KSU/FGCU PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- FGCU (17-9, 7-5 ASUN) looks to win their fifth game in a row, as they face Kennesaw State University (11-14, 6-6 ASUN) Wednesday night at 7:00 PM from Alico Arena.

Stats (KSU):

KSU averages 74.8 ppg, shoots 45.9% (690/1503) from the field, and 35.0% (197/563) from beyond the arc. The Owls average 36.4 team rebounds per game. KSU dishes out 14.5 assists, 7.6 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game. The Owls average 12.6 team turnovers per game.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU averages 77.9 ppg, shoots 45.1% (720/1596) from the field, and 32.5% (271/770) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 39.2 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 16.3 assists, 6.9 steals, and 4.9 blocks per game. The Eagles average 14.0 team turnovers per game.

Players To Watch For (KSU):

6’4 SO G Chris Youngblood 13.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg

5’10 JR G Terrell Burden 12.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg

6’4 SR G Spencer Rodgers 10.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Players To Watch For (FGCU):

5’8 GR G Tavian Dunn-Martin 20.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg

6’11 6th C Kevin Samuel 11.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg

6’3 JR G Cyrus Largie 11.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Overview:

FGCU looks to avenge a 77-53 loss to the Owls, that occurred on 1/13 from the KSU Convocation Center. This Eagles team has played so much better than the team that got ran out of the gym that night in Georgia. The Owls recently lost 74-72, to a UNF team that was without Carter Hendricksen and Jose Placer. KSU is paced by Chris Youngblood, who averages 13.7 ppg. The Eagles are led by Tavian Dunn-Martin who averages 20.5 ppg, and was named ASUN Player of the Week, for the second time this year, after a program record 38 points, in a comeback victory vs Stetson University.

FGCU faces a KSU team that is young and full of talent, and the Eagles have learned you can’t take the Owls lightly. We love the Kevin Samuel matchup once again in the post, and until a team stops him, FGCU will still keep going to the big man, and the double double machine will keep dominating ASUN teams. The 6’11 Center faces 6’8 Demond Robinson and 6’7 Alex Peterson in the post, and the advantage favors the Eagles. FGCU shot 28% (16/57) from the field, and 22% (6/27) from beyond the arc, in the previous meeting with the Owls, and that won’t cut it, Wednesday night from Alico Arena. FGCU needs to cut down on the team turnovers, and if the Eagles can get that number down to 10 or less, and win the rebuilding battle, FGCU should win their fifth game in a row. It’s all about how you finish record wise, heading into the ASUN Tournament, and the team that started ASUN play 1-3, has played much better down the stretch, to get to 7-5 overall.

Prediction:

FGCU 74 KSU 67