Freshman guard Greg Gantt leads the Owls with 15.9 points per game. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Down to earth
FAU not only has to deal with face Denver in the thin air of the Mile High City, but must do so after losing for the first time in six games
Originally published on 2/5/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
Florida Atlantic was flying sky-high until Thursday when North Texas stopped the Owls’ five-game winning streak by defeating FAU 86-69.
If the Owls want to get another streak off the ground, they will have to do so by defeating Denver on Saturday.
And that means dealing with the altitude and the trouble it can cause teams visiting Mangness Arena, where DU is 12-1 this season.
“Denver is difficult because of the altitude,” said FAU coach Mike Jarvis. “But I think the team we have is built for that. We are small and lighter. It’s the smaller guys that lave less trouble with it than bigger guys.”
FAU has never beaten Denver on the road and will have its hands full with a rested Pioneers team that hasn’t played since last Saturday.
The Owls, however are completing their most grueling road trip of the season and have to rebound quickly after losing to North Texas on Thursday.
Denver’s Princeton-style offense has proven difficult to defend by many teams.
“They can score a lot of points and they can shoot 3s,” Jarvis said. “They are very difficult to take out of their game. You don’t give them backdoors and you have to defend.”
FAU (12-11, 8-4 Sun Belt Conference)
at Denver (13-9, 6-5)
About the Owls: The all-time series is tied at 2-2. …FAU guard Ray Taylor set the school record for assists in a season with 147 after handing out seven assists in the Owls’ loss to North Texas on Thursday. …FAU is last in the SBC by allowing 40.2 rebounds per game.
About the Pioneers: Denver hasn’t played since the Pioneers lost to Arkansas State 73-62 last Saturday …The Pioneers are fifth in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 49.9 percent from the floor. …Denver is last in the SBC with 23.0 rebounds per game.
Projected starting lineups
FAU / Head coach Mike Jarvis
G Ray Taylor 5-7 Fr. (14.3 ppg)
G Alex Tucker 5-11 So. (5.9 ppg)
G Greg Gantt 6-2, Fr. (15.9 ppg)
G Sanchez Hughley 6-4 Jr. (10.2 ppg)
F Brett Royster 6-8 Jr. (9.4 ppg)
Denver / Head coach Joe Scott
G Brian Stafford 6-4 So. (11.8 ppg)
G Nate Rohnert 6-5 Sr. (15.1 ppg)
G Chase Hallam 6-5 Fr. (8.4 ppg)
F Justin Coughlin 6-9 So. (3.1 ppg)
F Rob Lewis 6-7 Jr. (9.2 ppg)