After a brief down stretch, FAU has bounced back in a big way over the past 3 games and their win over Texas State on Saturday afternoon may have been one of their most complete performances of the season. The Owls used their size advantage from the get-go in this one, dialing back the three point barrage and attacking the basket, ultimately maintaining a 3 point half time lead and going on to snap the Bobcats 5 game win streak, defeating them 89-80.
The Owls shot under 20 triples for only the second time this season and the first time was because Drake took the 3 ball away from them and they were unable to adjust, this time however it was part of the game plan and it worked. The Owls shot 10 triples in the first half and just 7 in the second half and they ultimately won the points in the paint battle 44-34, using their length and height to pick on the smaller Texas State squad.
Since being hired, John Jakus has emphasized the importance of the 3 point shot, however for the first time this season the Owls weren’t taking the first open triple, rather driving to the rim and using the size and it paid off to the tune of a victory. Jakus believes the Owls saw their size advantage over Texas State and used it, however also seeing their success driving in their previous 2 wins was a part of it as well.
“It’s a little of both. Matas was five of eight, had 13 Tre in 17 minutes. Seven of nine had 18. So we thought they were 6’6-6’7, on the front line. And specifically, if you get their starting center out, then you could really find some freedom. They didn’t go to the backup big as much as we wanted. They went small. But we thought there was an advantage there. And early on, besides the missed free throws, Matas did take advantage,” Jakus said.
Matas did indeed take advantage, finishing a rebound shy of a double double with 13 points and 9 rebounds, however it was Tre Carroll leading the way off the bench with 18 points 4 rebounds and 2 steals, making it 3 games in a row where Carroll has scored 15 or more. Baba Miller and Kaleb Glenn were impactful once again as well, as Miller finished with 11 points 5 rebounds 5 assists and 4 blocks, while Glenn finished with 11 points and 4 steals.
Whether FAU is going big with Miller and Vokietaitis, or smaller with Glenn and Carroll off the bench they are finding success with their physicality. Their aggressive mentality is evident on both ends, as the 4 combined for 6 of the Owls 11 steals on the day and 32 of the 44 teams points in the paint.
The goal for Jakus and his staff during recent games has been finding ways to mix and match and get their big men to have solid games alongside each other and over the past couple of games that has been the case. For Carroll specifically, these past few games have been a culmination of the hard work he put in this offseason and Jakus is proud of the progress he has made.
“I think we’re trying to figure out where we get to the point where both Tre and Matas had good games together. Last game it happened, and then this game it happened. Because if we can find that, you know, early on, we would get these big leads in the season, and they would go small, and we were fighting between our small ball and our big ball lineup, and I feel like we’re getting closer. So two games in a row, both guys our curveball Tre, and then Matas, when we’re big, have gotten the double figures, and I said it last time, but Tre and I know he’s a fan favorite. Everybody loves him. Looks like Aquaman. You know, I get the whole vibe. But to go from four minutes a game to what he’s done in the last two weeks to get a Player of the Week in the whole conference, he deserves to be complimented, and how special it is for a kid to not start never know exactly what your role are is, and then deliver the way he has the last two weeks, so we’re thrilled with him right now,” Jakus said.
Tre Carroll has stacked the score column in recent games, however the main guy all year has been Kaleb Glenn, who is leading the Owls with 14.2 points per game off the bench. He was just under that today, finishing with only 11 points as he fouled out with just under 8 minutes to go, however he made the most out of the time he had, finishing with 4 steals, his career high.
Alongside finishing in double figures all of the past 3 games, Glenn chipped in 7 rebounds in the Owls previous 2 wins and despite fouling out today, he was a tone setter defensively, as he has been all year. Glenn epitomizes what Jakus wants to be able to get out of all his players, as he is able to score without issue, however what makes him great is his ability to not be over aggressive in the scoring department, rather taking what is given to him and channeling that aggressiveness into other aspects of the game such as defense.
FAU has been able to get major production from their bench this season and a spark when they have needed it and today Glenn brought energy that permeated to the rest of his teammates. Although Glenn fouled out, Jakus was okay with his aggressiveness in this one and says that he is continuing to improve as a defender with each game.
“We’re always okay with the aggressiveness. I thought that we lost the rebounding battle, which is bad for margin. But you look at the turnover situation, it was 18 to 6, and we had to find shots there. Both teams shot about 51% from the field, so the turnover margin was important to us. I don’t think KG (Kaleb Glenn) is going to keep fouling out if he tries. And I’m really thrilled that he’s learning to rotate, because I mean him in transition is such a great time. If we could just get him a half second early on those steals, there will be no fouls, and there’ll be a lot of fun going the other way,” Jakus said.
This team has been developing more and more as each game goes on and over the past 3 games, the physicality has really amped up for FAU and it has paid off in a big way. The Owls have the ability to shoot teams out of the gym with their 3 point ball, however their size is something that can be used consistently and will give many teams a problem.
For Matas Vokietaitis, this season has been a developing process for not only the team, but for him specifically, as he transitions to the US way of life off the court while also looking to develop on the court. The past 3 games have provided a lot of benefit for this FAU team and according to Vokietaitis the team spirit is up and his personal connections with his teammates are only getting better.
“I think when I make a dunk. I get more confident. I got a lob from Baba. We have a very good connection now. It’s like, the team spirit is going up, we’re getting hype and you start playing better,” Vokietaitis said.
Team spirit is at an all time high for the Owls and their play on the court matches, however they will need that to remain the case, as one of their biggest tests of the season to date looms large, as the Owls will face off against Michigan State in East Lansing next Saturday in a pivotal matchup.
Previous in-game recap:
1H first 4-
Both teams had an aggressive mindset, as through the first 4 minutes the sides only attempted 3 combined 3 pointers and instead were attacking the basket with success. Texas State was showing their scrappiness early on with a par of offensive rebounds to give them a 10-8 advantage heading into the U16 timeout with 15:44 to play. For FAU, they were looking to capitalize off of Matas Vokietaitis’s side advantage, as he had 3 early points, getting to the line twice including a nice dribble drive to the rim, however he only converted 1 of 4 free throws.
U12 1H timeout-
A back and forth battle was ensuing early in this one between two well coached squads. The Owls at least early on in this one have moved away from their 3 point barrage, attacking the basket with success and efficient ball movement, assisting on 5 of their first made 7 attempts from the field. The Owls were also aggressive early, forcing 5 turnovers and only giving it away once themselves and heading into the U12 timeout with 11:09 to play in the first half.
U8 1H timeout-
FAU briefly began to grab a hold of a bit of momentum as out of the U12 timeout they began to pick on Texas State’s undersized defenders. The Owls were lobbing it to Vokietaitis with success and he scored 7 in a row over a near 2 minute stretch and a Baba Miller triple gave the Owls their largest lead of the day, 28-23 with 7:43 to play. After the Bobcats responded with with a bucket from Tyrel Morgan, the Owls took a 28-25 lead into the U8 timeout with 6:34 to play.
U4 1H timeout-
There was just 3 minutes in between the U8 and U4 timeouts, with each sides trading buckets and maintaining the one possession game. The Owls were winning the early paint battle 18-12, and 4 straight points from Tre Carroll generating from attacks to the basket kept the Owls ahead 34-32 heading into the U4 timeout with 3:42 to play.
Final 4-
The back and forth battle ensued over the final 4 minutes, as Kaleb Glenn and Baba Miller attacked the basket and converted, while Kyky Tandy hit a triple to give the Owls a 43-40 lead heading into halftime.
U16 2H timeout-
The Owls came out of the gates with great energy, forcing 4 steals in less than 3 minutes and after a Kaleb Glenn jam off of a steal, the Owls took their largest lead of the day, 48-42 with 17:43 to play and forced Texas State into an early timeout. The Bobcats fought back, responding after the Owls even re-extended their lead to 6 less than a minute later, cutting it to 1 with 16:03 to play, but a Leland Walker bucket on a strong take to the rim gave the Owls a 53-50 lead with 15:38 to play heading into the U16 timeout.
U12 2H timeout-
The back and forth battle ensued out of the U16 timeout and both sides were attacking the basket and getting to the rim or free throw line with ease. Ken Evans took a tough drive to the rim and finished, giving the Owls a 59-55 lead heading into the U12 timeout with 11:41 to play.
U8 2H timeout-
FAU looked to grab ahold of momentum out of the U12 timeout, scoring 4 straight off of turnovers and grabbing a 63-57 lead with 9:53 to play. Texas State responded with 4 of their own, and heading into the U8 timeout the Owls held a 63-61 lead and were going to finish the day without their most proficient defender Kaleb Glenn, who fouled out with 11 points and 4 steals prior to the U8 timeout.
U4 2H timeout-
The tightly contested battle continued briefly out of the U8 timeout, however Texas State got a little over physical on a free throw attempt with 6:32 to play and the Owls capitalized. Including 2 made free throws from Evans Jr, the Owls went on a 6-0 lead taking a 72-63 lead, their largest of the day with 5:20 to play. Texas State was able to cut it by 1 possession, however the Owls took a 75-69 lead into the U4 timeout with 3:58 to play.
Final 4-
The Owls came out of the U4 timeout with a bit of a kill shot, as Nico Moretti converted from 3 to extend the Owls lead to 78-69 with 3:31 to play. FAU never looked back from there, maintaining a multiple possession lead the rest of the way, fighting off a 3 point barrage from Coleton Benson to finish off an 89-80 lead on an emphatic dunk from Moretti.