What: FAU vs FGCU
When: Saturday, November 30th, 6:00 PM
Where: Eleanor R Baldwin Arena
Series: Series tied 4-4
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Fox 640
Live Stats: Statsbroadcast
Line: UCF -6.5
FAU at a Glance
Offense – 86.6 PPG, 47% FG, 37% 3PT
Defense – 77 PPGA, 42% FGA, 37% 3PTA
Rebounding – 37 RPG Owls, 36 RPG Opponents
Florida Atlantic Men’s basketball is back in action following a 6 day break after a 1-2 performance in the Shriners Children’s Classic as they will take on FGCU on Saturday at 6 PM from Boca Raton.
FAU Notes
This will kickoff a 4 game stretch for the Owls of which they will face opponents ranked 140th or below per Ken Pom, 3 of them at home starting with FGCU this Saturday. These matchups will be important for FAU to win handily, as following a road stretch where they went 2-4 overall, 4 dominating wins against sub-par opponents could send things back on the right track.
In their most recent losses what hurt the Owls was their inconsistencies from beyond the arc and on the glass. Against Drake, both of those issues plagued FAU as their offense was turned upside down, only being able to attempt 16 triples and converting 5. On the glass against the Bulldogs, FAU struggled against a squad that didn’t send out a player taller than 6’9, losing the rebound battle 31-23 and offensive rebound battle 11-4.
Although the Owls ultimately lost to Seton Hall, things improved in the rebounding department as they won the overall rebounding battle and improved their offensive rebounds from 4 against Drake to 14 against the Pirates. What hurt the Owls however was once again their struggles from 3, as they finished a season worst 4 of 28 from beyond the Arc and despite a ferocious comeback they were unable to overcome that.
Against FGCU, the most important thing for the Owls will be bouncing back from beyond the arc and they will look to do that at home, a place where FAU has typically performed well over the past few years. Someone who can help lead that charge is their most consistent performer from the Shriners tournament, Leland Walker who averaged 14.6 points per game across the 3 matchups and even when the Owls were struggling as a team he remained consistent.
Height will also be an advantage for the Owls in this one, as the Eagles check in at 298th in the country and average height, with their centers Rory Stewart and Keshawn Kellman both checking in at 6 ‘8. Matas Vokietaitis had averaged 9 points per game across the Shriners classic, missing only 3 out of his 15 attempts from the field, however he struggled with early fouls which kept him from impacting the game fully.
Outside of Walker and Vokietaitis, Ken Evans Jr and KyKy Tandy both have the ability to take over the game scoring wise and each had impactful moments during the previous tournament. What will be something to watch is how Nico Moretti and Kaleb Glenn impact the game off the bench, as both were held under double figures in all 3 tournament games and in the early part of the season both have been major contributors.
Defensively, the Owls did a much better job during the Shriners tournament at limiting open looks from 3 and although both Seton Hall and Drake finished above 40% from 3, the FAU was making them work for their looks. What hurt them was extra chances allowed as a result of offensive rebounds and against FGCU, this is a perfect opportunity to bounce back and dominate the boards.
Ken Pom has FAU as 10 point favorites in this one, with an expected outcome of 77-67 and if FAU is able to find their consistency from beyond the Arc, while also bouncing back on the glass, this could be a game they win by much more than 10.
FGCU Notes
The Eagles checked in at 2-5 after a 2-1 showing at the Jacksonville Classic, picking up wins over Cal State Bakersfield and FIU. It has been an up and down start for Pat Chambers’ Squad and Ken Pom is predicting it to get worse, expecting them to lose 5 out of their next 6 games including this next one against FAU.
FGCU went through big changes this offseason, losing leading scorers Isaiah Thompson (Graduation) and Zach Anderson (portal), however they retained 6’8 Center Keshawn Kellman and 6’3 G Dallion Johnson, both of whom are averaging double figures so far this year. Pat Chambers also went in the portal, bringing over 6’4 G Zavian McLean from Columbia who has averaged 10.9 PPG so far along with 6’8 C Rory Stewart who has chipped in 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench.
Their biggest strength so far has been their defense, as they’ve held opponents to 31% from 3, which is 124th in the country, while also holding teams effective FG% to 46.7% which is 66th in the country. Their defense is aggressive and although they’re not consistently forcing steals, their non-steal turnover % is 8.3%, which is 136th in the country, frustrating teams by limiting open looks and forcing them to beat themselves.
Their struggles have come on the offensive end of things, as they’re only converting on 30.9% of their triples which is 246th in the country and that has held their offense back. With their struggles from 3, one may assume they look to get to the line, however their free throw attempts per FG attempt is 18.7, which is 362nd in the country. They also have been unable to crash the glass offensively, checking in with an offensive rebound % of 25.1% which is 301st in the country.
The Eagles offense has been discombobulated so far this season and it has left them lacking an identity and although their defense has been strong, their lack of offense has cost them multiple games. FGCU’s ability to limit teams from beyond the arc could help them stay in this one, however if their offense performs at the level it has so far this season, FAU will eventually find a way to outscore them and win. The key for FAU in this one will be limiting McLean and Johnson at guard as outside of that FGCU’s scoring is limited and if the Owls are able to do that, it could become tough sledding for FGCU.
