String of close games vs. FIU and of FAU having upper hand comes to an end
By Marcus Nelson
Unlike the most recent meetings between FAU and FIU there was no fantastic finish, rushing of the court or big celebration by the Owls.
FAU won the previous five meetings heading into Saturday's big Bury the Burrow in Red showdown.
Problem is the Owls failed to show up in a 76-56 loss to the Panthers and lost by 20 points to its rival from down south.
And the Panthers did it convincing fashion that has to make one wonder how FAU can respond.
Maybe it was inevitable that FIU would have the advantage after being embarrassed five consecutive times, but after the game Owls coach Mike Jarvis said it had more to do with FAU's lack of intensity than an extra dose of motivation for FIU.
“The difference tonight wasn't what they did because they didn't do everything different," Jarvis said. "They didn't play any different than they usually play. They usually play hard against us. No matter how they play against anybody else, they are going to play hard against us and they run the same stiff they always run against us.
"The difference wasn't them, The difference was us. We didn't bring our 'A' game. We didn't bring our intensity tonight.
"There aren't many times I leave this building feeling like we didn't really bring it, but this was one of those nights.
"Everybody in our program, coaches included, are going to have to dig down and look inside and say 'is this the way it's going to be or are we going to bring it?"