What: FAU vs Rice
When: Sunday, January 19th, 1:00 PM
Where: Eleanor R Baldwin Arena, Boca Raton FL
Series: FAU leads 7-4
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Fox 640
Live Stats: Stats broadcast
Line: FAU -9
Ken Pom Prediction: FAU 78 Rice 70
Owls at a Glance
Offense – 81.0 PPG, 46.0% FG, 34.3% 3PT
Defense – 77.7 PPGA, 44.0% FGA, 38.2% 3PTA
Rebounding – 37.0 RPG Owls, 37.8 RPG Opponents
FAU Notes
Florida Atlantic Men’s basketball is back at home on Sunday following a trip to Tulane and they will be looking to bounce back against Rice following back to back losses to the Green Wave and UAB. A halftime dunk contest between students will be in store as FAU look to draw a raucous crowd to back them in the Battle of the Owls against their Houston based counterpart.
It was much of the same over the past 2 games for FAU as they had up and down performances where they fell behind early before storming back against both UAB and Tulane before squandering away their comeback late. Multiple minute scoring droughts hurt FAU in both games and heading into their matchup against Rice the Owls will look to find offensive consistency.
The Owls defense has been relatively solid over the past 2 games as they held both UAB and Tulane to under 50% from the field and after UAB finished 36% from 3, FAU held Tulane to 26% from beyond the arc in the next game. FAU also won the rebound battle in both matchups including against a UAB team which went into the game top 15 in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage.
Guard Devin Vanterpool. Photo via Angelina LaBelle.
The issues for FAU came on the offensive end as in both games they had the aforementioned scoring droughts at times and they were also plagued by turnovers, 26 over the past 2 games which Tulane and UAB turned into a combined 33 points. The Owls were getting good looks consistently, but they were not translating into points and it was compounded by turnovers, so going forward while not much may change in terms of offensive game plan, the Owls will look to be clean with the basketball, while also hopefully converting on their open looks.
The offense was there in spurts in both games, as the Owls leading scorers on the season each had their moments with Kaleb Glenn scoring 13 against both UAB and Tulane and Tre Carroll finishing with double figures in both games including 20 against UAB. Although Glenn and Carroll both contributed in a normal capacity, the scoring outside of that was inconsistent, specifically from beyond the arc and against Rice the Owls need to find a way to get consistent scoring from Leland Walker, Ken Evans, Kyky Tandy and Baba Miller.
Against UAB, Kyky Tandy was crucial in the Owls ability to stay in it and eventually force a comeback, finishing with 14 points including 4 triples and performances like that from any of the Owls starting guard trio gives this offense a level of fire power that it can compete with any team in the AAC. The key for the Owls against Rice will be finding that scoring throughout the game rather than just in spurts, something this team has shown they are capable of doing at various points this season.
Rice and FAU are both 2 and 3 in conference play and both squads bring in a 1st year Head Coach and a slew of new players which should make this an even and interesting matchup. For FAU, the keys to success will start on offense as they will need to limit turnovers and find ways to get consistent scoring, while on defense continue to be active in the passing lanes and keep building on solid 3 point defense which after struggling most of the season they have been relatively solid over the past 2 games.
No game in the AAC is easy by any stretch of the imagination, however this remains a winnable matchup for FAU and one they need to bounce back in, as following this game they will be off for a week before a pivotal matchup with UNT on the road on January 26th, making this game their best shot at a tune-up before facing off with the second best team in the AAC currently outside of Memphis.
Rice at a Glance
Offense – 70.2 PPG, 42.5% FG, 31.9% 3PT
Defense – 67.6 PPGA, 39.9% FGA, 31.6% 3PTA
Rebounding – 39.1 RPG Owls, 34.2 RPG Opponents
Rice Notes
Rice heads into this game sitting at 11-7 on the season, however after starting out AAC play 2-0 they have lost their last 3 matchups and will look to snap their skid on the road in Boca Raton. Although they suffered a 22 point loss to UNT on the road, that is the only double digit loss they have suffered this season and under Rob Lanier, this Rice squad has taken a significant jump in talent than what they displayed just a season ago.
Rice has been led by USC-Upstate transfer, Trae Broadnax, as the 6’4 senior guard is the only Owl averaging double figures, checking in with 13.7 points 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. When the Owls have been dangerous this season is when they get scoring outside of Broadnax, as Kellen Amos, Caden Powell and Alem Husenovic all are averaging 9 points a game this season, but in similar fashion to FAU, they have struggled with getting that story consistently.
That is reflected in their statistics as their struggles this season have come on offense, currently 245th in effective FG%, they average a turnover on 19.3% of possessions which is 291st in the country and their shooting splits are all below 230th in the country, currently 32.3% from 3, 49.3% from the field and 68.4% from the free throw line. The positives offensively for the Owls have been their ability to get to the line and offensive rebounding, as they average an offensive rebound on 34.3% of possessions which is 60th in the country and although they struggle to convert at the line they have an FTA/FGA of 45.9 which is 5th in the nation.
On the defensive side of things, Rice has been fairly strong, with their biggest strengths being limiting teams EFG% to 45.6% which is 23rd in the nation and they hold teams to 31.3% which is 75th in the nation and 44.8% from 2 which is 19th in the nation. The few weaknesses for Rice have been a lack of takeaways, currently with a turnover % of 15.6% which is 300th in the nation and allowing teams to get to the free throw line, conceding a FTA/FGA of 36 which is 243rd in the country.
Some of Rice’s struggles this season play directly into FAU’s favor as the Boca Owls look to bounce back from some of their own, as their inability to force turnovers and spotty 3-point shooting are 2 things which if they continue, FAU could very well bounce back in this one. On the flip side however, their strong defense, particularly on the perimeter could cause FAU problems with the inconsistencies they have been facing as of late.
Ken Pom currently has FAU favored by 8 points which seems like a lot, however if the Texas Owls are unable to overcome their offensive inconsistencies that will make for an uphill battle, even with the struggles that FAU had as of late. The path to success for Rice will start with them getting scoring outside of Trae Broadnax and if their offense is more productive that will turn this game into a battle with their top notch defense taking center stage.
