Season Outlook
FAU embarks on its first season in the Sun Belt Conference after playing last season in the Atlantic Sun. This is a step up in competition with strong programs like South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky establishing themselves as NCAA Tournament-worthy teams.
The Owls will be led by seniors Brent Crews and DeAndre Rice, who both average 4.93 and 16.1 points per game, respectively. Both are athletic, smart and talented guards, who will be important to the success of FAU’s team this season. They are not the only returning players that will help these Owls win. Derrick Simmons, at four points per game and two rebounds per game last season, will only improve on his numbers last year. Forward Carlos Monroe and guard Paul Graham will probably round out the starting line-up for the Owls and will provide great support for Rice and Crews.
Joining these players is a good crop of transfers and freshman, who all hope to contribute immediately to the team. The most interesting is 6-foot, 150 pound Avery Holley, who is excelling with the FAU football team right now and is the first two-sport star at FAU.
Sean Alarcon and Xavier Perkins are two other names to watch out for. Alarcon is a transfer from Indian River Community College and will be an outside sniper for this team. Super scorer Xavier Perkins, who holds his high school’s all-time scoring record, will bring his ability to score to the floor every night. Other new players on the squad are G. Sanchez Hughley, F. Jeff Parmer, G. Eri Cuka and F. Seydou Kone.
“I’m excited about my team,” Head Coach Rex Walters said. “We’re bigger, we’re more athletic and we have a better feel for each other than we had last year.”
Walters seems excited about the team, and so am I. That’s why I feel the Owls will gain their second NCAA Tournament bid in school history this season.
The Sun Belt is a tough conference, but the teams at the top are beatable. South Alabama lost a lot of players from last season and Western Kentucky is always good, but they lost in the Sun Belt tourney last year.
Jim’s Season Predictions
The Owls will start slow with six straight road games, but they will build up continuity as a team and feel comfortable in the offense by mid-season. This will allow them to really gain momentum going into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Owls will win the Sun Belt Tournament and then lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, they will upset Oklahoma State, and put a scar into North Carolina. DeAndre Rice will be All Conference, and Avery Holley and Xavier Perkins will be nominated for All Freshman Conference.
The Owls have an exhibition game vs. Florida Tech. Nov. 2 and have their home opener Nov. 28 against Florida Memorial. So get out and support your Owls after their six game road trip to start the season.
