What: FAU vs Memphis
When: Thursday, January 2nd, 7:00 PM
Where: Eleanor R Baldwin Arena
Series: Tied at 2-2
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: Fox 640
Live Stats: Stats broadcast
Line: TBA
FAU at a Glance
Offense – 85.9 PPG, 47% FG, 37% 3PT
Defense – 77 PPGA, 43% FGA, 37% 3PTA
Rebounding – 36 RPG Owls, 36 RPG Opponents
Owl Notes
FAU is back in action after a brief sabbatical and they will be greeted with one of their most important conference matchups of the season as #21 Memphis comes to town on January 2nd. The Owls handled business on their home court a season ago, defeating Memphis 92-84 and locking up the 2nd seed in the AAC tournament and although both of these teams are quite different than a season ago, one thing that remains the same is the potential for a raucous Eleanor R Baldwin arena to play an impact.
Heading into this matchup the Owls are coming off one of their worst losses of the season in terms of Margin, losing on the road to MSU 86-69 which snapped a 3 game losing streak. Although a disappointing loss, the Owls had many productive moments in that game, including another solid performance from Tre Carroll who finished with 24 points, matching a career high he achieved a few games prior against FIU.
The struggles for FAU in their matchup with the Spartans came after MSU began to dominate the rebound battle, using an aggressive glass attack to get out in transition to create some momentum shifting plays. With the Spartans moving quickly in transition, the Owls needed an offensive answer, however they converted on only 4 of their 22 3’s and with a lack of consistent offense MSU took over in the second half.
The loss was a brief step back from the success FAU had in their previous 3 games, as after a loss to FGCU the Owls responded with 3 straight wins over FIU, Jacksonville and Texas State, games in which FAU seemed to make major adjustments on both ends of the court. In all 3 of those wins FAU was able to dominate the paint on both ends of the court, out rebounding a top 50 rebounding team in Jacksonville, while shooting under 20 triples for only the second time this season against Texas State and finding a way to win with an attack first mindset.
Against Memphis, the key for FAU offensively will be getting back to do what they were able to do in their 3 game win streak, in not being 3 point reliant if the shots aren’t falling and finding ways to get scoring in different ways, as if they are able to do that, the droughts that plagued them against MSU will be less in frequency. On the defensive side of things, the Owls have to play strong perimeter defense against the Tigers guard trio of Tyrese Hunter, PJ Haggerty and Colby Rogers and limit their lanes to attack the basket and contest their looks from beyond the arc, alongside that they have to crash the glass effectively and limit Memphis’s opportunities to get in rhythm.
Last year the Owls were triumphant at home against the Tigers. Penny Hardaway and Brandon Weatherspoon via Richard Pereira
Overall on the season, the Owls are still led by Kaleb Glenn who is averaging 13.3 points and 4.1 rebounds off the bench, while still getting at least 8 points a game from 8 of their consistent rotational players. The big scoring output recently for FAU has come from their big men unit, as Tre Carroll has scored 15 or more in 4 consecutive games to move his season average to 11.5 points per game, while Baba Miller is right behind him with 11 PPG and Matas Vokietaitis checks in with 9.5 points per game.
On the defensive side of things, the biggest strength for the Owls this season has been their interior defense, as the Owls are currently holding teams to 47.2% from inside the 3 point arc which is 68th in the nation, while also frustrating teams entirely at times, forcing a turnover without a steal 9% of the time which is 69th in the country. Offensively, the team has been extremely efficient statistically, sitting top 100 in the country in EFG%, Turnover%, along with 3 and 2 point %.
Where FAU has lacked offensively has been their offensive rebounding as they average one 25.6% of the time which is 292nd in the country and it has left their quick fire offense in slumps at times when they are unable to extend the possession. Defensively, the Owls have struggled immensely at limiting teams from beyond the arc, allowing a 3 point percentage of 39.7% which is 358th in the country.
There is a path to success in this matchup for FAU, which will start behind a raucous home atmosphere, however they will have to return to the form which they displayed in their 3 game win streak rather than falling back on the struggles that plagued them against MSU. If the owls are able to get a diverse offensive effort, while also limiting Memphis on the perimeter, that could open the door for an upset, but it will require consistency on both ends of the court.
Memphis at a Glance
Offense – 79.1 PPG, 45.7% FG, 40.2% 3PT
Defense – 75.5 PPGA, 42.6% FGA, 35% 3PTA
Rebounding – 35.8 RPG Owls, 35.1 RPG Opponents
Tiger Notes
Memphis has been one of the best teams in the country so far this season, currently sitting at 10-3 with wins over Missouri, UConn, Michigan State, Clemson, Virginia, and Ole Miss. Penny Hardaway made major changes this offseason, firing multiple assistants and bringing in many new players and so far this season it has led to major success.
Those new players have led the way for Memphis, as Tyrese Hunter, Pj Haggerty and Colby Rogers have all played a pivotal role in their first year with the program. Haggerty has led the team with 22.1 points 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while Hunter has chipped in 15 points 3.9 rebounds 3.2 assists and Rogers has averaged 12.8 points 2.1 rebounds and all 3 are shooting over 40% from beyond the arc.
The 3 losses this season for Memphis have come against potential tournament teams, as Auburn, Arkansas State, and Mississippi State have all impressed in the early part of this season. In all 3 of those matchups, the Tigers were held to under 80 points and less than 10 made 3 pointers, while their opponents all made at least 10 triples, which shows a path to upset for FAU if they can defend the 3 point arc and convert on their triples.
Memphis hasn’t been a high volume team from beyond the arc this season, however they have been efficient, converting on 40% of their triples which is 11th in the country, however on the defensive side of things they have allowed teams to shoot 35% from beyond the arc which is 240th in the nation. The biggest weakness for Memphis this season has been their rebounding on the defensive end and ball control on offense, as they allow an offensive rebound on 33% of possessions which is 304th in the nation and on offense they turn it over on 19.7% of possessions which is 293rd.
When Memphis has been successful this season, they have converted on their open triples, while getting to the free throw line at an efficient rate and on the defensive end by limiting paint looks while jumping in the passing lanes to frustrate opposing offenses. When they haven’t been successful has been when they have been limited in the paint offensively and their offense becomes discombobulated, resulting in turnovers and forced looks from beyond the arc, while on the defensive end, teams have hurt them from beyond the arc and when their offense has struggled it cost them.
The key for Memphis in this matchup will be their ability to come out early and establish their offense without turning it over, while limiting FAU’s ability to generate open looks from beyond the arc. If Memphis struggles to generate offense, while FAU is getting into their usual flow, that could create problems which could be compounded by a tough road atmosphere.