Fresh off the heels of their school record nine-game winning streak, Florida Atlantic is entering the holiday season as one of the most surprisingly dominant mid-majors in the nation.
At 10-1, FAU is currently ranked #42 in KenPom rankings, ahead of preseason Conference USA favorites UAB and last year’s conference champions North Texas, atop a deep conference that is arguably amidst its best season in a decade.
Entering his fifth year at the helm, Dusty May has helped shape FAU as a consistent winner, finishing with winning records in each of the first four seasons. This season, a major key has been their incredible guard depth.
Case in point, six of FAU’s guards have started at least four games while fifth-year senior Michael Forrest has played off the bench every game, yet leads the team in minutes. There’s a democratic approach to Dusty May’s rotations: FAU’s seven guards average between 17 and 27 minutes per game.
62.7% minutes continuity from last year’s 19-15 season has helped lay the foundation for this season’s success, particularly with Forrest opting into his extra year of eligibility. Currently ranked within the top-seven in FAU career leaders in points, assists, three-points made and steals, Forrest’s willingness to embrace his bench role is a major note to his leadership and selflessness.
Forrest’s fellow returning guards are led by Alijah Martin, who is not only the team’s leading scorer (15.0 ppg), but the team’s best downhill attacker and most physical guard at an imposing 6’2 210. Entering his third season at FAU after starting his career at Minnesota, senior Bryan Greenlee is a pass-first point guard who has been an efficient perimeter weapon, averaging 39.1 3p% throughout his time in Boca Raton.
Junior Johnell Davis is amidst a career season, currently amassing per-game highs in points (9.7), rebounds (4.9), assists (1.9), three pointers made (1.3) and three-point percentage (42.9%). More importantly, the 6’4 203 Davis has played most of his minutes as the small-ball four, along with FAU’s most aggressive perimeter defender Brandon Weatherspoon.
The small-ball four duo of Davis and Weatherspoon has helped allow FAU to take one of its biggest steps in offensive development: limiting turnovers. Most of last season’s minutes at the four were played by Everett Winchester, whose team high TO rate (26.0) and inefficiency from the perimeter (career 23.2 2p%) has been replaced by the junior duo’s improvement on these metrics. Weatherspoon’s 7.0 turnover rate is currently ranked 38th lowest in the nation while Davis’ 10.0 turnover rate is also indicative of his calming guard play. The duo are also averaging a combined 34.7 3p%, creating a consistent four-guard offense that opponents constantly need to give attention to at the perimeter.
This backcourt quintet of returnees would make most teams jealous, but their guard depth goes even deeper thanks to Nicholas Boyd returning after redshirting last year, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 threes made at 37.5%.
Miraculously, FAU’s guard depth not only attracted former UConn guard Jalen Gaffney off the transfer portal, but he has also helped develop into one of the Owls’ best guards, setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, three points made and shooting efficiency: (7.6p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 46.4 2p%, 1.5 3PM, 45.9 3p%).
While their guard play has helped spark the Owls’ aspirations on making the tournament, another key factor for their success has been the steady growth of junior post-players Vladislav Goldin and Giancarlo Rosado.
Transferring to FAU after one season at Texas Tech, Goldin completed his high school career at the venerable Northeast powerhouse Putnam Science Academy alongside seven other D1 commits, headlined by UConn’s Hassan Diarra and South Carolina’s Josh Gray.
In Year 3, the 7’1 240 Goldin has worked hard to reach the level of potential he showed in high school, achieving career highs in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and minutes per game.
Goldin’s efficiency has been symbiotically blossomed thanks to tag-teaming with fellow junior Giancarlo Rosado. Growing up in West Palm Beach, just a thirty-minute drive from Abessinio Court, the 6’8 247 Rosado brings a versatile savvy to his game as one of the better passing bigs in the C-USA, while achieving career highs in 2p%, minutes played and rebounds.
After closing out the non-conference schedule on Wednesday against Northern Kentucky, the Owls continue conference play with one of the most difficult opening slates in the C-USA, facing North Texas twice, hosting UAB and Charlotte and visiting Western Kentucky in five of its first six games. Coach May knows his Owls have a lot of potential, but a strong showing over these next seven games will help clarify the team’s destiny.
No comments:
Post a Comment