It doesn't take very long when analyzing the Florida Atlantic men's basketball team to locate what ignites the Owls.
Guard Greg Gantt leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 22.4 points a game and last week he became the program's all-time leading scorer.
UL coach Bob Marlin specializes in defense, especially taking away the opponent's top scorer.
So those two elements promises to make for an interesting matchupa when Marlin's UL Ragin' Cajuns begin the two-game Florida swing with a 6 p.m. game against Gantt's FAU Owls.
"He's going to get some things, because he's such a great scorer," Marlin said. "He's a shooter and he's a scorer. It's a little easier to try to keep the ball away from an inside player. He's going to have the ball a lot. We're going to rotate guys on him."
In his last 10 games, Gantt has scored 23 or more points nine times and scored 19 points in that 10th game.
Bryant Mbamalu, who has been equally as hot in recent games offensively, will certainly be one of the option to defend Gantt.
"Bryant will certainly be one of the guys," Marlin said. "Being a good defender is what got him on the floor (early in career), but Elfrid (Payton) can guard him some and Steven (Wronkoski) can guard him and Elridge (Moore) is a 6-5 inside player who can guard a 6-2 guy. So we've got a lot of options."
While Moore is only averaging 5.5 points a game, his versatility allows him to cover both 6-10 post players as well as 6-2 guards.
On the offensive side, Mbamalu is coming off a 26-point performance in Saturday's win over UALR. The junior from Houston has now scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games. During that stretch, he's shooting 64.3 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from 3-point land.
Marlin likened the offensive execution over UALR to the offensive performances the Cajuns enjoyed against Duquesne and Oakland.
"We worked on offense after the Arkansas State game," Marlin said. "We didn't make many shots at Arkansas State. On Friday, we had a great practice. We really worked on our execution, and it really paid off on Saturday."
The last time the Cajuns made this Florida swing was two years ago in Marlin's first season and UL earned a sweep with a 72-68 win over FIU before defeating FAU 72-64.
"La'Ryan Gary just willed us to that win," Marlin said. "They finished 13-3 that year and we beat the best team on the road. That's the only road win in this series.
"You'd always rather be at home, but this isn't a bad trip. It's coming at a good time for us, because the players aren't in school."
Despite the 6-9 overall record, the young Cajuns suddenly find themselves tied for first place in the Sun Belt West race at 2-2 with UALR and Arkansas State.
"We've talked to the kids about it," Marlin said. "We control our own destiny. We've already beaten the team picked to win our division and already played the team picked to win the other division. We're four possessions away from having a really good record."
That road win over FAU in 2011 was largely due to clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, which has been a strength of the Cajuns so far this season. UL is shooting 80.7 percent at the line in the final 5:00 of games and overtime.
In last season's 67-55 win over FAU in Lafayette, the Cajuns had four players in double figures, which easily offset two FAU double-figure scorers, including Gantt's 15 points.
Guard Greg Gantt leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 22.4 points a game and last week he became the program's all-time leading scorer.
UL coach Bob Marlin specializes in defense, especially taking away the opponent's top scorer.
So those two elements promises to make for an interesting matchupa when Marlin's UL Ragin' Cajuns begin the two-game Florida swing with a 6 p.m. game against Gantt's FAU Owls.
"He's going to get some things, because he's such a great scorer," Marlin said. "He's a shooter and he's a scorer. It's a little easier to try to keep the ball away from an inside player. He's going to have the ball a lot. We're going to rotate guys on him."
In his last 10 games, Gantt has scored 23 or more points nine times and scored 19 points in that 10th game.
Bryant Mbamalu, who has been equally as hot in recent games offensively, will certainly be one of the option to defend Gantt.
"Bryant will certainly be one of the guys," Marlin said. "Being a good defender is what got him on the floor (early in career), but Elfrid (Payton) can guard him some and Steven (Wronkoski) can guard him and Elridge (Moore) is a 6-5 inside player who can guard a 6-2 guy. So we've got a lot of options."
While Moore is only averaging 5.5 points a game, his versatility allows him to cover both 6-10 post players as well as 6-2 guards.
On the offensive side, Mbamalu is coming off a 26-point performance in Saturday's win over UALR. The junior from Houston has now scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games. During that stretch, he's shooting 64.3 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from 3-point land.
Marlin likened the offensive execution over UALR to the offensive performances the Cajuns enjoyed against Duquesne and Oakland.
"We worked on offense after the Arkansas State game," Marlin said. "We didn't make many shots at Arkansas State. On Friday, we had a great practice. We really worked on our execution, and it really paid off on Saturday."
The last time the Cajuns made this Florida swing was two years ago in Marlin's first season and UL earned a sweep with a 72-68 win over FIU before defeating FAU 72-64.
"La'Ryan Gary just willed us to that win," Marlin said. "They finished 13-3 that year and we beat the best team on the road. That's the only road win in this series.
"You'd always rather be at home, but this isn't a bad trip. It's coming at a good time for us, because the players aren't in school."
Despite the 6-9 overall record, the young Cajuns suddenly find themselves tied for first place in the Sun Belt West race at 2-2 with UALR and Arkansas State.
"We've talked to the kids about it," Marlin said. "We control our own destiny. We've already beaten the team picked to win our division and already played the team picked to win the other division. We're four possessions away from having a really good record."
That road win over FAU in 2011 was largely due to clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, which has been a strength of the Cajuns so far this season. UL is shooting 80.7 percent at the line in the final 5:00 of games and overtime.
In last season's 67-55 win over FAU in Lafayette, the Cajuns had four players in double figures, which easily offset two FAU double-figure scorers, including Gantt's 15 points.
