place for us to start right now," Haase said. "Playing at Troy, we'll need a complete game."
What does a team do when it's stuck on the road all day before a game?
UAB traveled to Troy on Wednesday night, but has plenty of time to gear up for the Thursday night game.
Haase's preparation makes sure no stone goes unturned.
"We'll do study hall, watch film and watch film again," UAB's Robert Brown said. "Coach Haase loves to eat, so we'll eat four or five times. Shootaround. He does a good job of keeping us busy, but not too busy where we're on our feet moving and too tired for the game."
UAB is 7-0 all-time against Troy.
PROJECTED STARTERS
UAB
G - Nick Norton (5-10, 171, So.), 8.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg
G - Robert Brown (6-5, 195, Sr.), 6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 6.0 apg
G - Hakeem Baxter (6-2, 192, Jr.), 6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
F - William Lee (6-9, 210, So.), 3 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bpg
F - Tosin Mehinti (6-9, 238, Jr.), 7 ppg, 6 rpg
TROY
G - Daniel Peace (6-1, 182, Jr.), 5.5 ppg, 5.5 apg
G - Jeremy Hollimon (6-3, 195, Jr.), 12.0 ppg, 5 rpg
G - Wesley Person (6-3, 180, So.), 18.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F - John Walton III (6-7, 220, Sr.), 6.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg
F - Jordon Varnado (6-6, 215, Fr.), 23.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg