Alex Tucker shoots in FAU's three-overtime victory vs. Warner Southern. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Triple challenge
> FAU-UM preview: FAU begins a tough three-game stretch Saturday when the Owls face the Hurricanes before heading to face Georgia and Maryland.
Originally published on
12/18/2009
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic coach Mike Jarvis envisions a day when he will lead the Owls into the NCAA Tournament to play a big-time teams in a big-time building.
That’s why Jarvis wants to see how his players respond in the next three games against Miami, Georgia and Maryland.
There is no question that playing two teams from the ACC and a team from the SEC is the toughest of the season for the Owls (5-4).
“We have to play against teams that potentially someday we will have to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament,” Jarvis said. “If you ever beat one of those teams and you get to the tournament – guess what? You have a legitimate chance of doing it again.”
Despite the potential for mismatches or blowout losses, FAU players are excited to see what they can do against teams from major conferences.
“Especially games like University of Miami, when we play Georgia, when we play Maryland, we are going into that game as a team with a big chip on our shoulders,” said freshman guard Ray Taylor.
Before games at Georgia and Maryland, the Owls will face the Hurricanes (10-1) on Saturday in the Orange Bowl Classic at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise.
“We want them to see that they can compete with those guys and for how long?,” Jarvis said. “Can we compete for 40, Can we compete for 30?”
Taylor, a Miami native, is anxious to get a shot at playing the Hurricanes.
“Our motto as a team is ‘Going from nobody to somebody.’ “ Taylor said. “It starts by beating teams in the ACC, the Big East, the SEC. We have to beat those kinds of teams first, so when people look and go, ‘Oh, Miami lost to Florida Atlantic. They are really changing. We have to take those guys seriously.’”
FAU (5-4, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference)
vs. Miami (10-1, 0-1 ACC)
Orange Bowl Classic
About the Owls: FAU is 1-18 all-time vs. Miami…The Owls are coming off a 66-48 victory over New Orleans in their Sun Belt opener…G Ray Taylor leads the Sun Belt with 6.2 assists per game
About the Hurricanes: UM’s only loss this season came to Boston College…Miami is 23-8 vs. teams from the state of Florida under coach Frank Haith…The Hurricanes defeated FAU 85-69 last season.
Probable starting lineups
FAU/ Head Coach: Mike Jarvis
- G Ray Taylor 5-6 Fr. (17.7 ppg)
- G Greg Gantt 6-2 Fr. (14.2 ppg)
- G Sanchez Hughely 6-4 Jr. (8.2 ppg)
- F Andre Mattison 6-7 Fr. (1.4 ppg)
- F DeMonte Simpson 6-9 Fr. (7.0 ppg)
Miami / Head coach: Frank Haith
- G Durand Scott 6-3 Fr. (7.5 ppg)
- G James Dews 6-4 Sr. (12.1 ppg)
- G/F DeQuan Jones 6-6 So. (6.8 ppg)
- F Cyrus McGowan 6-9 Sr. (4.5 ppg)
- F Dwayne Collins 6-8 Sr. (12.5 ppg)