Busting Brackets
Fansided

Conference USA Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Andrew Dieckhoff

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 15: Duke Blue Devils fans taunt Pablo Bertone #25 of the Florida Atlantic Owls as he prepares to inbound the ball during play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 15, 2013 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 97-64. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 15: Duke Blue Devils fans taunt Pablo Bertone #25 of the Florida Atlantic Owls as he prepares to inbound the ball during play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 15, 2013 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 97-64. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

#13 — FLORIDA ATLANTIC

2018-19 IN REVIEW

  • Record: 17-16 (8-10, T-9th in C-USA)
  • Rankings: #152 in NET, #162 in KenPom
  • Postseason: CIT First Round — Lost to Charleston Southern, 68-66

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

HEAD COACH

  • Dusty May (2nd year)
  • School W-L: 17-16 (.515)
  • Career W-L: 17-16 (.515)

PROJECTED STARTERS

  • Cornelius Taylor, G, Gr. — 17.2 PPG in ’18-19 at Lincoln Memorial (D-II)
  • Michael Forrest, G, So. — 28.4 MPG (27 starts), 8.5 PPG, 2.9 APG
  • Jaylen Sebree, F, So. — 23.6 MPG (6 starts), 9.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG
  • Jailyn Ingram, F, Sr. — 29.7 MPG (10 starts), 18.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG
  • Karlis Silins, C, Jr. — 17.5 MPG (17 starts), 6.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

https://twitter.com/FAU_Hoops/status/1174103262179614720?s=20

2019-20 SEASON OUTLOOK

The C-USA’s other Owls had a decent year in 2018-19, grabbing non-conference road wins against UCF and Illinois. FAU ended up with a winning record overall, though that mark was buoyed by three wins over non-Division I programs. An early conference win over Old Dominion put Dusty May’s boys at 2-1 and looking like potential top-half finishers. But then a four-game skid sunk FAU and the team sputtered to a 6-5 record down the stretch. The problem, now, is that Florida Atlantic must go forward without the services of Anthony Adger and Xavian Stapleton.

The key to this season is the return of Ingram, who was in the middle of a breakout junior season when he tore his ACL in December. In ten games, Ingram led the team in scoring (18.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.2 rpg). The Owls were 7-3 in those games and just 10-13 in games that Ingram missed. Sure, the competition was more consistently tough once league play started, but those are still encouraging numbers. If FAU’s star forward can return to full strength – and if sophomores Forrest and Silins both take steps forward – then the Owls could find themselves in a much better place in the C-USA.

But that’s a lot of machinations, especially in a league chock full of talent.