Well, as previosuly stated before Walters denied it, Monroe is out due to grades…he will need to have a class grade "dropped" to become eligible…David Anderson has quit the team, and Graham is not even listed on the roster for tonight…does not look good…i truly feel for Rex and the rest of the team right now…how much worse could it possibly get?

Here's what we are looking at roster wise and some things Ted Hutton had to say today:

FAU PROBABLE STARTERS

10 Avery Holley
30 Brent Crews
2 DeAndre Rice
00 Derrick Simmons
21 Jeff Parmer

OFF THE BENCH

1 Eni Cuka
4 Sean Alarcon
11 Seydou Kone
15 Enrique Rodriguez

Huttons Game Day Blog:

Downsized Burrowing Birds

"For those who are planning to see FAU host the Kangaroos of Missouri-Kansas City this evening, you will see fewer players on the bench.

David Anderson has quit the team. Anderson was a late addition, agreeing to come out of retirement when Revasive begged him to put his uniform back on when he realized five players expected to be on the team weren?t going to be there for the start of the season.

Anderson agreed, and with a team dressing seven players, was a much-needed body that could give some minutes.

But as players got healthy or improved grades, Anderson was looking at a much diminished role and decided it was time to go.

Carlos Monroe will now take the spot of DeAndre Rice on the academically disabled list, though his hope is not through an NCAA appeal but some miracle involving getting some classes he flunked dropped from last semester, which I hope would not happen.

I have no sympathy for student athletes who can?t maintain a 2.0. Yes, they have to juggle practices, games and travel with school, but they also get what amounts to private tutoring and any help they need on the academic side.

There is a computer lab in the Oxley Center just for student athletes, and several academic advisors work full-time with student athletes. And, let?s face it, it?s not like FAU is Harvard. Geez, open a book every now and then and show up for classes. How hard is that?

With Graham likely out again with his ankle sprain, expect the Kangaroos to hop past the diminished Burrowing Birds."

Sun Sentinel/Ted Hutton

And, let?s face it, it?s not like FAU is Harvard. Geez, open a book every now and then and show up for classes. How hard is that?

Hutton could have left that comment out. I know FAU is not Harvard but there is no reason to suggest it is easy to make the grade. I had to work my freakin butt off to get through my major and I wasn't a student athlete.

If they are trying to go around the system to get Monroe eligible, then I say we'll look forward to next season to see Monroe back on the court if he sticks around and gets his grades up. He would be stupid not to try to finish his education.

Whats the morale of the team? If it is bad, is that the reason Anderson quit?


It took me a while to find the link to the blog but it would not work. I don't know if Ted deleted the article or what but I wanted to tell him to stick to sports and skip the academic assessment.

seems like the BB's managed to pull it off last night and won by 9.

did anyone go to the game? how did we look?

I only heard the end of the game, but it seems like the Owls played an inspired game without both Monroe and Parmer. We are now 4-0 at the Burrow. The crowd was small again, under 500, which is disappointing but not totally unexpected with students out for the winter break. Anyway, good job by the under-manned Owls, keep it rolling.

From what I am hearind and reading, Rex is pushing these guys hard and holding them responsible for their actions on and off the court regardless if it means putting the team in a bad position as far as keeping players on the bench.

Rex is definetely building a strong foundation with time will sow great results in the near future

This is a tough time of year with all going on with the holidays it is hard to get people to some of the NBA games right now it will get better after break.

Bytor, I couldn't agree more Rex is building the program the right way and will it be as big as Florida, I would say it will have the potential to if Rex keeps doing what he is doing. ;D

WOW, Simmons had the most rebounds on either team, 16.

UMKC has a 7-1 center and 3 other guys 6-9. Amazing.

If Rex can develop guys like this, the telephone will be ringing off the hook from high school bball players.


Really need to beat FIU next game!!!!!!! Good luck!

Anyone know why Parmer did not play?

Comments on the above comments, and questions:

I went to the game and was surprised at the attendance - which was listed as 444…for this time of the year and for no students to be there, except for Smitty and four of his crew, it was somewhat festive…the rest was all family/local attendees…and they had no halftime show with kids whos families show up as well…this will change shortly when the students return obviously…

The team looked great execution wise with crisp, unselfish passing…shotting could have been a little better from behind the arc, but overall given what we had to work with, we played very well…Simmons was unbelievable and should get an award given what he contributed…the guy plays like he's five inches taller at times…

Parmer was dressed, but did not play do to "showing up late to practice and not practicing very hard" one day last week…Rex stated that he will play Thursday at FIU…

As mentioned above by Bytor, FAU has a coach that is unlike no other to preceed him…and it shows…unlike doherty, he's loyal…unlike green, he's a knowlegable teacher and developer…he has a long term vision, and true determination to see it come to pass…lastly, he DICIPLINES his players - regardless of who they are playing, etc…he is instilling not only a successful playing system, emulating North Carolina's style of play and family atmosphere, but also a set of core values that will prove successful in the long term - academics comes FIRST…Monroe will be the last to "suffer" the axe of poor grades…players he has recruited are not only creme de la crop in historical view of the talent level we have had, but first and foremost good students…

With what we have coming in next year, and what we return, this team will make huge strides next year…we may have room for one more signee next year - Hopefully a wide bodied big man…but one things for sure: Just give it a little time…this program is definitely on the rise…a few bumps in the road ahead…but not for long…

Great assessment, Florida Owl. You get the feeling that Rex is working on quality for the long term and not a quick win here or there just to try and prove something in his first year as far as wins. The trap that many coaches fall into is to go after good basketball players and hope you can make them good students. A good coach can get good students that have basketball skills and make them better basketball players. Most coaches do not want to take the time to do it that way. I think Rex will.