FIU coaching search, NSU extends streak and spring football updates
While FIU is seeking a new men’s basketball coach, Nova Southeastern University’s men’s hoops team has pushed its home winning streak north of 100.
And, while that is going on, FIU continues with spring football drills.
Here are your five takeaways:
1: FRANK MARTIN UNLIKELY AT FIU: Martin, a Miami native, had a big week. On Thursday, he coached Massachusetts to an 87-83 upset win over Miami (Ohio) in the Mid-American Conference tournament. The RedHawks had entered that game with a 31-0 record and a No. 20 national ranking.
However, despite that win and a distinguished resume that includes leading South Carolina to the 2017 NCAA Final Four, Martin likely isn’t a fit at FIU, which has a much smaller budget than Massachusetts. And even if Martin were willing to take a large paycut, that lower budget would apply to far-less money for assistant coaches and also players through NIL.
On Wednesday, FIU moved on from Jeremy Ballard, who was the coach for eight years — the longest run in the program’s Division I history. Ballard finished his FIU run with six consecutive losing seasons.
2: NSU HOME STREAK CONTINUES: In Division II men’s basketball, the Sharks won their NCAA Tournament opener on Saturday.
The Sharks, ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 28-1 record, routed visiting Morehouse College 94-60. Dallas Graziani led NSU with 20 points and six assists. NSU, which has won 103 straight home games, an NCAA Division II record, will next play visiting Montevallo on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
NSU’s women, ranked 10th in the nation, had their season ended on Saturday, losing 73-70 to host Alabama-Huntsville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. NSU finished its season with a 28-4 record.
3: DREAM DIES: FIU’s women’s basketball team has had a breakthrough season. However, the Panthers’ hopes of winning Conference USA’s tournament and thus qualifying for the NCAA Tournament ended on Friday night in Huntsville, Alabama with a 74-69 upset loss to sixth-seeded Missouri State.
FIU (21-10), which had been seeded second, now awaits word on a postseason NIT-type invitation. FIU has already won 10 more games than last season.
4: MORE SPEED AT TIGHT END: Asked how different the offense will be in 2026, FIU football coach Willie Simmons was emphatic.
“We have some tight ends who can run, run, run,” Simmons said. “We’re going to have fun with those guys.”
The tight end group includes Iowa transfer James Resar; Jupiter High’s Ayden Passley; North Carolina prep standout Davis Brown; Rhode Island transfer Kevin Schaeffer; and returners Jackson Verdugo; Justin Cayenne; and Sean Burke.
Of those, Resar and Passley may prove to be the most dangerous in the passing game this season.
5: MORE SPEED AT RUNNING BACK: Simmons also mentioned a pair of running backs — Jayden Ford, a true freshman from Miami Central; and Devonte Lyons, who has gained 430 yards with a 5.4 yards-oper-carry average in his first two years at FIU.
“You will see a lot more of [Lyons] this year,” Simmons said.
Simmons also indicated that Ford — listed at 5-5 and 160 pounds – will provide more “explosion” than Kejon Owens, who graduated after earning honors as Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year; and Anthony Carrie, who is now atop the depth chart.
“Just having guys who can go the distance,” Simmons said. “[Owens and Carrie] did a great job, but we would break [runs] for 40 yards and get caught.
“I think now we will break some runs and take it to the house.”
