640 SPORTS | LIVE VIDEO
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men's basketball team (6-10, 3-2 SSC) will look to extend its three game Sunshine State Conference winning streak, traveling to Melbourne, Fla. to face the Florida Tech Panthers (12-4, 2-3 SSC) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The game will broadcast live on 640 Sports.
The game may pit the league's smallest team in NSU vs. the biggest team in the SSC.
"It's illogical to believe that our little team can compete with a team that has the enormous size and talent that Florida Tech possesses," said head coach
Gary Tuell. "Our tallest starter,
Chris Page (So., Plainfield, Ind.), is 6-5 and willow thin. Florida Tech has a dozen guys on their roster as tall or taller than Chris. Their point guard (Chris Carter) is bigger than our center (
Brian Cahill (Jr., Arlington, Va.)). Tech is three, four, five maybe six inches taller than us at every position and out-weigh us probably on an average of 20 to 30 pounds per man.
"When we travel we don't need a team bus. Our guys are so thin we just fax the players from town to town. This game isn't David versus Goliath. This is David versus Goliath and his ten big brothers."
The Sharks have found success using their small lineup, going 5-2 when starting their five guards. Unfortunately, this has put NSU at a size disadvantage against big teams such as Barry and Rollins. Although the Sharks were able to take down both strong teams at home this past week, they now travel to face an even bigger squad that has received votes in the national poll throughout the year. On top of that, the Panthers are also coming off a two-point loss at No. 3 Florida Southern this past Saturday and will look to exact their frustration on the young Sharks.
"Because of Tech's size and talent they're able to get the ball inside where they make an extraordinarily high percentage of their shots," said Tuell. "And the few shots they miss usually end up being rebounded and put back in by one of their big men. We can't guard them in the paint and we can't keep them off the glass. Anybody who thinks we can should have his head examined. Tech isn't just big, they are very good. Chris Carter and Jermaine Jackson are special guards. Corbin Jackson is probably the best athlete in our league and along with Akeem Johnson they give Tech two outstanding, talented forwards. David Usic and Cameron Stahl are very big, physical centers."
Although the deck seems to be stacked against NSU, a positive result would fit into what has been an unpredictable season. NSU started the season 0-5 before making several style changes. Those changes resulted in wins over DII powerhouse Belmont Abbey (86-67) and DI FIU (77-59). Now on a three game winning streak in conference play, NSU finds itself in sole possession of third place in the standings and only a half-game behind second-place Tampa.
"On paper this is a total mismatch," stated Tuell. "It isn't logical to think a lightweight fighter can go toe-to-toe with a good heavyweight. But this isn't a boxing match and our team is not logical, conventional or traditional. Our guys defy logic. They have some intangibles that make them unique. Nevertheless, we may have to play as close to a perfect game as possible if we hope to have any kind of chance."
Tune into 640 Sports 15 minutes before the game for the pregame show. Fans can watch the game live and follow live stats
HERE.
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