FIU Look to Kick Off Season with Victory; Rice Aim to Bounce Back in Opener
FIU Panthers Hope to Begin Season with Momentum, Rice Owls Look to Rebound
The FIU Panthers and Rice Owls will face off in a highly anticipated non-conference matchup on Tuesday night, as both teams seek a fresh start after challenging seasons. The Panthers, hailing from Conference USA, will travel to Houston, Texas, to take on the Rice Owls, who are representing the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Both programs struggled in the 2023-24 season, and they are eager to build momentum heading into the new year. The Panthers finished last season with an 11-22 record, while Rice ended 11-21, and neither squad qualified for the postseason.
In a series dating back several years, the FIU Panthers hold a 7-5 all-time advantage over the Rice Owls. Most recently, the Panthers claimed a 90-83 victory on the road in March 2023, showcasing their offensive firepower.
FIU Panthers Looking to Build on Returning Depth
FIU enters the 2024 season looking to turn the page after a disappointing campaign. The Panthers logged their fourth consecutive losing season, finishing 11-22 overall and 5-11 in Conference USA play, securing a 9th place finish in the conference. Despite an early exit in the CUSA Tournament, the Panthers displayed promise in their first-round win over Jacksonville State before falling to top-seeded Sam Houston State.
Head coach Jeremy Ballard is optimistic about the team’s depth this season, with several key contributors returning, including Dashon Gittens, the team’s leading returning scorer with 9.4 points per game. However, FIU will need to overcome the loss of Arturo Dean, who led the nation in steals last season and was a top scorer for the Panthers. Replacing two of their top scoring options will be a formidable task for FIU’s offense, which averaged 73.6 points per game in 2023.
The Panthers will also need to improve on their defensive struggles from last season. With an average of 76.5 points allowed per game, they ranked 307th in the nation in scoring defense. Defensive intensity will be key if FIU hopes to build momentum early on in the season.
Offensively, FIU averaged 31.6 rebounds per game and dished out 14.1 assists, ranking in the middle of the pack in both categories. The Panthers shot 43.7% from the field last season and connected on 8.6 three-pointers per game, but their free-throw shooting was a major weakness, ranking 324th in the nation at just 67%.
New faces in the rotation like Asim Jones (17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists for Southern Idaho) and Travis Gray should help fill the void left by the departing seniors and provide a much-needed boost for FIU this season.
Rice Owls Seeking Redemption in 2024 Season Opener
The Rice Owls are hoping for a fresh start under new head coach Rob Lanier, who replaces Scott Pera after the team’s worst season since 2017-18. The Owls finished 11-21 overall and 5-13 in AAC play last season, leading to a complete roster overhaul. With the departure of four key starters, including the team’s top three scorers from last season (Travis Evee, Mekhi Mason, and Max Fielder), the Owls have a new look as they seek to put last year’s struggles behind them.
In 2023, Rice averaged 72 points per game, which ranked 228th in the country. Despite collecting 35.4 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per game, Rice struggled defensively, allowing an average of 75.7 points per game (285th in the nation). With a revamped roster, the Owls will look to make strides on both sides of the ball.
Alem Huseinovic, who averaged 7.8 points per game last season, is the top returning scorer for Rice. In addition to several returnees like Ifeanyi Ufochukwu and George Perkins, the Owls have bolstered their roster with a number of talented transfers. Among them are Trae Broadnax (14.2 points per game for USC Upstate), Trey Patterson (Villanova), and Emory Lanier (SMU). These additions will be crucial for the Owls’ success, as they look to gel quickly under Lanier’s leadership.
Rice’s shooting numbers were modest last season, as the Owls connected on just 44.3% of their field goals and 33.7% from beyond the arc. They also struggled at the free-throw line, hitting only 69.5% of their attempts. Improving these shooting percentages will be vital for a team looking to snap their losing streak and make a run at postseason contention.
Conclusion
This game could go either way, with both teams hungry for a positive start to the season. FIU will rely on its returning depth to provide a balanced attack, but Rice’s mix of returning players and transfers will give them an edge in terms of versatility. Look for a close contest, but the Rice Owls may have the slight advantage in their home opener.
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