University of North Florida recently issued the following announcement.
Following a successful home debut last Saturday, North Florida tips off another road trip on Friday when the Ospreys visit historic Rupp Arena for a meeting with #10-ranked Kentucky at 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
G - Jose Placer (10.0 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 3.2 APG)
G - Emmanuel Adedoyin (8.0 PPG | 1.2 RPG | 1.8 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (13.8 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 3.2 3PM/g)
F - Dorian James (5.8 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 1.2 BPG)
F - Jonathan Aybar (4.8 PPG | 3.3 RPG | 0.7 APG)
HARDWOOD DRIBBLINGS
- UNF is coming off a record setting performance on Saturday against Webber International as the Ospreys matched a program record with 21 three-pointers made (led by 8 for Emmanuel Adedoyin) and tied the program DI era mark with 30 assists | The win was the first of the season and marked the program's 42nd game with 100 or more points scored
- North Florida will be facing its second AP ranked opponent of the season on Friday vs #10 Kentucky | Ospreys dropped a 98-63 decision at #2 UCLA on Nov. 17
- UNF junior Carter Hendricksen, is a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., and played his prep basketball at Lexington Christian Academy
- The Ospreys have a pair of players averaging in double figures led by Carter Hendricksen at 13.8 PPG (9th in the ASUN) | Jose Placer averages 10.0 PPG and leads the squad with 3.2 AGG
- Hendricksen also leads the team in rebounding at 4.0 RPG and is listed second in ASUN for 3-pt shooting at 47.5% and 3PM/game with 3.2 treys | His 19 made three-pointers tops the conference and ranks 9th in the nation this season
- North Florida has seen 12 different players earn playing time this year | 11 have scored, pulled down rebounds and handed out an assist this year | Ospreys have used the same starting five for every game thus far
- North Florida (AKA: "Birds of Trey") have connected on 62 three-pointers this year (11th in NCAA) | Ospreys led the nation for 3PM in 2020 and 2016, ranked 14th in the nation last season with 10.0 per game (229 3PM)
- Of the 12 Ospreys to see playing time this year, 11 have attempted a trey with 8 connecting from long range
- The Texas Tech & Texas A&M games to tipoff the year marked the third time the Ospreys have started a season with back-to-back games on consecutive nights in different locations | 2017-18 opened with games at Michigan State & Michigan | 2010-11 began with games at Florida State & Pittsburgh
- North Florida amassed 5,854 miles of air travel in their season-opening trek and played games in three different time zones (Central, Mountain, Pacific)
SNAPSHOT
- UNF finished 8-15 last season (6-6 ASUN)
- Ospreys were picked to finish 7th of 12 teams in the ASUN preseason coaches poll | UNF has finished in Top 4 of the ASUN in each of the past eight seasons
- Nine players return for the Ospreys this season including four starters
- Five of UNF's top six scorers from last year return led by the duo of junior Carter Hendricksen (14.9 PPG) and redshirt-sophomore Jose Placer (14.5 PPG)
- Hendricksen, a preseason All-ASUN selection, was named All-ASUN (1st team) last year while Placer garnered All-ASUN (2nd team)
- Jonathan Aybar, who ranked second in the ASUN for blocked shots, earned ASUN All-Freshman accolades in 2020-21
MILESTONE WATCH
- Hendricksen needs 46 points to become the 18th player in program history with 1,000 points and is 36 rebounds shy of 500 (Would be only 10th player in program history with both)
- With 193 wins at UNF, Driscoll is just 7 victories shy of 200 and needs just three victories to move into 3rd all-time in ASUN coaching history
SCOUTING REPORT | Kentucky
- After dropping their opening game to Duke, Kentucky has run off four straight wins including an 86-61 victory over Albany on Monday night to improve to 4-1 heading into Friday's game with North Florida
- All five Wildcat starters are averging in double-digits led by TyTy Washington, Jr., with 15.0 PPG | Oscar Tshiebwe averages a double-double with 13.4 PPG and 16.0 RPG while Sahvir Wheeler is averaging 11.8 PPG and 8.2 APG
- UK finished last season at 9-16 and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament | Kentucky returned one starter and welcomed seven newcomers to their roster this season
- Head coach John Calipari, a Basketball Hall of Famer, owns a 343-94 record in his 13th season with the Wildcats | Calipari has posted a career mark of 788-234 in his 30th season on the sidelines
- SERIES NOTES: Ospreys and Wildcats are meeting for the first time in program history on the hardwood | UK is the second of three SEC teams on the North Florida schedule with UNF having played at Texas A&M (L, 64-46) and scheduled to face #23 Florida on Dec. 8 in Gainesville | UNF is 0-26 against the SEC all-time having played 8 of the 14 league members previously
DRISCOLL CONFIDENTIAL
"Love the fact that we have been able to unwind and rejuvenate after that 11 day road trip. We got some days off and good preparation for another two game swing away from UNF Arena. Kentucky not only plays in one of the meccas of basketball (Rupp Arena) but also is another Top 20 team beginning to catching their stride and are playing with tremendous confidence and energy. We need to continue to grow our esprit de corps through building on our competitive nature and willingness to serve one another."
- Head coach Matthew Driscoll
UP NEXT
Following their game at Kentucky, North Florida closes out November and their weekend road trip with an "Sunshine State" battle in Miami against FIU on Sunday (Nov. 28) at Noon.
Original source can be found here.
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