JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball continues to vie for a spot in the ASUN Championship when the Ospreys host the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at 7 p.m. from the UNF Arena tomorrow night.

Tomorrow's game marks the first meeting between the two teams in Jacksonville and the second-ever game against one another as ASUN foes.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 22
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: UNF Arena
Opponent: Eastern Kentucky
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: unfospreys.com
 
All-Time Series: EKU leads, 2-0

• This is the first-ever meeting between EKU and UNF in Jacksonville
• This is just the second-ever meeting between the two teams as league foes
• The first-ever meeting was in a neutral site meeting in Raleigh, N.C., back in 2020

An Osprey Win Would....

• Give UNF its first win against EKU
• Make North Florida 10-2 at home on the season
• Make UNF 1-1 on Wednesdays

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry (4.9 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 0.6 APG)
G - Jarius Hicklen (11.8 PPG | 3.5 RPG | 2.9 APG)
G - Jose Placer (14.5 PPG | 2.3 RPG | 2.7 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (16.3 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 2.1 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (6.9 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 1.8 BPG)

LAST TIME OUT
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time in as many games on the final road trip of the regular season, the game came down to the final possession, although this time it went to the hosts as UNF was clipped, 73-71, at Austin Peay Saturday, Feb. 18.

LAST TIME VS. EKU
RICHMOND, Ky. - Jose Placer scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in his return to the starting lineup and Dorian James eyed a double-double, but North Florida couldn't crack an Eastern Kentucky (10-10, 2-4 ASUN) team Saturday night in a 67-58 loss to the Colonels.

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME  
"It's crazy to think that it's the final home stand of the 2022-23 season. As expected, this week is extremely critical for everyone across the board in the ASUN. We are very aware of what is at stake and that we need to continue to raise our level of attention in knowing that going 1-0 is paramount. EKU brings a style and scheme that is different from any other team in the ASUN, causing havoc for the entire 40 minutes as they utilize all 94x50 feet of the court. Offensively, they have a player of the year candidate surrounded by a lot of inside-outside talent, making them very lethal on both ends of the floor." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll
 
NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

STUDENT-ATHLETES
Jose Placer and Carter Hendricksen were not only preseason all-conference honorees, but their performance on and off the court this year has earned the duo Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. Hendricksen was honored with this award last year as the duo was named to the 2021-22 ASUN All-Academic Team. 

#BIRDSOFTREY DOING AS THEY DO
North Florida ranks 10th in the nation in three-pointers made per game at 10.1 per contest. The Ospreys have poured in double-digit three-pointers in 15 games, including four games of at least 15 treys.

RECORD NIGHT IN NASHVILLE
North Florida's 114-111 double-overtime win Thursday was one for the record books. UNF's point total set a program record for points in a game against a DI foe, while the 44 field goals made was the most against a DI opponent. It was UNF's first double overtime win in over a decade, moving UNF to 11-4 in overtime games under head coach Matthew Driscoll.

FEELING IT IN FEBRUARY 
UNF is 4-2 in February this season and 63-37 in the month during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure at North Florida. The Ospreys have defeated JU twice, Stetson and Lipscomb during the month, with the lone loss coming at the hands of FGCU, 66-68.

ALL OVER THE RECORD BOOK
Carter Hendricksen was already over the UNF record book quite a bit heading into the season, although the last few weeks have really sent him all throughout the ledger. Hendricksen ranks in the top ten in: points (2nd - 1,595), field goals made (3rd - 518), field goals attempted (2nd - 1,299), three-pointers made (4th - 262), three-pointers attempted (2nd - 764), free throws made (5th - 297), free throw percentage (6th - .827), rebounds (4th - 724), assists (10th - 222) rebounding average (5.5 - 10th), defensive rebounds (2nd - 585), defensive rebound average (5th - 4.4), games played (3rd- 132), games started (103 - 8th) and minutes (4th - 3,610)

SCOUTING EKU

• Eastern Kentucky is 18-11 and 11-5 in ASUN play
• The Colonels are 4-8 in road games and 13-2 in home contests, despite dropping an overtime game against UNA in the regular season home finale Feb. 18
• Tayshawn Comer hit a three-pointer to tie the game and force overtime, but UNA outscored the Colonels by five in the overtime period
• EKU has felled Liberty and Kennesaw State this season
• Devontae Blanton is the team's go-to scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game while bringing down 6.5 rebounds
• Fans can expect to see a lot of shot blocking Wednesday as the league-leading shot blocker in Isaiah Cozart squares off with Jadyn Parker down low. Parker ranks second in the league in blocks
• EKU plays a fast-paced brand of basketball that includes full-court pressing and high-volume three-point shooting
• EKU leads the league in offensive rebounds per game, rebounds per game, scoring offense, steals per game and turnover margin.

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 186-16 when leading with five minutes to go on the clock.

1K CLUB TIMES 2
Jose Placer surpassed 1,000-career points in a UNF uniform Thursday, Feb. 9. He already joined a 1,000-point club earlier this season after reaching 1,000-collegiate points during the win against Austin Peay Dec. 31. 

ON LOCK
UNF held JU to only 58 points in the win Saturday. North Florida is 1-0 on the year when holding foes to between 50-59 points, as well as 33-4 during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure.

FEELIN' IT IN FEBRUARY
UNF has played its best basketball in February during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure. North Florida is 63-37 during his time as head coach and 3-1 this year.

OSPREY NATION
The UNF Arena saw the sixth largest crowd in program history during the Feb. 4 win with a reported attendance of 4,439. It's the fourth-largest attendance for a River City Rumble game in the UNF Arena, as well as the largest crowd since 2016.

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 171-40 when leading at the half, 186-17 when leading with five minutes left, 86-8 when holding foes under 40 percent from the floor and 178-34 when shooting better than its opponent.

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.

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 30 regular season games including 13 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.