Game 4-6 Preview: First Coast Classic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF returns home for the first time since the season opener when the Ospreys host Presbyterian, Northwestern State and Maine in the First Coast Classic sponsored by Sheraton Thursday, Nov. 16 through Saturday, Nov. 18.

This marks the first multi-team event UNF will host and participate in after hosting the Jacksonville Classic in the fall of 2021 but not competing in the event.

UNF plays one game each day, with Thursday and Friday featuring a 7 p.m. tip-off and Saturday a 5 p.m. tip.

GAME DETAILS

Date: Thursday, Nov. 16, Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18
Time: 7 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m.
Location: UNF Arena
Opponent: Presbyterian, Northwestern State and Maine
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com

All-Time Series
All three foes will be first time foes for North Florida

An Osprey Win Would....

Give UNF win number one in a head-to-head series with just one meeting
Make the Ospreys undefeated at home
Give the Ospreys two wins against Big South teams on the year with a victory against Presbyterian

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE (FOR THURSDAY)
G - Oscar Berry
G - Chaz Lanier
G - Ametri Moss
F - Dorian James
F - Nate Lliteras

COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
"The first home MTE in our Division I history marks a proud achievement for our entire staff and administration, giving us the opportunity to host four mid-major programs in a six-game round robin format. It also showcases the UNF Arena and CSI Companies Court, one of the best and most unique venues in the southeast region for taking in high-level college basketball. Our first opponent, Presbyterian, enters as one of the hottest teams in the MTE, bringing in a perfect record and road Power Five win at Vanderbilt. They have a very seasoned group that defends at an elite level, possessing the ability to attack the rim off the bounce from each position on the floor." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN

Presbyterian had a marquee win in the true season opener, defeating Vanderbilt in Nashville Tuesday, Nov. 7
The Blue Hose are 3-0 after a win against The Citadel Monday, Nov. 13
Three PC players have averaged double-digit points, paced by Marquis Barnett's 14 per game
Most of their work has been done in the paint, having shot 50 percent from the floor while converting 69 of 86 field goals inside the arc
PC is holding foes to 33.5 percent from the floor, while shooting 50 percent

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE

Northwestern State enters The First Coast Classic 1-2, coming off a pair of double-digit losses to Tulane and Stephen F. Austin respectively
The Demons opened the year with a 101-54 win against Dallas Christian
Northwestern State is coming off a strong season that saw the team go 22-11 and 13-5 in the Southland Conference
The Demons are led by first-year head coach Rick Cabrera. Cabrera previously coached at Killian High School in Miami, Keystone College in Pennsylvania, Tennessee Tech, Chattanooga, Lackawanna College, Arkansas State and Tallahassee Community College

SCOUTING MAINE

Maine is coming off a six-point loss to Merrimack College
The Bears picked up a non-division I win against the University of Maine, Presque Isle, while dropping a 17-point decision to Charlotte at the start of the year
Maine went 13-17 and 7-9 last season, while picking up a P5 win against Boston College
The Bears' Kellen Tymes was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team for the America East Conference, with the Bears being tabbed to finish sixth
Seven newcomers highlight Maine's roster, including five transfers

NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

LANIER LIGHTS IT UP

Chaz Lanier is off to a hot start, averaging 19.3 points per game and 5.3 boards per contest
The junior is shooting 50 percent from deep, hitting 10 of 20 three-pointers
He's also dished out eight assists, one shy of the team lead of nine held by Ametri Moss
Lanier went for a career-high 30 points at Charleston Southern, his first 20-point and 30-point performance achieved all in one night

OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

North Florida started 2-0 for the first time since 2015-16, a year in which North Florida knocked off Illinois on the road to start the season
For the first time in over a decade, North Florida men's basketball played the season opener at home.
The last time North Florida began the year at The Nest was Nov. 10, 2012 against Edward Waters.
UNF dominated, hitting 13 three-pointers while leading by as much as 40 in a 92-55 win against Coastal Georgia

16 HOME GAMES

North Florida's 16-game home slate is good for the most home games in UNF's Division I era.
North Florida plays eight non-conference home games and eight Atlantic Sun games at home. The Ospreys also host the First Coast Classic Nov. 16-18.

THE 2023-24 SCHEDULE - NOTES

31 games, 16 at home
Games in two time zones (EST, CST)
Home and season opener Nov. 6 vs. Coastal Georgia
Road opener at Charleston Southern Nov. 9
First Coast Classic Multi-team event (MTE) Nov. 16-18 at the UNF Arena
Four first time foes (Presbyterian, Northwestern State, Maine, Georgia)
Takes on teams from 12 different leagues
First time facing a Big Ten team since going to Iowa Nov. 21, 2019
Going to Queens for the first time in program history
Senior Night set for the lone regular season game in March, March 1 vs. Stetson
Four-game home stand between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16
UNF plays four games against 2023 NCAA Tourney Team

ROSTER NOTES

North Florida's 2023-24 roster features 13 Ospreys, with seven letterwinners returning.
The Ospreys' roster also includes six newcomers, with three being true freshmen and three being transfers.
All three transfers were significant contributors for their previous teams. Nate Lliteras comes to UNF as a junior athletically, having helped Longwood to the NCAA Tournament with a Big South Championship title. Lliteras logged 85 games for the Lancers, having tallied 90 three-pointers and 11 double-digit scoring performances.
Jake van der Heijden comes to the Ospreys as a graduate transfer after playing in 95 games at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. The rangy lefty logged 1,574 minutes and over 300 points and 200 rebounds.
Shifty and agile lefty point guard Ametri Moss comes to the Ospreys after two seasons of averaging double-digit points at South Florida State College.
The UNF freshman features Mason Lee, Jaylen Smith and Jasai Miles. Lee arrives from just down the road at Providence HS. Smith is a highly touted guard out of Ocoee, Fla. Miles is a product of Miami, bringing 6-6 size to UNF.
Dorian James, Chaz Lanier and Oscar Berry comprise the most amount of experience among UNF returners. James has logged 110 games played in the Navy and Gray, while Berry was an all-freshman pick at FDU in 2021-22 and Lanier touting 72 games played in three seasons.
Returners Brandon Rasmussen, Max Hrdlicka, Jah Nze and Trent Coleman round out the roster, all bringing in at least one letter of experience in the Navy and Gray

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Oscar Berry

Trent Coleman

Max Hrdlicka

Dorian James

Chaz Lanier

Mason Lee

Nate Lliteras

Jasai Miles

Ametri Moss

Jah Nze

Brandon Rasmussen

Jaylen Smith

Jake van der Heijden

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