Whether they were injuries, grade issues or inexperience, many things contributed to the losing season the men’s basketball team suffered during the 2008-2009 year.
However, with a few returning freshmen now having a year of experience, and with an impressive recruiting class coming in, the Owls have a good chance to make some noise on the hardwood this season.
Last year, in Mike Jarvis’ first term as Owls head coach, his team faced numerous obstacles that kept them from winning games. It was by far Jarvis’ worst season on record in his 20-plus seasons. The Owls finished a dismal 6-26 and did not win one game on the road, going a disastrous 0-18 away from their home court (The Burrow).
“We just weren’t very good last year,” said Jarvis.
One of the main weaknesses of last season’s team was depth, particularly because the team did not have any of it. Due to academic suspensions and injuries to various players, the Owls were limited to an eight-player rotation that teams took advantage of.
In addition to that, three of those eight players were true freshmen. Guards Shavar Richardson and Alex Tucker, as well as forward Chris Watson, were all playing their first season of basketball at the Division 1 level.
This season, the Owls will be much improved. Part of that will be because the aforementioned trio will enter the year with a plethora of playing experience already under their belt. Additional reasons for optimism include the return of players who missed last season, and the coaching staff bringing in a strong recruiting class.
The coaching staff has recruited six players for the new season. Lightning-quick 5’7″ point guard Ray Taylor from American Heritage high school in Fort Lauderdale and 6’9″ forward DeMonte Simpson (who Jarvis believes has “the chance to be special”) from Knoxville, Tenn., are just two of the players Jarvis has recruited.
Guards Greg Gantt (6’2″) from Gainesville and Darren Stewart (6’4″) from Pace High School in Miami, along with forwards Andre Mattison (6’7″) from Washington, D.C., and Jordan McCoy (6’6″) from Orlando, wrap up a talented recruiting class.
This is one of the better recruiting classes FAU has had in the last few years because of the talent and potential these guys have. Taylor was named to the All-Broward County First Team after averaging 18 points and almost nine assists per game.
When talking about the looming season, Jarvis mentioned the small guy as one of the brightest spots on the team.
“Ray Taylor is special. I’ve really been blessed to have a young man like him,” said Jarvis. “He might have been the best little player in the nation last season.”
Taylor, who is also a threat from the three-point range, is not the only player expected to contribute to the Owls offense. Gantt is expected to provide a serious perimeter threat as well, giving the Owls another long distance shooter for their disposal.
Add in 6’10” transfer Justin Davis from Mercer University, who had to sit out last season because of NCAA rules, shot-blocking specialist Brett Royster, and guards Shavar Richardson and Alex Tucker, and you have a team with depth at multiple positions, a luxury that last year’s squad did not have.
Jarvis, who has an impressive career coaching record of 369-228, believes this recent recruiting class will be the building blocks to FAU’s road to becoming a top program.
“These guys are the foundation of our team for the next four to five years,” said Jarvis, whose career includes a trip to the Elite 8 as the head coach of St. John’s University in 1998-99.
The team is a few years away from making the NCAA Tournament, but they appear to be headed in the right direction under Jarvis, and that first vital step begins this season.
