FGCU MBB vs Florida Memorial/Florida Tech Preview

After wrapping up their last three non-conference road games, the FGCU men's basketball team (7-8) returns to action at home to face NAIA Florida Memorial  (7-3) and NCAA DII Florida Tech (6-6).

Last Time Out:
The Eagles  struggled on the road and lost three straight games to FIU (88-91), #11 Wichita State (65-75) and RV Rhode Island (60-80). With the losses to FIU, Wichita State and Rhode Island, the Eagles are currently 2-5 on the road, and on a four-game losing streak.

Hoping to bounce back from their struggling road trip, the Eagles look to close out 2017 with two wins at home before conference begins. These two games will not count for FMU and FIT as they are exhibition games. They will count as season games for the Eagles, but they will not effective their RPI ranking since both teams are not NCAA DI.

Scouting The Lions:
The Lions are currently on a four-game winning streak after defeating College of Coastal Georgia (70-68), Johnson and Wales (Fla.) (75-73), Keiser (84-81) in conference play and West Virginia Tech (66-61) for non-conference play. The Lions are 3-2 in the NAIA Sun Conference.

Impact Players:
Seniors Davion Williams and Travis Mitchell lead the way offensively.

Williams averages 16.4 points per game. In the four games coming off the winning streak. Williams scored 30 against College of Coastal Georgia, 20 against Johnson and Wales, 19 against Keiser and 26 against WVU. Williams also averages eight rebounds per game.

Mitchell is averaging 14.6 points per game where he scored 16 against CCG, 14 against J&W, seven against Keiser and 19 against WVU. Mitchell also averages 2.9 assist per game and leads the team in steals (19).

Of course I knew Mitchell from my junior college, State College of Florida (SCF).

Scouting The Panthers:
Playing in 10 straight home games, the Panthers are currently on a three-game winning streak after beating Nova Southeastern (103-99) in a game for Autism Awareness.

The Panthers also won against Miles College (107-87) and Shawnee State (93-87) in the Florida Tech Winter Classic. The Panthers will have one more game prior to the trip to FGCU as they play Palm Beach Atlantic at home for conference. The Panthers are currently 1-3 in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC).

Impact Players:
Offensively, the Panthers are led by senior Sam Daniel and redshirt senior Jordan Majors.

Daniel leads the team in points per game (27.8). The reigning FIT Athlete of the Year had a double-double against Miles, scoring 37 points with 11 rebounds and 24 points against Shawnee State.

Majors is second behind Daniel in points per game (20.3) and leads the team in steals (22). The former SSC Freshman of the Year had 30 points against Shawnee State.

Another player to keep eyes on offensively is sophomore Valur Valsson. The native of Keflavik, Iceland is averaging eight assists per game including a game-high 12 assists with 13 for a double-double against Miles.

Defensively, Majors leads the team in steals (22) while junior Richard Coil leads the team in blocks (16) and averages 9.8 rebounds. The center from Toledo, Ohio has six double-doubles for a team including in a game against Puerto Rico-Bayamon where he had a double-double of 22 points and 21 rebounds.

Series History:
The Eagles are 5-0 against the Panthers. Last time both teams played was last season where FGCU was victorious blowing out FIT 101-49.

The Eagles are 2-0 against FMU. Last time both teams met, the Eagles won 87-82 on November 23, 2005 when FGCU was a DII independent school

FGCU plays Florida Memorial on Friday December 29 at 5 PM and FIT Sunday New Years Eve at 1 PM. Both games will be aired on ESPN 3.

Link below:
ESPN.go.com