Owls face UAB in Opening Round of CUSA Tournament
What: FAU (12-18, 6-12) vs. UAB (19-12, 10-8)

When: Wednesday, March 7th, @ 10:00 PM Eastern

Where: The Ford Center at the Star

Series: UAB dominates the short lived series 5-2, including a recent 75-44 romp at The Burrow in January.


TV: None

Live Video: Stadium on Facebook

Radio: ESPN 106.3



UAB Team Site: Here

UAB at a Glance:

Offense - 76.9 PPG, 49% FG, 35% 3PT

Defense - 68.8 PPGA, 42% FGA, 34% 3PTA

Rebounding - 38.4 PG Blazers, 31.4 PG Opponents


Notables

It has not been easy for the Blazers from Birmingham. UAB has had their fair share of rough spells and close calls go against their way in the 2017-2018 Men's Basketball season. This includes a span of going 3-7 in conference play; a stretch that would not be seem possible when the Blazers upset #9 Iowa State in the Second Round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, and their years of dominate before and after that tournament run.

Head Coach Robert Ehsan has struggled to replicate the success of Jerod Haase, who returned to his home state of California to lead Stanford. The UAB faithful have begun turned on Haase's former assistant turned head coach, with an obvious riff fans who see the talent of the squad not matching the results on the court. Does that sound familiar at all?

The talent of this UAB squad begins with Senior Forward Chris Cokley, who is seventh in C-USA in PPG with 17.2. His 8.7 RPG is good for second in CUSA, just .1 ahead of FAU's own Ronald Delph. His rebounding prowess is the reason why UAB is so feared along the boards. In the Blazers' beatdown of FAU January, the Blazers solidified their role as rebounding masters with a 39-32 in rebounding advantage, 10 of which coming from Cokley. As good as Cokley is along the boards, Senior Forward William Lee is at blocks. His 62 total blocks this season is good for second in the conference, and 37th in the nation.

The area where UAB has taken is a step back is their play from the backcourt, despite solid play from freshman SG Zack Bryant and being staffed by some of the most experienced and point guards. Names like Nick Norton and Nate Darling aren't strangers to the nightmares of C-USA fans, but both have yet to have stellar days against the Owls. Yet in UAB's two recent dominating victories over Marshall and Western Kentucky, the pair of guards have hit their stride. Expect their form to continue to improve as FAU pays extra attention to UAB's frontcourt personnel.



FAU at a Glance

Offense - 69.4 PPG, 41% FG, 33% 3PT

Defense - 69.6 PPGA, 43% FGA, 33% 3PTA

Rebounding - 38.8 Owls, 37.5 Opponents


Notables

Safe to say Head Coach Michael Curry's seat is hotter than it's ever been. The fact that this team with Senior leaders from the likes of Gerdarious Troutman, Ronald Delph, Justin Massey, William Pfister, and Payton Hulsey are limping into the C-USA Tournament as winners of 2 of the last 9, is inexcusable. This excludes two embarrassing losses to the two worst teams in the conference: Rice and Charlotte, who combine to have 6 CUSA wins. That's right, 2/6 conference wins from CUSA's bottom dwellers come from Florida Atlantic.

Despite spurts of promise during Curry's tenure in Boca Raton, the Owls have yet to prove that they belong any where near the conversation of being in the upper half of CUSA's best squads.

Experience was the excuse in the past, but that clearly cannot be the case with the experience from the senior leaders. The top three FAU scorers are seniors. The top three FAU rebounders are seniors. The top three reliable shooters in FG%, with a minimum of 60 shots, are seniors. The team leader in blocks, steals, and assists are all seniors. Four out of FAU's starting five, are seniors.

Talent cannot be the issue either. Troutman was in the top ten for 3FG%. Delph is one of the nation's best rebounders and shot blockers. Massey has put up career highs in clutch moments. Pfister and Hulsey have proved time and time again this season that they are more than reliable secondary players who are vital to any victory.

In order to secure FAU's first second-round trip to the CUSA Tournament, the five seniors will to play off the wall for the full 40 minutes. Pfister and Delph will need to contain Lee and Cokley, all while staying out of foul trouble. Granted, this is much easier said than done against a team that unofficially goes by #Blockingham. The guards must force UAB's backcourt to make uncomfortable shots. As noted earlier, this is something that the Blazer guards have struggled with in the past. Strong defensive play, especially off the ball and through screens, will be needed to shake the UAB guards from their recent strong form. Finally, FAU cannot spot UAB an early, dominating run. Curry's Owls have had the knack of either starting a game like a JCC pick-up team playing the Golden State Warriors, or starting strong just to let the opposing team claw back just minutes later. Against a team that has blown out FAU plenty of times before, the Owls need to start strong, and then keep the game within reach throughout the night. An early UAB run, could spell the end of the five senior's careers in an FAU uniform.


Latest Line

FAU +8.5

So does the new AD let Curry go Curry tomorrow morning?

dusky256fc said

So does the new AD let Curry go Curry tomorrow morning?

Posted On: Mar 7th 2018, 9:44 AM #377542

We're about an hour away from tipoff of FAU vs. UAB in Frisco.

Meanwhile, FIU just took the lead over Southern Miss with six minutes left in their game.

All is right in the world, USM beats FIU by 1.

Jack D Whidden III said

We're about an hour away from tipoff of FAU vs. UAB in Frisco.

Meanwhile, FIU just took the lead over Southern Miss with six minutes left in their game.

Posted On: Mar 7th 2018, 8:34 PM #377549

10PM? come on Man.  I guess I will find out the result tomorrow.

fauowl said

Jack D Whidden III said

We're about an hour away from tipoff of FAU vs. UAB in Frisco.

Meanwhile, FIU just took the lead over Southern Miss with six minutes left in their game.

Posted On: Mar 7th 2018, 8:34 PM #377549

10PM? come on Man.  I guess I will find out the result tomorrow.

Posted On: Mar 7th 2018, 9:15 PM #377551

Yeah, we drew the short end of the stick today. And it doesn't get much better for our end of the bracket until the semifinals. Ya know… just in case?

LaTech and UNT haven't tipped off yet over on Court A. So expect FAU vs. UAB to start a bit lit as well.

FWIF, the line has moved from UAB -8.5 to UAB -10.5

No change in the starting lineup tonight.

#FAU's Starting Five for the First Round of the C-USA Tournament vs. #UAB:

PG - Payton Hulsey

SG - Justin Massey

SF - Jailyn Ingam

PF - William Pfister

C - Ronald Delph

Four of these five are Seniors, who could be playing in their final game in an FAU uniform tonight.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 8, 2018