GAME CAPSULE: #11 FAU vs #20 Illinois - December 5th, 2023

FAU Takes On Illinois To Tip-Off Jimmy V Classic

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I'm really pushing for the Owls to win this one. I know lots of UI grads/fans. I don't know about the rest of Illinois but college basketball has a bigger following in this part of the state than football. No one talks college football here. I suppose it is because the UI football team doesn't give them much to get excited about. I didn't hear a word about the UI win over FAU this fall.

Once again, Florida Atlantic senior guard Jalen Gaffney finds himself in the same arena as the UConn Huskies. The circumstances are different than they were last March, when only a San Diego State buzzer-beater separated Gaffney from facing his former teammates for the national championship in Houston.

This time FAU and UConn are together in Madison Square Garden, but for separate games in a doubleheader at  the Jimmy V Classic. The Owls face Illinois in the first game and the Huskies—who blew out San Diego State for the 2023 title—play North Carolina in the second.

"I can't run away from them," he smiled as he discussed the irony at media day back in October.

Gaffney comes to this reunion playing perhaps some of the best basketball of his career. In increased minutes the past five games in the absence of injured Nick Boyd and starting the last four, he's helped the Owls go 5-0 against four teams ranging from 20th to 66th in the KenPom rankings plus upward-trending Charleston. In those games he has averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists; and hit 16 of 31 shots including 7-of-9 3-pointers, plus all 10 free throws. He's also committed only 7 turnovers in 157 minutes.

Gaffney came to FAU before last season from UConn via the transfer portal. In three seasons at UConn, he played in all 87 of the Huskies' games and was a double-figure scorer in 12 with a career-high 20 against Seton Hall. A high school McDonald's All-American in New Jersey, he signed with coach Dan Hurley in 2019. He said he's kept in touch with some former teammates and said he wasn't envious of their championship.

"I text some of them," he said in October. "I have a couple of friends still on the team. I was kinda glad for those guys. Coach Hurley is a great coach. It's a great group of guys there. I'll always remember my time at UConn, the highs and lows. I had a great time there—and it prepared me to come here."

Gaffney did say the 72-71 loss to San Diego State was "a lot different for me than the rest of the guys" because he was so close to playing his former team for the title.

"First, the game-winning shot, I was in shock. Nobody expected that to happen," he said. "But I was more grateful we even were there—to get to the Final Four is something I can talk about with my kids one day. Some of these memories I've made with this team are crazy, I'll remember forever. And seeing UConn in the finals, I think we could have played a better game than San Diego State personally. I think we all think that as well."

NOT CREATURES OF HABIT

The pinnacle for FAU last season undoubtedly was coming to Madison Square Garden for the NCAA East Regional and walking out with two wins and a ticket to the Final Four.

Sometimes teams that return to the scene of such great success consciously try, for a variety of reasons, to replicate trip details and routines. That's not the FAU way, Coach Dusty May said.

"We're staying at the same hotel because of proximity (to the Garden). Other than that, I'm sure the support staff has some of the restaurants we ordered from and whatnot. But no, this is a different team, a different season. It's going to be great for our university, our fans, but those of us on the team bus … are going on a business trip … This is a different journey we're on."

FAU 73, ILLINOIS 71, DEC. 29, 2018

May's first FAU team gave him a day-early birthday present in the only previous game between the basketball programs. It was current Illinois coach Brad Underwood's first year as well.

Anthony Adger, a senior guard, had a huge game for the Owls—a career-high 27 points that included four 3-pointers, 9-for-9 foul shooting and the game-winning basket. After Illinois missed two free throws up 71-70, Adger was fouled as he hit a jumper and converted the free throw with 20 seconds left. The Owls hung on from there.

Ayo Dosunmu, now with the Chicago Bulls, led Illinois with 20 points, but May said that night the key was holding star guard Trent Frazier to 9. That, incidentally, was the same total as FAU freshman Michael Forrest.

"Favorite personal memory? Just the resiliency," May said Monday. "I remember Ant Adger getting an and-one. That was a special moment. We were shorthanded that game. It was an odd game. I ddon't think either team played very, and I think more than anything else, our guys just gutted it out at the end."

BRAD UNDERWOOD ON FAU

Here are a few things the Illinois coach said Monday, an off day the Illini enjoyed in New York after beating Rutgers 76-58 Saturday in New Jersey:

• "We're excited to be here after the positive experience at Rutgers. …  But we've got (to play) a great Florida Atlantic team which, in my opinion, is the best passing team in the country. They're old, they've had so much time together, a Final Four. You start looking at 125 practices, a complete off-season, and here they go again. This team's very connected, very good."

• "I think FAU is very capable of putting 100 on you. They're elite in transition, they've got multiple handlers. Big Vlad (Goldin) runs the floor as hard as any big in the country."

• "(Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin) pass it, shoot it, they're big and strong with a physical presence. They both rebound it and push.  They both have great range so they open the floor up from the arc. We saw a great (guard duo) with Marquette, a great one with Kansas, and this one is right there with them."

I'll be in the house, heading over to MSG in a bit – behind the basket. Holla at your boy!

d-owl said

I'll be in the house, heading over to MSG in a bit – behind the basket. Holla at your boy!

Posted On: Dec 5th 2023, 4:46 PM #418854

You holla at me, send some pics!

No change for FAU tonight vs Illini.

Nick Boyd remains out for FAU and all others are GOOD to go.

🦉🔴🔴🔴

IT'S SHOWTIME! Here are the starters for FAU when they tip-off the Jimmy V Classic against Illinois:

G Davis
G Gaffney
G Martin
G Weatherspoon
C Goldin

BALL OUT at The Garden, FAU!

Over under on pregame?

I've got 10 minutes…

7 minutes, i lose!

Vlad with the silk 15 footer 👀