UNF/JU Game

[Tacachale]

In other UNF news, tomorrow is the UNF/JU basketball game at UNF Arena. This game, and the one hosted by JU, are about the biggest games of the year for Jacksonville's two universities. UNF's basketball program has come a long way over the last couple of seasons. They made the A-Sun conference championships last year for the first time, and advanced to the final - one game away from entering the March Madness tournament. JU has long been competitive in the conference. The Dolphins have typically owned this game, but reliable sources tell me this just might be UNF's year.

The men's game is at 12 and the women's is at 3; tickets should be $15 at the door. The JU edition will be at the Arena on February 24.

[fieldafm]

I'll be there, smack dab in the middle of the UNF alumni section with my JU shirt

You guys have a better team this year, JU's roster is very young and inexperienced.  The bartender in the Arena Club is going to be a good friend to me this year, lol. 

[copperfiend]

Both teams have damn good coaches, so I expect them to at least contend for second place behind Belmont. But when Belmont leaves the A-Sun next year, a trip to the NCAA for each school would be very possible.

[Tacachale]

^I think both schools are in concord that that day can't come soon enough.

[fieldafm]

One thing Belmont(and even East Tennessee) does really well is mostly recruit locally.  That's something both JU and UNF have had trouble with in the past.

As for JU recently, I like McDougald(from my old high school) who isn't afraid of the bigger competition from the likes of Miami, Florida, etc..  and I think Sahbegovic is going to be a player once he gets more movement and confidence from his knee problem.

But losing out on Shaquille Johnson a two years ago hurt... he looks really good up at Marshall.  Rozier(his local replacement) was kind of a loafer in high school(this coming from AAU coaches) and he really continued that same work ethic at JU and eventually left.

[Tacachale]

Great games today. The Ospreys won 80 to 58 in the men's game. I believe this makes their third win in 18 meetings with JU. I didn't get to see the end of the women's game. The second round at the arena should be a lot of fun.