For the first time in over a month Florida Atlantic Men’s basketball has lost 2 games in a row, as the Owls were outmatched on the road at Memphis. The Owls led by 6 at one point during the first half and were holding the Tigers to 23% from 3, however they outscored FAU 47-33 in the second half on their way to an 84-65 victory.
It was the second game in a row where FAU struggled with physicality as Memphis grabbed offensive rebounds on the first 2 possessions of the game and it started a trend that finished from there, as they out-rebounded the Owls 44-33 and out-scored them in the paint 52-28. It wasn’t just the physicality that hurt FAU today, it was general miscues that plagued them as well, as they finished 5 of 18 from the free throw line and also committed 12 turnovers that Memphis turned into 24 points.
The Owls will have to pivot quickly, as another key opponent in North Texas is coming to town this Thursday and FAU will have some major issues to overcome heading into that game. According to FAU Coach John Jakus, he wasn’t sure why the Owls shot poorly from the line, however practicing them takes no effort and outside of that it will be his job to get this squad to believe.
“Well, during our win streak, we out rebounded opponents, during the last two games we did not, so that would be one takeaway. Two is that it takes no energy to shoot free throws in an empty gyms. So they’re going to do a bunch of that. And then three, when it comes down to just the ability to believe, when you go from having a lead for so long, and then it’s taken in that moment. We need growth in that moment, and we showed some growth. We were able to lose a lead in a five game win streak and bounce back and respond. We did not show that today. So that moment is my job to help them believe and know how much we love them and that they’re good enough players to do it, the first two they’re going to have to take the step forward,” Jakus said.
FAU was plagued today by Dain Dainja, who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, also scoring 9 of the Tigers first 11 points to start the second half, as Memphis attacked the paint with limited response from FAU. Dainja had 16 points and 5 rebounds in the first matchup between these two schools and in the second rendition he found a way to build on that.
The Owls looked to counter the strong interior play from Memphis with extended minutes for Matas Vokietaitis, however he struggled with fouls and for the second straight game the Owls lost the rebound and overall paint battle after only losing the rebound battle once in their previous 9 games. Wichita State was able to take control of the close game against FAU on Thursday with dominating physicality and today was the same story for Memphis, as any Owl run was negated by strong offensive rebounding and scoring at the rim from the Tigers.
John Jakus mentioned in his weekly presser that he felt FAU was much improved since their first meeting with Memphis and although that may be true, today they had no answer for Dainja for the second time this season. Jakus isn’t surprised with Dainja’s success, however rather than it being a long term issue for FAU, Jakus believes that Dainja is a first team all league player and he showed that in both games against the Owls.
“I don’t think there’s a surprise. I think at this point, Dain’s probably first game all league, and people should be used to that, but we did a bad job as time went on. It’s the physicality of just wearing us down. I thought it was kind of helpful early on with Matas on him, but then Matas just immediately gets fouls. And whatever your view on those fouls are, it doesn’t really matter. It affects us, and you’re guarding Dain with an undersized five in Tre. So I think between that and our double teams being late, he’s got a distinct advantage against us, and our double package, or our size has to stay out of foul trouble,” Jakus said.
The Owls will have to move quickly, as they have to find a way to right the ship over the final remaining games during the regular season in hope of getting to a point where they are playing their best basketball come the AAC tournament in a few weeks. It looked like FAU had found a way to consistently play together during their 5 game win streak and even at times against Wichita State, however against Memphis the Owls looked discombobulated at times as they did early in the season.
Offensively after recording an assist on more than 50% of their field goals in each game of their win streak, the Owls have assisted on less than 50% of their made field goals during their 2 game losing streak, while defensively they reverted back to the interior struggles that hurt them earlier in the year. Streakiness isn’t a trait any team wants and the biggest thing that the Owls need to find over the final 4 games of the year is consistency, as if they can find it, they will be a threat in the AAC tournament.
It is unknown what will happen over the final few games, but according to Jakus, one thing is certain, and that is the fact that his team hasn’t given up yet and they will go back to work in preparation for North Texas coming to Boca on Thursday.
“We lost a couple in a row before and went on a five game winning streak. So it’s in there. One thing, our kids haven’t given up. And there’s stretches today between the missed free throws and then some of the hanging of the head where it looked like it, but they never go home, have a couple practices and don’t come out the next game a little better. So I think that’s in us. It’s just a matter of playing in such a way that it can be shown,” Jakus said.