What: FAU vs ECU
When: Sunday, March 9th, 1:00 PM
Where: Eleanor R Baldwin Arena, Boca Raton FL
Series: FAU Leads 4-2
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Fox 640
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Line: FAU -5
Ken Pom Prediction: FAU 80 ECU 74
Owls at a Glance
Offense – 79.2 PPG, 46.6% FG, 35.6% 3PT
Defense – 76.3 PPGA, 43.5% FGA, 37.5% 3PTA
Rebounding – 36.7 RPG Owls, 36.3RPG Opponents
FAU Notes
Florida Atlantic Men’s basketball caps off their regular season at home Sunday afternoon, as ECU heads to town in a pivotal matchup for both squads. With a win, FAU will clinch the 5th seed in the AAC tournament, however with a loss they could slide down as far as the 8 seed depending on how Temple and Wichita State finish in their games on Sunday.
The Owls head into this game following a loss to UAB, a game which they led for a majority of the first half before getting outscored by double figures in the second half and getting plagued by mistakes such as turnovers, poor rebounding and free throw shooting and this matchup with ECU doesn’t present an easy bounce back opportunity. In these two squads first matchup back on January 5th the Owls came out on top 78-76, fighting off a second half surge and dominating day on the glass from ECU en route to their first win during AAC play.
In the Owls loss to UAB on Thursday, FAU was plagued by 15 turnovers on the day and shot 52% from the free throw line and on the year that aligns with their weak spots offensively, however a bit worse than usual, as they average a turnover 16.7% of the time which is 148th in the nation and they shoot 70.3% from the line, checking in at 249th. On a bright spot they shot better than 65% from 2 and better than 35% from 3, which aligns with their strengths, as they average 35.4% from 3 which is 89th and 54.1% from 2, good for 73rd.
Guard KyKy Tandy is one of three Owls who will be honored for Senior Day on Sunday.
On the defensive side of things, UAB grabbed 14 offensive rebounds while only turning it over 3 times and that aligns with the Owls weak points defensively, as they only turn teams over 16.4% of the time which is 235th and they allow offensive rebounds 31.8% of the time which is 276th. The paint defense continues to be strong, as although UAB shot 51% from 2, above the Owls 38th ranked interior defense that allows 47%, that was below the Blazers normal percentage.
Against UAB, the Owls got a diverse scoring effort, with 5 Owls finishing in double figures and they were led on the day by Matas Vokietaitis who finished with 21 points against a normally staunch Blazers defense on the interior. If the Owls cut out the mistakes, the scoring effort they got against UAB should do the job against ECU, as they averaged over a point per possession and outside of the turnovers they were efficient, assisting on better than 60% of their field goals.
In the Owls last matchup against ECU, they overcame similar struggles that they weren’t able to against UAB, as they were dominated on the glass and turned it over 16 times, but with a chance for ECU to jump the Owls in the standings, it should be expected the mistakes aren’t as plentiful. For the Owls to come out on top in this one, they will need to cut out the mistakes and replicate their diverse scoring effort they got against UAB, if they can do those things and limit CJ Walker’s impact, they should be in a good position at home.
Guards Ken Evans, Jr (left) and Jack Johnson (right) comprise the other players who will suit up for their last regular season home game.
Pirates at a Glance
Offense – 76.7 PPG, 44.3% FG, 31.9% 3PT
Defense – 73.1 PPGA, 44.1% FGA, 37.9% 3PTA
Rebounding – 37.3 RPG Owls, 33.9RPG Opponents
ECU Notes
East Carolina heads into this matchup at 18-12 overall on the year and winners of 3 in a row, as Michael Schwartz has lead the Pirates to one of their best years in history as they have won double digit conference games for the first time since the 1974-1975 season. The Pirates have found a way to bounce back from some unfortunate losses in non-conference play and head into this matchup with FAU looking to finish off their regular season on a strong note.
Overall, the Pirates have won 6 of their last 7, including wins over Tulane and UAB, holding 5 of those opponents under 80 points and they have shot better than 50% on their 2-point looks in 5 out of 6 as well. ECU has found a way to balance capitalize on their physical approach, creating second chances at a high rate offensively, while continually making things difficult for opponents with their staunch defense.
Offensively on the year, the Pirates have had their up and downs, in terms of positives they are currently top 100 in the nation in Turnover percentage (15.9%, 88th), offensive rebound percentage (34.6%, 47th), and FT Rate (35.9%, 92nd). On the negative side of things, ECU is bottom 200 in the country in both 3 (31.5%, 297th) and 2 (50.1%, 219th) point percentage, while they are 170th in FT shooting, averaging 72.4%.
Defensively, ECU has had their fair share of struggles, currently bottom 200 in offensive rebound % allowed (30.6%, 225th), 3-point percentage allowed (38.5%, 359th), and overall Effective FG% allowed (51.8%, 228th). Their strengths have been their turnover percentage forced (17.9%, 133rd) and 2-point percentage allowed (48.5%, 81st), also having a top 75 block and steal rate as well.
On the year, ECU is led by RJ Felton, as the senior guard is averaging 18.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game and he is joined in double figures by CJ Walker and Jordan Riley. When all 3 of them are scoring at a high level, ECU is dangerous and for the owls to find success in this one they will have to slow one or more of them down.
In ECU’s last matchup with FAU, their streaky shooting from beyond the arc left them without the needed offense, as the Owls went on an offensive barrage, however their defense almost won them the game. In this matchup, if ECU can get the same defensive effort they got against FAU in their last game, while either improving from 3 or dialing back their attempts, they could very well steal a road win.