By: Mark Wasik
Sunday, November 16
2 p.m. – Kennesaw State (3-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs South Florida (2-1, 0-0 American)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | VyStar Arena (3,805)
TV: ESPN+ (Nolan Alexander, Brandon Johnson, Carolyne Harris)
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State men's basketball hosts South Florida on Sunday afternoon in VyStar Arena, in a game to honor former coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away last October. Both teams are debuting new jerseys for the contest, while there will be a halftime recognition with his family as well. Tip is set for 2 p.m., and it will be streamed live on ESPN+.
A FEW NOTES
♦ Two teams riding strong starts to the season will meet for the first time since the 2011-12 season. KSU is 3-0 for the first-time ever as a Division I program, while USF brings a 2-1 mark into the contest.
♦ The Owls have been one of the highest scoring teams in the nation under Pettway, but in the first two weeks they are making their name on the defensive side. Currently, KSU ranks first ion the nation in both field goal defense at 25.8%, and scoring margin at +49.0 ppg, while the Owls are fifth overall in scoring defense (53.7 ppg). KSU also ranks No. 2 in rebounding (53.7 rpg) and eighth in rebound margin (+19.7).
♦ KSU is still scoring at high rate, currently sixth in the nation at 102.7 ppg. South Florida is not far behind at 99.0 ppg to rank 16th, setting the potential for a very high scoring contest on Sunday.
♦ In addition to the three home games in November, the Owls will play a total of four games this month in the Sunshine State. In addition to their first week win at Florida A&M, the Owls will return to the state during Thanksgiving Week to play in the GEICO Coconut Hoops event, a MTE hosted by former Atlantic Sun Conference rival FGCU in Fort Myers on Nov. 24-26. KSU will open the event against the Rice Owls on Nov. 24 and another neutral battle against Oral Roberts on Nov. 25, before facing off against the host FGCU Owls on Nov. 26.
