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Game Thread: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

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Game Thread: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM




FAU (7-9, 3-2) @ WKU (9-5, 2-1)

When: Thursday, Jan. 14th - 8:00PM EST

Where: Bowling Green, KY - Diddle Arena

TV:  Fox College Sports (FCS), DirecTV Channel 617

Live Video: WKU Pay Per View

ESPN 760 Internet Broadcast: Here

Live Stats: Here

WKU Site: Here


Probable Starters:

FAU

G Ray Taylor 16.4 ppg
G Greg Gantt 14.3 ppg
G Alex Tucker 4.3 ppg
F Sanchez Hughley 9.8 ppg
F Brett Royster 10.1 ppg

WKU

G A.J. Slaughter 16.6 ppg
G Jamal Crook 2.0 ppg
G Caden Dickerson 3.0 ppg
F Steffphon Pettigrew 13.6 ppg
C Jeremy Evans 9.8 ppg


The Series

WKU owns a 6-1 series advantage over FAU heading into Thursday night.  The Owls shocked the Hilltoppers at home 78-73 in what some WKU fans called the FAU St. Valentines Day Massacre on Feb 14, 2007.


FAU at a Glance

The Owls picked up their seventh win on the season with a 74-61 victory over ULM last Saturday at FAU Arena.

Florida Atlantic was ferocious on the defensive end, while forcing 21 Warhawk turnovers.

The talent level rises on Thursday.

"Anytime you go to Western to play, you know you're going to play a good team. We're playing against probably the best all-around guard in the league come Thursday in Slaughter", said Mike Jarvis.

"Looking forward to see how the guys play.  This will be a good chance to see how we do in a game that is potentially very important on the road. Whether or not the guys play with the same confidence they play with at home."

"Test driving" the car he calls his team, Jarvis' agenda continues to include finding the right match-ups to fill the win column.

DeMonte Simpson, who saw significant time earlier this season as a starter, has only been on the court 1 minute in the last two games combined. But, having seen positive results recently, Jarvis plans to keep the small line-up in tact - with slight reservation.

"That certainly has been good for us and we're gonna see if it continues to be.  As long as its producing we'll go with whatever line-ups win it. It's (line-up) usually going to be eight on a given night, that doesn't mean its the same eight every night", Jarvis said.

The Owls are currently second in the league in points per game with 74.8, but next to last in field goals made at 40.8%.

However, a +2.19 turnover margin, and 13.7 offensive rebounds per contest are both good for the top spot amongst Sun Belt members.


WKU at a Glance

Last time out for WKU, Denver slid past the Hilltoppers 72-67. The Pioneers connected on 15-17 attempts through the first 14 minutes of the second period, which was too much to overcome for WKU.  Slaughter scored 28 points for the Hilltoppers in the loss - two points shy of his career high.

Slaughter, the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year pick, leads WKU in scoring with 16.6 ppg. Steffphon Pettigrew (13.6) and Sergio Kerusch (13.4) follow closely behind.

Western Kentucky ranks 10th in the league in scoring this season with 67.2 ppg, but only 61.8 ppg at home in the Coach McDonald era.

Since February 2007, the Hilltoppers have won 34 of their last 36 games at Diddle Arena.  Aside from a 64-63 loss to Indiana State earlier this season, the only other loss was to FAU.

In the latest RPI rankings, WKU comes in at 48th.


Latest Line:

WKU -13


Owl's Nest Prediction

WKU is a good team  No doubt about it.  But don't feel the game will end up in +double digits when it is all said and done.

The paper trail favors FAU in a lot of areas - rebounding, and FG% being two.  And, with a stellar night from long range, the Owls could pull off the upset; as they did previously in 2007.

However, the emotional factor is something to be accounted for. The Hilltoppers are still stinging from their recent loss to UD and will be looking to take it out on the Owls - despite FAU's riding into Bowling Green on a high note.

If the Owls can maintain two halves of productivity, the game could be close at the end.  But it's a lot to ask for on the road at Diddle Arena given their youth.

WKU will likely chalk up win number 10 on the season.

WKU -7
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

To me, this is the most important game of the year.  WKU on the road, the top conference foe that has a good history in the NCAA Tourney.  If we get blown out, we know where we stand and what we need to work on for the remaining Belt schedule; if we keep it close, we know we are moving in the right direction; if we pull off a huge upset, we can pull the bandwagon around and let everyone on…which is fine by me.

If we would have won a game like this last year, it would have been a fluke.  Given the momentum we have been building this year, this would be a program-changing win.  I do not expect to win, but we have played well enough to make me want to pay attention to it.  That in itself tells me we are headed down a great path.

Go Owls!!
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

I completely agree with Fauowl, this is a big game.  I don't believe we have to win it, although that would be nice, but I think with the momentum and the improvements we have seen with this very young team we have to show we can complete with a team of WKU's caliber.  I have to assume that our FG% issue has alot to do with four Freshman in the starting lineup and that will continue to get better as the year goes on and into the next couple of years.

On another note regardless of the outcome of this or other games I want the team to know that watching these games you can tell they want to win.  The hustle they have been showing on the court shows and it makes watching the Owls play much more fun and exciting regardless of the final score.

GO OWLS!

GO OWLS!
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

Looks like I'm getting the game tonight on my AT&T U-Verse, channel 647.  Awesome.
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

fauowl said

Looks like I'm getting the game tonight on my AT&T U-Verse, channel 647.  Awesome.

Nice!

Wish they would get the hook up established in East Boca…….
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

And…here it is…

Angry Tops focused on FAU

"We’re eager to get back out and prove that we’re still at the top of this league,” Slaughter said. “We want to take some of that frustration (from the Denver loss) out on the rest of the Sun Belt teams.”

Full Article


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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

Rick said



"We’re eager to get back out and prove that we’re still at the top of this league,” Slaughter said. “We want to take some of that frustration (from the Denver loss) out on the rest of the Sun Belt teams.”



don't believe the hype…fau by 15  ;D ;D
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

Rick said

fauowl said

Looks like I'm getting the game tonight on my AT&T U-Verse, channel 647.  Awesome.

Nice!

Wish they would get the hook up established in East Boca…….

I just had U-Verse turned on a few weeks ago in East Boca.

GO OWLS!
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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

How they are coming up with 13 points is beyond me…I guess we will find out soon enough…

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Re: Preview: FAU @ Western Kentucky Jan. 14th - 8:00PM

i say we win in close one....
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