FAU seeks resounding performance at Wichita State What : #20 FAU (18-5, 8-2 AAC) vs Wichita State (10-13, 2-8 AAC) When : Sun. Feb. 11th, @ 12:00 PM EST Where : Charles Koch Arena Series : Owls are tied 1-1 all-time agains the Shockers. This is FAU’s first game at Wichita since 1998. TV : ESPN2 Radio : FoxSports 640 Live Stats : Here Line : FAU -8 FAU at a Glance Offense – 83 PPG, 48% FG, 37% 3PT Defense – 72 PPGA, 43% FGA, 33% 3PTA Rebounding – 39 RPG Owls, 34 RPG Opponents Owl Notables Trap game or not, FAU is frustrated after losing at UAB and will look to bounce back against Wichita State. Even after grabbing a season-high 21 offensive rebounds, that aspect of the game did not help FAU as they struggled to make their shots inside while UAB took advantage by knocking down key shots to pull off the win. “We didn’t finish around the rim nearly well enough. [UAB] were very disciplined staying on our shot fakes as well, so compliment to them. They didn’t bite on any of the fakes, made the shots tough for us,” head coach Dusty May said after the game. “We have to clean a few things up before Wichita on Sunday.” A bright spot from the loss was Jalen Gaffney (pictured below via Bob Markey II). He hit multiple clutch shots, recording a team-high three triples and had the best plus-minus of +10 when he was on the floor. His nine points against UAB was the most he scored since his 10-point outing on January 14th, which was also against the Blazers. He may keep this recent momentum going against the Shockers. Vlad Goldin must assert himself on the glass more frequently. He lost the rebounding battle against UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg, 21-6, as having more physical play against Wichita State’s best inside players will be needed from the big man. Better performances from Johnell Davis, Nick Boyd, and Bryan Greenlee should be expected. They had trouble getting their shots to go in the hoop against the Blazers’ defense, combining for 8-37 shooting from the field (3-13 from three) as they’ll look to have more offensive rhythm against Wichita State. Getting quick buckets must remain a high priority for the Owls. They outscored UAB 16-4 in fastbreak points, making it the third game in a row that the Owls had a massive advantage in that area. FAU returns home to Boca Raton to host Temple on February 15th at 7:00 PM EST. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2. Wichita State Team Site : Here Wichita State at a Glance Offense – 73 PPG, 45% FG, 32% 3PT Defense – 73 PPGA, 42% FGA, 33% 3PTA Rebounding – 40 RPG, 36 RPG Opponents Shocker Notables Even with one of the worst records in conference play, the Shockers are not to be underestimated. Wichita State is coming off a 20-point victory over UTSA, where they locked down the Roadrunners’ leading scorer Jordan Ivy-Curry by limiting him to five points on 1-10 shooting from the field. This was after sustaining a heartbreaker against Memphis on the road, where they actually led by 14 in the second half before the Tigers came back to win with a game-winner from star David Jones. Colby Rogers continues to be the heart of the Shockers’ offense, leading the team in scoring with 15.5 and three-pointers made with 63. He’s shooting 39.6% from deep this season (best in the AAC; 44th nationally), including 48% in his last four games. Harlond Beverly’s playmaking ability also needs FAU’s attention, dishing out a team-high 3.3 assists per game for Wichita State. FAU players looking to penetrate inside still have to be cautious of Quincy Ballard. He is swatting 2.3 shots per game which is the most in the AAC, also landing him at the 15th spot among the best shot-blockers in the country. Following this matchup, the Shockers travel to North Carolina for a road encounter with East Carolina on February 15th at 7:00 PM EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
