Game 15 Preview: Ospreys Play First Home Game of 2023

Thursday, January 5

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

Kennesaw State

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1/4/2023 7:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Ospreys Host Owls

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF men's basketball plays its third conference game in the last six days when the Ospreys host Kennesaw State in the first home game of the calendar year tomorrow at 7 p.m.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Thursday, Jan. 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: UNF Arena | CSI Companies Court
Opponent: Kennesaw State
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.unfospreys.com/sidearmstats/mbball

All-Time Series: UNF leads, 29-21

North Florida is 18-8 against Kennesaw State at the UNF Arena
North Florida and KSU split last season's two meetings
Both games were decided by two points

An Osprey Win Would....

Make UNF 2-1 in ASUN play
Give the Ospreys their 30th win all-time against Kennesaw State
Bring UNF to 6-0 at home on the year, expanding the home winning streak to eight

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry (5.0 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 0.6 APG
G - Jarius Hicklen (14.1 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 3.4 APG)
G - Jose Placer (11.1 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 2.6 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (14.2 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 1.9 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (6.9 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 0.2 BPG)

LAST TIME OUT
DELAND, Fla. - Jonathan Aybar had a career night, going for 26 points and 10 boards, but the hosts Hatters (7-6, 2-0 ASUN) fended off a series of UNF (6-8, 1-1 ASUN) pushes as the Ospreys were edged in a road battle, 68-62, down in DeLand. It's the third-straight game between UNF and Stetson that was decided by six points or less.

LAST TIME VS. KENNESAW STATE
KENNESAW, Ga. - In UNF's sixth conference game decided by three points or less, North Florida men's basketball (8-18, 4-8 ASUN) overcame the odds and dug deep on the road to hold off Kennesaw State, 74-72, Saturday, Feb. 12. With the win, Head Coach Matthew Driscoll became the only coach in UNF men's basketball history to reach 200 wins.

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME
"We're halfway through our stretch of four games in eight days with opportunity number three being back in The Nest tomorrow night. We have been battle tested and tomorrow is another opportunity against an undefeated-league opponent that is playing well early on this season. We have been extremely competitive with a lot of fight, but have yet to put it together fully for 40 minutes, which is always the challenge night in and night out in college athletics. Kennesaw State brings in one of the most experienced teams in the league, possessing a top tier defense that has helped them compete at a high level and get them off to one of their best starts in their Division I history." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

LAST TIME VS. KSU
Jadyn Parker scored 17 points and UNF held off KSU late in a 74-72 win in Kennesaw, Ga., Feb. 12, 2022. Head Coach Matthew Driscoll earned win No. 200 with the victory.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
Seven of the last ASUN regular season games dating back to last season have been decided by six points or less. Two of those games have gone to overtime. UNF is 2-0 in both of those OT games.

TICKLE THE TWINE
Jarius Hicklen ranks 33rd in the country in three-pointers made. UNF is 35th as a team in DI for three-pointers made per game.

AYBAR GOES OFF
Jonathan Aybar posted 26 points and 10 boards, a career-night in points. It was his third double-double as an Osprey and the second for a UNF player this season after Carter Hendricksen went for one at High Point Dec. 3.

DOING DOUBLE TIME
Carter Hendricksen posted his 70th double-digit scoring performance as an Osprey after tallying 15 points in the game at Stetson Jan. 2. He has done so in the majority of his games, having played 118 in the Navy and Gray.

MOVING PAST GOOD AND FAMILIAR COMPANY
Hendricksen moved past former teammate Wajid Aminu in the UNF all-time scoring list with his performance at Stetson. Hendricksen now ranks eighth all-time with 1,339 points, two more than Aminu (2016-20). The 6-7 forward also moved into the top ten in free throws made, ranking ninth with 249, two ahead of Donny Lotz (2001-05) and five behind Parker Smith (2010-13).

20 PIECE
Five different Ospreys have reached the 20-point benchmark this season, with Jose Placer, Carter Hendricksen, Jarius Hicklen, Oscar Berry and Jonathan Aybar all doing so. Aybar did so for the first time in his career at Stetson, while Berry completed the feat for the first time at Bethune-Cookman Dec. 22.

IN AMONGST THE TREES
Hendricksen and Aybar have both reached the 10-rebound marker this season. Hendricksen has paced UNF in rebounding eight times this season and 37 times during his career. Aybar has posted the most boards by a UNF player in 14 games throughout his career.

STREAKING
UNF is 5-0 at home this season and is currently on a seven-game home winning streak dating back to last year when the Ospreys defeated Liberty and FGCU in the final two home games of the season.

Hicklen had his seven-game streak of double-digit scoring games snapped after coming up just short with eight at Stetson Jan. 2. He has reached double figures 11 times this season.

SCOUTING KSU

The Owls are 10-5 and 2-0 in league play after posting a commanding win against UCA and a four-point victory against EKU Monday
Kennesaw State is off to a record start in head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim's fourth season at the helm
Kennesaw State went 7-9 in league play a year ago
KSU returns all five starters from last year's team as well as nine letterwinners. The Owls' roster features four newcomers
Chris Youngblood, Terrell Burden and Spencer Rodgers are all averaging double-digit points last season
KSU's losses have come against Indiana, San Diego State, VCU, Campbell and Florida
Kennesaw State enters 6-0 at home and 3-4 on the road
Youngblood paces the team in scoring at 13.7 points per contest
Brandon Stroud has been KSU's best rebounder, posting 6.5 a contest. He's followed closely by Demond Robinson at 5.3 boards and a team-best 0.9 blocks per game
The Owls were tabbed eighth in the preseason coaches poll. Youngblood was tabbed to the Preseason All-ASUN team

OTHER NOTES

LEADING LATE
UNF has fared very well under head coach Matthew Driscoll when possessing a lead with under five minutes to go in the game. Under Driscoll, North Florida is 181-16 when leading with five minutes to go on the clock.

TELL-TALE STATS
UNF has established a few tell-tale stats that have given a hint of a positive outcome for the Ospreys during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure. UNF is 166-37 when leading at the half, 181-16 when leading with five minutes left, 86-8 when holding foes under 40 percent from the floor and 174-34 when shooting better than its opponent.

WON'T BACK DOWN
Jarius Hicklen hasn't backed down against some of the nation's best opponents on the season. Hicklen has averaged 15.7 points per game against the likes of Gonzaga, Washington, Duquesne, Kentucky, Houston and Pitt.

FAMILIAR NAME IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Carter Hendricksen continues to climb the UNF career record books this season. In the process, Hendricksen recently surpassed former teammate Ivan Gandia-Rosa in career points, moving into ninth all-time. Hendricksen surpassed 1,300 points and also ranks sixth in three-pointers made.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Ospreys have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, having already played opponents such as No. 2 Gonzaga, Washington, Duquesne, No. 15 Kentucky, High Point, No. 1 Houston and Pittsburgh.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
UNF has played its fair share of tight contests this season, with five games being within three points with five minutes remaining. North Florida has seen such contests at Washington, Duquesne, High Point and against South Carolina State.

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.

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.
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 seven first-time opponents in Gonzaga, Washington, South Carolina State, Houston, Duquesne, Davis & Elkins and Atlantis.
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.

NOTABLE

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.