JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball concludes a stretch of five games in 10 days when the Ospreys clash with familiar foe FGCU tomorrow night at 7 p.m. from Alico Arena in Fort Myers.

The Ospreys and Eagles are both vying for a chance at starting off the first four league games with a 3-1 mark. Both squads enter after playing in a very busy week that has featured ASUN contests Monday and Thursday.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Alico Arena | Fort Myers, Fla.
Opponent: FGCU
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: statbroadcast.com
 
All-Time Series: FGCU leads, 21-14

• North Florida and FGCU are playing their 18th game against one another at Alico Arena
• The Ospreys and Eagles split games against one another a year ago

An Osprey Win Would....

• Make UNF 3-1 in league play for the first time since 2019-20
• Bring Head Coach Matthew Driscoll to 211 wins at North Florida, giving him the second most wins by an ASUN coach in league history
• Give the Ospreys their sixth win at Alico Arena

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry (4.9 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 0.7 APG
G - Jarius Hicklen (14.4 PPG | 3.7 RPG | 3.2 APG)
G - Jose Placer (12.5 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 2.6 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (13.9 PPG | 6.2 RPG | 2.2 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (6.6 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 1.5 BPG)

LAST TIME OUT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With less than two seconds on the clock, Jose Placer pulled up from over 30 feet to drain the game-winning three-pointer and his 10th trey of the night in UNF men's basketball's (7-8, 2-1 ASUN) dramatic 89-86 win against Kennesaw State (10-6, 2-1 ASUN) Thursday, Jan. 5.

LAST TIME VS. FGCU (2.19.22)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On brand with this year's ASUN season, North Florida men's basketball found itself in a barnburner as it battled with FGCU Saturday, Feb. 19. For the third time in as many games, the Ospreys (10-18, 6-8 ASUN) emerged on the other side of the dust with a victory as they held off the Eagles (18-10, 8-6 ASUN), 70-64, from a boisterous UNF Arena.

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME
"It's amazing to think we are playing our fourth ASUN game in eight days. These quick turnarounds are what we prepare for in the non-conference schedule that we play each year. We have had great competitive fight and belief, giving us the ability to sustain our level of play for 40 minutes, regardless of what is thrown our way. FGCU has the most experienced team in the ASUN according to KenPom ratings and they're filled with skill, scoring ability, size and athleticism that will present us with another challenge from the jump tomorrow." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll
 

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NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

PROLIFIC PLACER
Jose Placer put up one of the best games in program history and also one of the most clutch, drilling 10 three-pointers including the game-winner with 1.7 seconds remaining in an 89-86 win against Kennesaw State Thursday. He scored 32 points, three short of his career high and the most by a UNF student-athlete since Jarius Hicklen posted 31 Feb. 15, 2022 in a win against Liberty.

NO QUIT 
UNF's eight-game home winning streak dating back to last year has been helped by resilient play in the second half. UNF is 3-0 at home this season when trailing at the half. North Florida picked up wins against SC State, Austin Peay and Kennesaw State in such games. Both of UNF's ASUN wins have come despite the Ospreys trailing for the majority of the game.

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
Jarius Hicklen and Jose Placer have brought UNF to wins late in the game, doing so against Austin Peay and Kennesaw State. Hicklen hit the go-ahead three-pointer with seconds on the clock in the overtime win against Austin Peay, helping send the game into the overtime session. Less than a week later, Placer drilled a 30-plus foot jump shot with 1.7 seconds left in the game to propel UNF to an 89-86 win.

SPITTING IMAGE
UNF and Kennesaw State were divided by just three points at the end of Saturday's game, and it's no surprise why after looking at the box score. The two teams shot over 50 percent from the field and three-point arc, although neither broke 60 percent from the line. The largest lead for both teams was nine points, while the best scoring run on either side was eight. There were five tie scores and five lead changes. 

BARN BURNER
Dating back to Feb. 9 of last year, eight of UNF's last 10 games against ASUN foes have been decided by six points or less. The Ospreys are 6-4 during that time period and 2-1 this season. UNF has also gone 2-0 in overtime games during that stretch.

SATURDAY SUCCESS
UNF is 4-2 on Saturdays this season and 73-65 during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure. UNF has won more games on Saturday than any other day of the week during his UNF career.

FINDING THE OPEN MAN
Carter Hendricksen had an effective night in the win against Kennesaw State, going for 10 points, five rebounds, three steals, one block and six assists. He paced UNF in assists and steals, while setting a career record for helpers in the process. He is nearly 200 for his UNF career, standing at 196.
 

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SCOUTING FGCU

• FGCU enters at 12-4 and 2-1 in league play after a two-point loss at Austin Peay Jan. 5 broke a five-game winning streak. 
• The Eagles' losses have come against APSU, FAU, No. 17 Tennessee and San Diego
• The Eagles are 5-0 at home on the season and on an 11-game home winning streak dating back to an 11-point loss at Bellarmine Jan. 29, 2022
• Florida Gulf Coast likes to shoot the three ball, making 9.2 per game, good for 37th in the nation
• Head coach Pat Chambers is in year one with FGCU. He is 202-182 for his career, having spent over a decade combined at Boston and Penn State
• Shooting guard Chase Johnston was FGCU's lone honoree on the ASUN Preseason All-Conference squad. The Eagles were tabbed to finish fourth in the coaches poll. 
• Johnston was previously at Stetson University last year
• Three Eagles in Isaiah Thompson, Zach Anderson and Chase Johnston average double-digit point totals. Thompson has dished out 2.4 assists, scored nearly 14 points per game and logged 30.1 minutes per contest this season 
• Forward Zach Anderson has been tabbed ASUN Player of the Week twice this season
• FGCU opened the year with a win at USC as the Eagles knocked off former FGCU head coach, Andy Enfield, and the Trojans
• The Eagles avoided a scare at UCA, overcoming a furious Central Arkansas rally to win, 84-79, in overtime Jan. 2.

 

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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 182-16 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, 182-16 when leading with five minutes left, 86-8 when holding foes under 40 percent from the floor and 175-34 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 eight games being within three points with five minutes remaining. North Florida has seen such contests at Washington, Duquesne, High Point, SC State, Bethune-Cookman, Austin Peay, Stetson and Kennesaw 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.