Bracketology 2023: UNLV, UConn, and Alabama with key matchups to watch

Florida Atlantic Owls at North Texas Mean Green

Thursday, December, 29, Denton, TX, 8:00 PM ET

Before the season began it was thought that Conference USA would be one of the strongest mid-major conferences in the country. Two months into the year, two of the reasons that seem to be true face each other Thursday night in Denton, Texas. North Texas (10-2) hosts a team that wasn’t mentioned much when talking about the strength of the conference, the Florida Atlantic Owls (11-1).
Dusty May’s Owls lost to Ole Miss in their second game of the year and have since rattled off 10 wins in a row leading into this one which includes a victory over Florida. As a result, they find themselves atop the conference’s NET rankings at an impressive 13th. This team that averages 81 per game has three guys in double figures with two more adding over nine per game. As a team they shoot 49% from the field and 39% on the few three-pointers they attempt. FAU is off to a good start, but now we get to see how they hold up against what many consider the mettle of the conference, beginning on the road against the Mean Green.

North Texas is one of the best defensive teams in the country under Grant McCasland. So far this season through 13 games they have allowed over 60 points just once, their 63-33 loss to St. Mary’s. Since then, they have gone 11-1 and given up just 42.6 points per game. If opponents can crack 60 points they might as well consider it a win, but they may also have a chance to win the game because as good as they are defensively, North Texas is no juggernaut on offense at 62 points per game and a field goal percentage of 39%.

As talented as the top of the conference is, it will likely be a one-bid league so games like this one in Denton will be important when it comes to seeding for a Conference USA Tournament that always seems to be unpredictable.