by Huntsville Times

UAB will meet South Alabama, and new Alabama coach Anthony Grant will send his Crimson Tide against Kansas State in the annual Coors Classic basketball doubleheader Dec. 19 at Mobile's Mitchell Center.

The Blazers, who lead the series 27-13, and the Jaguars haven't faced each other since Dec. 31, 2004, a 72-68 UAB win in Mobile.

"They are an in-state rival that we haven't played in a while," said South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow. "It should bring a lot of people out. When I was here the first time (his previous stint as South Alabama's head coach), UAB was in the conference. We always had some good games, good crowds and good battles back then. Some of those games were wars. Everyone around here looked forward to the games against UAB.

"We're going to be new and young, but I think midway through the season we should be a good team."

The Alabama-Kansas State game will match friends and Miami, Fla., natives Grant and Kansas State coach Frank Martin.

Alabama will be making its fourth appearance in the Coors Classic and boasts a 3-0 record.

Its most recent appearance was in 2006, a 77-64 win over Southern Miss.

The annual basketball event is associated with the GMAC Bowl, which will pair a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Mid-American Conference on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

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