Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Quick, undersized team
exploits UALR’s size advantage against the Trojans. Think both games against
Troy. And that’s the recipe Florida Atlantic brings tonight as they take
on UALR (12-9, 6-4) at 7 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.
UALR is expected to start a front line tonight that is 6-5, 6-10 and
6-10. And the Trojans will bring 6-8 and 6-10 off the bench. Florida Atlantic
counters with 6-4, 6-6 and 6-6.
While the marquee matchup tonight features the Sun Belt’s leading scorer,
FAU’s Greg Gantt, vs. one of the conference’s best defenders, UALR’s Leroy
Isler, the real matchup to watch is whether or not UALR’s bigs can utilize
their size on the offensive end while neutralizing FAU’s quickness when the
Trojans are on defense.
Troy’s undersized lineup won both of those matchups in both meetings
with UALR and it cost UALR a victory on the road. It will be key tonight.
BURN BABY BURN
After a disastrous season last year, several FAU players decided to
transfer (including a couple to rival Florida International). But Gregg Gant
stuck around and he’s paying off big for the owls. Gantt averages 22.5 points
and 5.0 rebounds.
BURN UNIT
But don’t just focus on Gantt tonight. FAU point guard Stefan Moody was
a Parade All-American out of high school in Kissimmee, Fla. He’s the Owls’
second leading scorer.
BTH KEYS TO VICTORY
Get to 60: While we don’t
anticipate another 40-38 game like last year, expect this to be a defensive
battle tonight. FAU is 5-0 when it holds opponents to fewer than 60 points.
UALR is 8-0 when its opponents score fewer than 60.
Windex: In what figures to
be a defensive struggle, rebounding is going to be key. UALR can’t allow the
smaller FAU lineup to grab offensive rebounds and pile up second-chance points.
Will to win: UALR’s Will
Neighbour doesn’t have to score to be effective. But Neighbour figures to get a
favorable matchup tonight and needs to take advantage.
VEGAS, BABY
UALR is a 5.5-point favorite at home tonight.
PREDICTIONS
OK. Everyone's in. Everyone takes UALR. Everyone anticipates a pretty close game:
OmniRankings (10-2): UALR 67, FAU 59
OmniRankings (10-2): UALR 67, FAU 59
Real Time RPI (16-4): UALR
74, FAU 64
Jeff Sagarin (15-5): UALR
73, FAU 68
The Sports Network (14-5): UALR 67, FAU 61
CBS Sportsline (12-8): UALR 73, FAU 68
BTH Average (13-6): UALR
70.8, FAU 64.0
