FAU guard Ray Taylor hasn’t scored in double figures in the Owls’ last two games. (FAUOwlAccess photo)
Raymond loves everybody
FAU guard Ray Taylor’s numbers may be down, but that’s just fine with him as long as his teammates are playing well and the team is winning.
Originally published on
1/27/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
> Game Capsule: Scouting reports, starting lineups
BOCA RATON - FAU freshman guard Ray Taylor had the keys and was in charge of driving the Owls earlier in the season.
Lately, Taylor is happy to have plenty of backseat drivers.
In the last few games, Taylor’s numbers have fallen off, but it doesn’t bother him because many that’s left the door open for his teammates to take a turn in the driver’s seat as the Owls have won three consecutive games and five of their last six.
“We are a very young team and earlier the season, people weren’t sure about themselves and didn’t know what they could do well,” Taylor said. “Once everyone started playing well, it has really made my job easier. As long as we keep winning, I really don’t care about my individual accolades.”
Heading into Thursday's game at 8 p.m. at South Alabama Taylor is scoring 14.9 points per game, but hasn’t scored more than 12 points in his last five games. Although he has posted nine assists in two games in that span, he is no longer the leading scorer on the team, trailing Greg Gantt’s 15.1 ppg.
“Earlier in the year we didn’t have as many guys as we have that could put the ball in the basket,” said FAU coach Mike Jarvis. “Ray may have shot more than he needed to earlier, but that was out of necessity. Now he becomes an even more dangerous player because he doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands all the time.”
Unlike earlier in the season when Taylor was needed to score and dish the ball to teammates, lately players such as Alex Tucker and Greg Gantt have been taking on much of the scoring load.
And that’s just fine with Taylor, who is playing with less pressure on him than when the season began.
“It’s more relaxing and exciting,” Taylor said. “I can just sit back and run the team. I can watch Alex Tucker, Sanchez Hughley or Greg Gantt make shots. That’s a big relief and it’s exciting. We trust in each other and that really helps.”
Game Capsule: FAU at South Alabama
FAU (10-10, 6-3 Sun Belt)
at South Alabama (12-9, 4-5)
About the Owls: Greg Gantt leads the Sun Belt with 2.8 3-pointers per game. …FAU trails the all-time series 1-6, including a 96-93 overtime loss to USA earlier this season. …The Owls’ three-game winning streak is the longest since FAU won five consecutive games in 2008
About the Jaguars: South Alabama has lost five of its last six games. …The Jaguars lead the Sun Belt in field goal defense, holding opponents to 40.6 percent shooting from the floor. …Gary Redus is shooting 50 percent on his 3-point attempts.
Projected starting lineups
Florida Atlantic / Head coach Mike Jarvis
- G Ray Taylor 5-6 Fr. (14.9 ppg)
- G Greg Gantt 6-2 Fr. (15.1 ppg)
- G Sanchez Hughely 6-4 Jr. (9.7 ppg)
- G Alex Tucker 5-11, So. (5.3 ppg)
- F Brett Royster 6-9 Jr. (9.6 ppg)
South Alabama / Head coach Ronnie Arrow
- G Bryan Sherrer 6-0 Sr. (11.2ppg)
- G Allyn Cooks 5-11 So. (7.8 ppg)
- G Tim Williams 6-3 Jr. (15.0 ppg)
- F Martino Brock 6-5 Fr. (12.1 ppg)
- F Javier Carter 6-7 Fr. (3.4 ppg)