GAME 1 PREVIEW: Men's Basketball at No. 2 Gonzaga

Monday, November 7

Spokane, Wash.

9 p.m. (EST)

University of North Florida

Gonzaga

11/6/2022 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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UNF Opens Season at No. 2 Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball goes all the way to Spokane, Washington to play at No. 2/2 Gonzaga to open the 2022-23 season Monday, Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. EST.

Tomorrow night's game marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams, and UNF's first-ever game in the Evergreen State. The Ospreys will play one more before returning to the east coast when they play at Washington in Seattle Friday, Nov. 11.

GAME DETAILS

Date: Monday, Nov. 7
Time: 9 p.m. EST // 6 p.m. PST
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Opponent: No. 2/2 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Watch (TV): Root Sports Plus
Watch (out of region): Watchstadium.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Radio: The Varsity Network

All-Time Series: First-ever meeting

An Osprey Win Saturday Would....

Be UNF's first win against a ranked team during its DI days
Be the highest-ranked win in program history
Be North Florida's first win in its first matchup against a WCC team
GIve UNF its first season-opening win since defeating Illinois at Illinois Nov. 13 of 2015. UNF has played Texas Tech, EKU, Florida, Dayton, Michigan State and Auburn in season openers dating back to that win.

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE (STATS FROM LAST YEAR)
G - Chaz Lanier (4.5 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 1.1 APG)
G - Jarius Hicklen (12.0 PPG | 40.1 3PT FG | 2.8 RPG)
G - Jose Placer (14.7 PPG | 3.1 RPG | 43.0 FG%)
F - Carter Hendricksen (12.2 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 1.6 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (8.3 PPG | 5.1 RPG | 1.6 BPG)

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME
"Wow! It feels like yesterday that we were starting to find our rhythm as we closed out the year 7-3 over our last ten games last season. Now, we are here beginning this amazing journey in 2022-23. We bring in so much experience and are healthy as we enter this first road trip against one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball in the No. 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs. This group has been through these types of scenarios and collectively we know that every little detail will make the biggest difference now and moving forward. We are grateful for this opportunity to compete and continue to grow as a team throughout potentially the toughest non-conference slate in our 14-year tenure from a national ranking perspective." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

PRESEASON ALL-ASUN

Jose Placer and Carter Hendricksen were both tabbed to the All-ASUN Preseason team.
UNF joined Liberty as the only two teams in the ASUN Conference to have two honorees on the preseason squad.

RETURNING MINUTES AND POINTS

After having one of the youngest teams in the nation last year, North Florida returns as a veteran team.
The Ospreys bring back 81 percent of their scoring and 74 percent of minutes played from last season.
All told, UNF has nine returners and four newcomers, with five of the nine returners being regular starters last season.

NO. 2 TO OPEN THE YEAR

UNF's matchup against No. 2 Gonzaga marks a tie for the highest-ranked opponent UNF has faced to open a season.
UNF opened at No. 2 Michigan State at the start of the 2017-18 season. It's the first time that North Florida and Gonzaga have ever faced off.

AWARDS AND HONORS IN 2021-22

Jose Placer and Carter Hendricksen both took home ASUN All-Academic honors to close the 2022 season. For Hendricksen, it was his third-career honor.
Hendricksen also joined former teammate, Wajid Aminu, as a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree a year ago. Despite battling injury during the 2021-22 season, Hendricksen still managed to average 12.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per contest, bringing him past 1,000-career points and 500-career rebounds. The 6-7 forward/guard is one three-pointer shy of reaching 200 for his career.
Shooting guard Jarius Hicklen put the ASUN on notice last year, averaging 12 points per game over 30 games and 15 starts. Initially not starting at the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Hicklen's consistency, combined with some injuries on the UNF roster, brought him into a starting role that he did not let go of. The Dallas, Texas native was named ASUN Newcomer of the Week and ASUN Player of the Week one time apiece last year. He started his collegiate career with two seasons of basketball at Division II Oklahoma Baptist before transferring to North Florida.

LOOKING AT THE 2022-23 SEASON

UNF is set to play 31 games including 14 at home. The Ospreys play a 13-game non-conference ledger, with 18 league games lined up as the ASUN expanded to 14 teams.
The Ospreys will play six first-time opponents in Gonzaga, Washington, South Carolina State, Houston, Duquesne and Davis & Elkins.
UNF also has Pittsburgh and Kentucky on the schedule for this year, marking the second-straight year UNF has taken on Kentucky.

CSI COMPANIES COURT

North Florida men's basketball practiced away from its home court for all of the summer and much of the preseason as the UNF Arena was undergoing renovations that included the construction of the new CSI Companies Court. UNF didn't practice in its home gym until Oct. 24 and instead practiced at the UNF Fieldhouse adjacent to the gym, or at the Florida State College of Jacksonville (community college) across the street from campus.
The CSI Companies Court features a gray and navy look, with the state of Florida and UNF banner logo donning the center of the floor. UNF's location in Jacksonville is emphasized with a star located on the floor, while Osprey talons mark the sidelines.
The UNF Arena was also renovated with brand new lighting and sound system, as well as other aesthetic touch ups. The Bank of England Hospitality Suite is also nearing completion, providing a premier experience for donors.
UNF plays its first home game on the CSI Companies Court at the UNF Arena Saturday, Nov. 19 against South Carolina State.

OTHER NOTES

Head coach Matthew Driscoll picked up his 200th-career win last year. He is the winningest coach in program history.
UNF had arguably the best blocking trio in the league last year, with three student-athletes averaging at least 0.9 blocks/game. Jadyn Parker led the way with 1.6, Dorian James swatted 1.1 per game and Jonathan Aybar blocked 0.9 shots per contest. Parker set the UNF single game blocks record with nine last season at Stetson.
No stranger to tough schedules, UNF opened the year last year with a stretch of games against Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Grand Canyon, Arizona State and UCLA before playing a home game. The Ospreys played one home game before going back on the road to take on Kentucky.
UNF has played 31 games against AP ranked top 25 programs during UNF's DI days.

SCOUTING GONZAGA

Gonzaga enters the season ranked No. 2 in the AP Preseason Poll, marking the Bulldogs' 114th-straight appearance in the AP poll, a nation-best mark.
The Bulldogs earned a top seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, advancing to their seventh-straight Sweet 16 appearance with a 28-4 record.
Forward Drew Timme headlines a strong roster, being named CBS SPorts Preseason Player of the Year and on the NABC Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. Timme tallied 18.4 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per contest a year ago. He was also named to the Karl Malone Preseason Watch List.
Gonzaga did lose Chet Holmgren from last year's team, a 7-foot presence from Minneapolis.
Gonzaga has won 16-straight regular season-opening games. The Zags opened the year against No. 6 Kansas last season.
Head coach Mark Few enters his 24th season leading the Zags, having posted a 658-129 record since taking over in 1999.
Gonzaga brings back three starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team.
The Bulldogs won, 101-70, against Warner Pacific in a preseason exhibition game Nov. 2.

Ospreys are on location??#BirdsofTrey pic.twitter.com/vK173Di6QN
— UNF Men's Basketball (@OspreyMBB) November 5, 2022

Watch the full press conference from today's men's and women's basketball media day below ??

?? https://t.co/f06iuf8B47 #BirdsofTrey // #WEoverME pic.twitter.com/icskQrlUJC
— UNF Athletics (@UNFOspreys) November 1, 2022