Small Lineup Strategy Nearly Pays Off For Owls

Head coach Mike Jarvis had a plan against the small roster of Middle Tennessee State (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt).

He matched up by playing all of our available small guys a lot of minutes, and the strategy came 2.4 seconds from working.

MTSU defeated FAU (4-12, 0-4 Sun Belt) in the final seconds of the game. If that sounds familiar, it's because the Blue Raiders did the same thing against our football team this year.

Only seven players were in action for the Owls with only three big men getting minutes.

Big men Monroe, Royster, and Watson split time, with Monroe getting the most minutes with only 22. And yes, Monroe actually wasn't suspended for this one.

The four guards/forwards that played, Tucker, Richardson, Graham, and Nwoji, each played over 35 minutes.

I wasn't there so I can't tell the tale of the game first hand, but my guess is MTSU is a fast team and Jarvis felt we would get blown out if we played the slower big guys. I would have taken advantage of the size differential, especially since the Owls aren't a fast break type of team, but Jarvis' strategy nearly worked. I guess that's why I'm writing blogs and he's getting paid to coach.

It was a near upset, but in reality it's another bitter taste in the mouth of the now bottom feeding FAU Owls of the Sun-Belt Conference. The win gave MTSU sole possession of first in the conference.

Next up for FAU is conference opponent Western Kentucky, who just was upset by FIU and no doubt will be looking to rebound. The game's Saturday Jan 10 at 7pm in the burrow, right after the lady's game. I'll be commentating along with Brian Rowitz live on FAU's Owl Radio.