MTSU senior forward Shawn Jones spent three years as a role player before taking on a starring role this season.
Florida Atlantic guard Pablo Bertone knows the feeling.
Tonight, the pair will lead their respective teams in a Conference USA clash.
MTSU coach Kermit Davis said containing Bertone is a high priority.
?He has always been a good scorer, but he?s played with some really good offensive guards,? Davis said. ?And now he has really settled in. He makes 3s, they post him up, and he makes mid-range shots. He?s a legitimate scorer. I just think he?s kind of like Shawn Jones, who played around some good players at his spot. Now they are both the focal points.?
Bertone, a 6-foot-4 guard, leads C-USA in scoring at 18.3 points per game. He has started 68 games in his career, but has never scored more than five points in six contests against MTSU. He is flanked by Justin Raffington, who averages 10 points per game and ranks third in the league in rebounding (9.1).
MTSU (15-7, 5-2) and FAU (8-14, 3-4) have met 15 times before, mostly in the Sun Belt Conference. The Blue Raiders tout an 11-4 record in the all-time series.
Tempo could be pivotal. FAU has not allowed an opponent to score 70 points in the past seven games. Davis said the Blue Raiders want to run.
?They will run some in transition, but we really want to run,? Davis said. ?As always, we want to run and create cheap baskets.?
Florida Atlantic guard Pablo Bertone knows the feeling.
Tonight, the pair will lead their respective teams in a Conference USA clash.
MTSU coach Kermit Davis said containing Bertone is a high priority.
?He has always been a good scorer, but he?s played with some really good offensive guards,? Davis said. ?And now he has really settled in. He makes 3s, they post him up, and he makes mid-range shots. He?s a legitimate scorer. I just think he?s kind of like Shawn Jones, who played around some good players at his spot. Now they are both the focal points.?
Bertone, a 6-foot-4 guard, leads C-USA in scoring at 18.3 points per game. He has started 68 games in his career, but has never scored more than five points in six contests against MTSU. He is flanked by Justin Raffington, who averages 10 points per game and ranks third in the league in rebounding (9.1).
MTSU (15-7, 5-2) and FAU (8-14, 3-4) have met 15 times before, mostly in the Sun Belt Conference. The Blue Raiders tout an 11-4 record in the all-time series.
Tempo could be pivotal. FAU has not allowed an opponent to score 70 points in the past seven games. Davis said the Blue Raiders want to run.
?They will run some in transition, but we really want to run,? Davis said. ?As always, we want to run and create cheap baskets.?
