What: FAU vs UAB
When: Thursday, March 6th, 7:00 PM
Where: Bartow Arena, Birmingham, AL
Series: UAB Leads 15-6
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: Fox 640
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Line: FAU +5
Ken Pom Prediction: UAB 86 FAU 82
Owls at a Glance
Offense – 79.2 PPG, 46.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT
Defense – 75.8 PPGA, 43.4% FGA, 37.7% 3PTA
Rebounding – 36.8 RPG Owls, 36.4RPG Opponents
FAU Notes
FAU men’s basketball is back in action this Thursday, as the Owls head to UAB for the second and final matchup of the season between these two squads. FAU snapped their 3 game losing streak in their last game, defeating USF in wire to wire fashion and regaining a bit of the swagger they attained amidst their 5 game win streak.
The necessary adjustments were made by FAU in their last match, shifting Kaleb Glenn and Matas Vokietaitis into the starting lineup for a size advantage and they dominated the glass, also snapping their 3 game losing streak in response. Although the Owls assisted on less than 50% of their made baskets on the day, they were able to get consistent offense throughout the game, shooting better than 40% from the field and 35% from 3.
On the year the FAU offense is top 100 in the country in effective field goal percentage (53.4%, 71st), 3-point (35.4%, 92nd) and 2-point percentage (53.6%, 92nd), and assist ratio (55.6%, 87th). The shooting percentages took a dip during the 5 game losing streak, however the only consistent issue remains free throw shooting as although they shot 80% at the stripe against USF, they are 233rd in the nation shooting 70.8%.
Defensively, FAU’s biggest strength continues to be their 2-point defense, as the Owls allow opponents to shoot only 46.8% from the field which is 34th in the country, however they are down from 25th after their 3 game losing streak. Statistically, the FAU defense has had some issues, only forcing turnovers 16.8% of the time which is 203rd, allowing offensive rebounds 31.6% of the time, good for 271st, and teams are shooting 37.9% against them from 3 which is 354th in the country.
On the year, Kaleb Glenn is averaging 12.9 points per game which leads the team, however he hasn’t led FAU in scoring since Wichita State on February 20th. Tre Carroll and Baba Miller join Glenn in double figures, averaging 12.1 and 11 points per game respectively, however Leland Walker averages 9.6 points per game and has scored in double figures in 4 straight games for FAU.
The Owls lost to UAB 81-76 back on January 12th and despite the Owls getting a solid offensive performance with Tre Carroll finishing with 20 and Kyky Tandy hitting 4 triples, they were hurt in the paint by Yaxel Lendeborg who finished with 22 points on the night and hit 9 of his 11 2 point field goals. If FAU is going to pull off the upset in this matchup, they are going to have to find a way to limit Lendeborg while also getting an offensive performance like they did in the first matchup with the Blazers where they scored 1.1 points per possession and if they can do both of those things they will have a chance at getting the road win, however it will not be easy.
Blazers at a glance
Offense – 83.3 PPG, 46.5% FG, 34.3% 3PT
Defense – 76.2 PPGA, 44.8% FGA, 34.5% 3PTA
Rebounding – 40.1 RPG Owls, 33.9 RPG Opponents
UAB notes
UAB heads into this matchup following a loss to Memphis at home, however they are winners of 4 of their last 5 and sit 3rd place in the AAC with a record of 19-10 on the year. Although the Blazers were unable to crack the code of Memphis and Dain Dainja, they possess one of the most talented players in the AAC in Yaxel Lendeborg and are a threat to beat anyone on any night.
Memphis found a way to limit Lendeborg in their last matchup, holding him to 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 fouls and although they held Memphis to under 30% from 3, their lack of offense cost them the game. UAB has been able to get around a lack of scoring from Lendeborg in previous matchups, however outside of Ja’Borri Mcgee, they lacked consistent scoring against the Tigers and when that happens they tend to struggle.
Overall on the year, UAB is a very fundamentally sound team and although both their 2 (50.7%, 201st) and 3 (34.7%, 134th) point percentage rank outside the top 100 in the country, they are 14th in the nation in turnover percentage, turning it over only 14.1% of the time and 6th in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing an offensive rebound 38.8% of the time. The weakness of the UAB offense is consistent scoring, as even Lendeborg has off nights and when their guards dont make up for the lack of scoring their offense suffers.
Defensively, there aren’t a ton of statistical strengths for UAB, however they find a way to get the job done, with one of their biggest strengths being limiting teams ability to draw fouls against them, having an allowed free throw rate of 30.3% which is 112th in the nation. Struggles wise, UAB is outside of the top 100 in the nation in turnover percentage (15.4%, 302nd), allowed offensive rebounding percentage (30.1%, 204th), 3-point percentage allowed (35.1%, 255th) and 2-point percentage allowed (50.7%, 171st).
On the year, UAB is led by Lendeborg, who is averaging 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds a game and he is joined by Alejandro Vasquez, Christian Coleman and Ja’Borri Mcgee in double figures on the season. Lendeborg is one of the most dominating players in the conference, however the key for UAB will be getting scoring outside of him and if they are unable to, he needs to have a big game.
UAB handled business on the road against FAU in their last matchup, however it wasn’t easy by any stretch and they were aided by a massive performance from Yaxel Lendeborg. If the Blazers are able to get another big performance from Lendeborg in this one that is all they may need, however they will need to contain FAU’s perimeter shooting, as well as getting a scoring boost from one of their guards if they want to be comfortable.