Not Half Bad

Ultimate FIU Fan, don't call Linda Blair just yet. FIU hoops got one very key player back on Thursday, but lost another very key player, but should have another very key player back on Saturday. So hold off on the injury exorcism.

Point guard Josue Soto (right, thanks to Alex J. Hernandez for photo) made his FIU debut and looked pretty smooth with the ball in his hands. To answer FIUPantherFan's question: center Freddy Asprilla (left) missed the game with back spasms and will miss Saturday's game at Louisiana-Monroe.

FA did not make the trip to Monroe, but could be back for next Thursday's game at New Orleans. Russell Hicks (below, left, AJH photo) has been cleared for Saturday's game and did make the trip to Monroe. Not sure how much RH will play, because he has not practiced all week, but his 7-foot presence should be in there on Saturday.

We saw 2 sides of the FIU hoops team in Thursday's loss to North Texas.

During a 14-0 FIU run in the first half that gave the Panthers a 23-13 lead, FIU was in sync with Tremayne Russell and Alex Galindo knocking down shots. FIU also played some pretty good D with Galindo getting a block, and Nick Taylor and Russell getting steals.

Although Soto did not get in on the run, we got a good look at what the sophomore can do such as put some pretty good ball fakes on the Mean Green and go aggressively to the hoop and draw fouls. And JS can make free throws too going 4 for 4.

However, if FIU could, it would hit the reset button on that 2nd half getting outscored 24-8 in the paint and 40-24 overall in the paint.

Yes, missing 6-10 FA and 7-0 RH did not help, but North Texas didn't have anyone taller than 6-7 in the game. It was just a case of the Mean Green outhustling the Panthers to the rebounds and getting second-chance points. North Texas forward Eric Tramiel, a JUCO All-American transfer, had career-highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds. ET had only 5 points and 4 rebounds at halftime. 

Still, we're starting to see some signs with the Panthers hoopsters that once all are healthy (hand hit wood here) they might have a run in them come Sun Belt tourney time.

PANTHER PAWSE

Congratulations to FIU's 3-time All-American Yarimar Rosa, (right, AJH photo) who received a plaque from the NCAA commemorating her leading the nation in kills per set and total kills this season.

Don't normally bring up other teams on here, but how about the Mike Jarvis show last night in Boca Raton. The Florida Atlantic coach gets hit with 4 straight technical fouls and causes his team go down by 7 after ULM makes 7 of 8 technical foul shots. After the 4th technical, the refs ask for the police to escort Jarvis off the court. MJ, just kick a sign next time. FAU suspended Jarvis for 1 game today and the Owls are still winless in Sun Belt play at 0-8.

Finished the Turtle preseason interview yesterday, after I go through the nearly 30 minutes of tape of TT, I will post his thoughts on here.

Questions:

fiu4ever: Hey Pete(or anyone in general), Will there be any open practices to the public when they start the offseason? Do you see the FIU soccer teams playing in the stadium eventually?

PP: I'm sure there will be some spring practices open. Once I know which ones, I'll post them on here. Might be tough to see FIU soccer play in the stadium, because of the football regular season schedule and football practices.

JM: hey pete, do you know if the sun belt distributes all their bowl revenues evenly between teams? or if the teams that make the bowl games get to keep all the money?

PP: Teams that make bowl games keep all their cash.

Not much football recruiting news to pass along today, but here's a question to answer as we are 12 days from National Signing Day:

Online Surveys & Market Research

Comments

[FIUpanther]

Just a request, do you think one of these days you could write a blog post about FIU license plate sales? I'd be curious to see how FIU stands in license plate sales with other Florida schools. I think the FIU Alumni Association should promote the plates more, because I'm sure with a little bit of marketing, sales could jump significantly. Thanks! GO PANTHERS!

[FIUFloridaPower&Light]

I have one! And I see alot around in Dade and Broward.

[Max]

Great to hear that Hicks will be back against ULM. Hope they can pull off another road victory. Crazy news about FAU's coach, I guess the rule doesn't apply like the NBA about 2 technical fouls and you're out?

[FIU Fanatic]

Good blog, Pete...As Max says, crazy stuff with new ugly birds coach Mike Jarvis...LOL at the suggestion of "kicking the sign"..LOL. Too bad the hoops team lost that game..it appears to me our team might have been also physically tired as the game progressed, since we didn't use many players...

Still, there are brighter tones of flashes of what this basketball team can do. If Soto becomes a true presence on the court, coupled with Galindo assuming his leadership role, Asprilla doing his 18/12 average, Hicks being a defensive and rebounding presence, and Dominguez with Gacesa playing their roles....this team can be competitive in a hurry....

[FIU X]

here are the license plate numbers from 2007: http://www.flhsmv.gov/specialtytags/tagsales2007.pdf

the state hasn't posted 2008 numbers yet.

[This U is on the RISE]

For all the HATERs....It won't be long, we on the RISE !!!! U can run but U can't HIDE for long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOafaXd-DGA

***I put our friends at "Eye on the U" on notice

[ArrozConPollo]

Off the chain video!! Thats what im talking about...

[saint]

That video was DOPE! Lets keep the fan intrest up in 09. The monster's growing in the 305, and it wears BLUE AND GOLD!

[FIUBlueandGold]

For all the HATERs....It won't be long, we on the RISE !!!! U can run but U can't HIDE for long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOafaXd-DGA

***I put our friends at "Eye on the U" on notice

Posted by: This U is on the RISE | January 24, 2009 at 07:07 PM

***********************************************
Thanks for posting...I suspect Mr. Navarro censored the video post, because I browsed his blog and did not see it. Not surprising though, got in a debate over there once and none of my replies ever appeared ??

Back to the video, been waiting to see a 2008 recap. Great highlights !! I advise sending the video out to those passive FIU folks we all know. I agree, keep the interest peaking, we're just a few years away from something special.

[FIUJM]

Great video. '09 is going to be even better.

GO FIU!!!!

[alexFAU06]

FIU X:
Interesting the License plate count.
FIU has 500 more plates on the road than FAU.
Do you have the current amount for 2009?
UF has over 100K wow!
I have seen some FIU plates here in north Broward, I guess the closer you get to Miami the more you see. I agree that the schools should advertise more the license plate. It is a way to show your pride, besides I think that certain amount of the tag renewal goes to the school every year.

thanks

[Gooch7]

Like I said in the past. If you ever see "RUN 7" on the road, just honk. I'm a proud FIU Plate Member. Does everyone in this blog have an FIU Plate? Guys its about $45 and most of it goes to the school. Got one for my wife for Valentine Day's. Hope she likes the Plate more then the Flowers.. Ha ha ha.. I'm such a Romantic.