FIU MBB Preview: Conference Momentum on the Line vs UAB Blazers

Entering the halfway point of the season, the 7-7 FIU Panthers recently won their first Conference USA game of the season against the 11-5 Charlotte 49ers squad. Led by a 20-point and eight-rebound performance for Denver Jones and Arturo Dean’s 15-points and two steals, FIU came up clutch and secured a 62-60 win.

The Panthers are now back at .500 and although you have the relief of being back there, the schedule does not get any easier. On Saturday, FIU welcomes the 12-3 UAB Blazers to the Ocean Bank Convocation center. After a tough loss against the FAU Owls, UAB looks to get their 13th win of the season and begin another hot streak.

The Blazers Come Down South

Jordan Walker, also known as “Jelly Kelly”, has been one of the biggest names in college basketball this season. Walker is currently the nation’s leading scorer and is said to be the best mid-major player in the country.

He is currently averaging 25.2 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and a 42.6 field goal percentage. Walker will be the main focus in the game plan for FIU entering this game and if you keep him in check, then you feel a lot better.

Jelly with the clutch three 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wTORBLd8X7

— UAB Men's Basketball (@UAB_MBB) January 6, 2023

Guard Eric Gaines is the next Blazer to focus on. Averaging 11.5 PPG, 3.4 REB, 4.6 AST, and 42.3 FG%, Gaines is second on the team in points per game, but you need to watch out for him on defense as he leads the team in steals (1.6).

Gaines can also move the ball well as he is second in the team in assists. The dynamic duo of Walker and Gaines is usually too much for teams to handle, so we’ll see how that pans out against the Panthers.

The final player to mention for UAB is KJ Buffen, who is third on the team in points per game, second in rebounds, fourth in assists,  and third in blocks—averaging 11.3 PPG, 7.1 REB, 1.6 AST, 57.6 FG%. Opposing coaches fear Buffen when it comes to mid-range shots and inside the paint as well as he is first on the team in field goal percentage.

In order to keep Buffen’s night short and uneventful, he’ll need to be stopped by FIU’s defensive crew, led by Mohamed Sanogo, Seth Pinkney, and Darryon Prescott.

Keep an Eye Out for the Cats

The obvious player to mention here is guard Denver Jones who leads the team in points and steals. Jones is having a very nice season, averaging 18.3 PPG, 3.5 REB, 1.8 AST, 54.8 FG%, and a 33.9 3PT%. Jones has been able to stay as one of the top players not only on FIU but in onference-USA.

Jones has the ability to keep FIU in games from start to finish and if he needs to put the team on his back, he will do it.

The next player to mention is point guard Arturo Dean who is second in points per game and leads the team in assists. Dean has had his big moments and is an excellent ball mover, which allows points in the paint to be key to the game plan for the Panthers.

If Dean can keep the balance of having high-scoring games and feeding the ball to big men Mohamed Sanogo, then Dean will be an unstoppable force on the court.

Another player that deserves a lot more attention after is Petar Krivokapic. Although 5.1 PPG is underwhelming, Krivokapic’s game usage has gone up since the game against Incarnate Word where he dropped 14 points and went 4-7 from the three-point line.

Feeding the ball to Krivokapic and letting him shoot from three will be key in keeping up with UAB and ensuring a competitive game in which FIU can win.

The final player to focus on is big man Mohamed Sanogo. While he isn’t putting up many points per game, his defense will be critical for tonight’s game. Expect Sanogo to take advantage of the paint for FIU over the only center that UAB has and explode on defense with big-time plays late in the game just like we saw against UIW.

Denver Jones is heating up ♨️ pic.twitter.com/N6uWx3DfZu

— FIU Men's Basketball (@FIUHoops) January 6, 2023

Keys to the Game

Take advantage of the paint – The only big name amongst UAB’s forwards and big men is Trey Jemison who leads the team in blocks and rebounds. FIU has two seven-footers and a player who is 6’9″ and is as dynamic as it gets.

If FIU can take over in the paint offensively, then you feel like the chances of victory are a lot higher than you currently expect. FIU’s leading big man scoring wise is Mohamed Sanogo with 6.7 PPG.

If Denver Jones needs to take over, let him take over – Jones is FIU’s star player. He is someone that you can rely on to take over when it is necessary. Jones had a 20-point performance in their first conference win of the season and he can have a similar performance, despite the number of amazing guards that UAB has. Jones can provide consistency from all parts of the offensive side of the game.

Keep Jordan Walker in check and do not allow him to turn into “Jelly Kelly” – Walker might just be the best player in the nation at the moment. If FIU can allow him to have just a good game, then that’s a success, but you cannot allow Walker to be great. The key is to place your best defensive guard in Arturo Dean on him and keep him on Walker throughout the whole game.

Kevin’s Prediction

As much as I want to say that FIU will win this game, I just do not see them making it two in a row, especially against one of the best teams in Conference USA that has the nation’s leading scorer in Jordan Walker. FIU will fall to UAB 65-50. Jordan Walker will drop 23 points and for FIU, Denver Jones will have another great performance with 15 points and lead the teams in rebounds.

FIU – 50

UAB – 65