Golden Panthers report: Notes, quotes

April 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Getting inside

FINAL RECORD
9-20, 6-12, fifth place in Sun Belt East.

WHAT WENT RIGHT
With the addition of 7-footer Russell Hicks, the Golden Panthers became a better defensive and rebounding team and leading scorer Alex Galindo was able to move outside and become a more versatile player. After losing seven of eight conference games, the Golden Panthers won three straight in February, including two against Sun Belt tournament semifinal teams Middle Tennessee and UALR.

WHAT WENT WRONG
Senior PG Michael James was suspended on Jan. 5 and never returned and Texas A&M transfer Kenneth White left the team in January, leaving an already uncertain backcourt even more vulnerable.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"This was a tough way to end the season. I never thought they could beat us on the boards the way they did and they made a lot of shots, too. They shot the ball well, but you have to make people miss. And we didn't make them miss." -- FIU coach Sergio Rouco, after the Golden Panthers closed out the season with a 91-64 loss at FAU in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament.