Owls fall in first C-USA matches

By Yan Digilov     1/14/10 6:00pm

After delivering mixed performances throughout their non-conference schedule, the Owls have finally arrived at their Conference USA competition. With it comes an opportunity for Head Coach Ben Braun to show the strides or stumbles that the squad has made in the coach's second year at the helm. Since Braun arrived at South Main last fall, the C-USA picture has changed dramatically. The conference, once known for greater girth in the midsection under the domination of the University of Memphis, has suddenly become top-heavy and now appears to be moving up as one of the tougher conferences in the nation.

After former Memphis Head Coach John Calipari took the reins of the historic University of Kentucky program, speculation abounded that, for the first time in almost a decade, the top spot in the conference could be won by a team other than the Tigers (12-4, 2-0 C-USA). Though Memphis retained some of the top recruits in the country and are now led by wunderkind coach Josh Pastner, lo and behold, that speculation has proven correct.

Three teams in the conference have better records than the Tigers with conference play just underway, but despite only one loss to an unranked opponent, Memphis finds itself looking up at some very talented opponents, something none of the speculators could have seen coming.

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham (14-2, 2-0 C-USA), the University of Tulsa (13-3, 3-0 C-USA) and Marshall University (14-2, 3-0 C-USA) stand atop of the C-USA charts. Altogether the newly emergent threats throughout the league spell out one message: "The challenge is going to get harder and not easier," Braun said.

That challenge has already proved to be trying for the Owls (6-10, 0-3 C-USA) who are winless in conference and have yet to find a victory on the road.

Cross-town rival the University of Houston came to Tudor Fieldhouse on Jan. 6 to begin conference play and posted an astounding 42 points in the paint, compared to Rice's 22. While the game stayed close for the first half due to some inspired spurts of production, the Coogs repeatedly demoralized the home team with easy buckets underneath the basket.

"We lost our confidence and got passive instead of staying aggressive," freshman point guard Tamir Jackson said. "When we get passive and we don't try to attack it hurts on offense."

Jackson is leading the Owls with 2.9 assists per game, but sophomore guard Connor Frizzelle is struggling to regain his old self.

"Connor has a good basketball IQ," Braun said. "If he can get some of our post guys open by creating space, then teams are going to have to make a decision. Do they give up inside lay-ups or do they go out to challenge Connor?"

The team's top concern is getting things established on the inside on both sides of the floor. UCF also outscored Rice in the paint by a margin of 34 to 14, an instance where the numbers do not lie. On Wednesday at Tulane, the battle in the paint went in the favor of the Owls, but with their tallest starter standing at 6'7", Tulane limited the offensive production of Rice's starting forwards, freshman Arsalan Kazemi and junior Trey Stanton. Kazemi led the team with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Stanton scored nine with only four rebounds.

While Stanton has had troubles, Kazemi continues to gain more respect around the league, leading the team in rebounds and blocks. He is also second on the team behind Jackson in points scored.

"Both Kazemi and Jackson have been bright spots in terms of production," Braun said. "They have been putting up points and rebounds, and they really compete. That is a positive especially as freshmen."

The freshmen will need to keep up the efforts tomorrow, as the Tigers, now mortal but still a force, enter Tudor Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. A win is possible, and consistency will be the key.

"It is about the team that is most consistent," senior guard Cliff Ghoram said. "We have to be determined and consistent. We have to be focused on what we do. It has to do with heart. I think heart is a big deal.

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