Game 30 Preview: vs Florida Gulf Coast

Wednesday, February 28

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

FGCU

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Nate Lliteras jump shot against Lipscomb

2/27/2024 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball gets ready to host its final home week of the season with only two games remaining in regular season play, starting with an in-state rematch against Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Feb. 27, with tip-off set for 7 p.m., at UNF Arena.

Follow along @OspreyMBB on X/Twitter and @OspreysMBB on Instagram from in-game updates. A live stream on ESPN+ will also be available, as well as live stats on sidearmstats.com.

Countdown to Tip-Off

at UNF Arena

Days

Hours

Mins

Secs

G - Jaylen Smith

G - Chaz Lanier

G - Jasai Miles

F - Nate Lliteras

F - Dorian James

THE 2023-24 SCHEDULE
- 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 Teams

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.
- 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.

ROSTER TIDBITS
- 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.

Probably the wildest thing about this week, and particularly this game, is that our first meeting happened almost a month and a half ago. A lot has changed in many areas, yet both teams look very similar. Each team is fighting for a lot in the seeding realm, which always equates to our culture of going 1-0, then letting the chips fall where they may. FGCU has a tremendous balance, including the nation’s leading interior scorer by FG% and a multitude of high level scoring guards from all three levels. They have one of the most versatile fourth guards in its program's history, as well as creating critical attention to defensive assignments. FGCU throws a plethora of defenses at you as well, trying to keep you guessing instead of what we do best, which is just playing while making plays.

Head Coach Matthew Driscoll