MIAMI SHORES -- Savad Garner was speaking for his team when he said the Buccaneers' next opponent is nothing to take lightly.
Barry University hosts Ave Maria at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Health & Sports Center. The Bucs are riding a five-game winning streak to begin the season. But the Gyrenes, who enter with a 5-4 overall mark are coming off one of their most impressive performances in school history.
Ave Maria beat Florida National 110-82 Tuesday, which set a Gyrenes' school record for the most points scored at home. Ave Maria, which is located in Ave Maria, Fla., east of Naples. Matt Chattin scored a career-high 41 points in that win. Wendell Powell set career-bests in points (29) and rebounds (13).
"We can't take anything for granted because they beat Florida National by 20," Garner said.
If Tuesday is any indication, the Bucs will have to buckle down defensively. Barry's best game defensively came a month ago when the Buccaneers held Florida Memorial to 51 points. Every other opponent has scored at least 20 points more, however.
"That's one thing we have been working on recently, a lot of defensive transition and things like that, learning how to get back," Garner said. "We're getting a lot better stopping the ball. Our defense is getting there. We're ready for it."
Time will tell. The Buccaneers have allowed two teams to score over 85 points. But the Bucs have been outrebounding teams by nearly 14 boards per game. Both Yunio Barrueta and Magne Fivelstad have set career-highs in rebounds this year.
Of course, the schedule begins to toughen up now, and the Bucs will have to be at their best to continue to win.
"We've got to continue to work hard, practice like we're 5-0," Garner said. "We like being 5-0, but in reality, are we really going to stay undefeated? We just got to keep working hard."
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Barry survived a tight game with Tampa, 73-71, on Saturday ... Deric Hill had 20 points and nine assists.
SERIES RECORD: This marks the first meeting between the two schools.
EYES ON OPPONENT: The Gyrenes are coming off in a 110-82 win over Florida National Tuesday ... Matt Chattin scored a career-high 41 points ... Wendell Powell had career-highs in points (29) and rebounds (13) ...
Chattin is averaging 22.6 ppg and 4 assists ... Powell is averaging 15.9 ppg and 7.4 reb ... Ralph Erickson is averaging 10.3 ppg ... The Gyrenes are 1-2 in the road this year.
6 DAYS OF REST: The Bucs will be playing their fourth straight game with at least six days rest.
FAMILIAR FACE: Ave Maria F Taylor Mulvey returns to Barry after spending last year as a redshirt with the Buccaneers ... He has played in two games with the Gyrenes this year.
DROPPING DIMES: Barry Jr. G Deric Hill has dished out nine or more assists in his last three games ... He is second in the SSC in assists (8.0).
DOUBLED UP: Barry has six players averaging in double figures this year: Juan Ferrales, Magne Fivelstad, Yunio Barrueta, Adrian Gonzalez, Deric Hill and Savad Garner.
5 of 6: Barry is playing its fifth of six straight home games at HSC ... The Bucs will host Claflin Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. before going on the road for 3 games.
LEADING LEAGUE: Barry leads the SSC in scoring (88.8), FG % (.497), rebounding margin (13.8) and offensive rebounds (14.8) ... Juan Ferrales leads the league in scoring (21.4) and 3-point FG per game (4.0) and 3-pt FG % (.556) ... Hill leads the SSC in steals (3.2).
4 FOR 20: Barry has had a player score 20 points or more in four games this season.
NATION LEADERS: Hill ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game and eighth in steals per game ... Ferrales is sixth in the country in 3-point FG per game and eighth in 3-point percentage.
SETTING NEW STANDARDS: Barry is on pace to become one of the highest scoring teams in school history ... The Bucs (88.8) ranks second all-time ... Barry’s 1986-87 averaged 90.3.
FIVELSTAD FROM FREE THROW LINE: Magne Fivelstad is currently tied for seventh all-time in career free throw shooting at 78.1 percent ... He is tied with Bryan Van Cott (2010-13).
FRESHMAN ON FIRE: Fr. F Adrian Gonzalez’s 11 field goals vs. PR-Mayaguez is the most by a freshman in school history.
HELPING HANDS: Barry’s 27 assists against PR-Mayaguez earlier this year is tied for the fourth most by a Bucs team in school history ... The record is 38 vs. PR-Humacao.
CLIMBING UP HILL: Deric Hill’s 18 free throws attempted vs. Tampa on Saturday is the second most in school history ... Michael Anderson attempted 21 vs. Plattsburgh St. (11-30-90) ... Hill’s six steals vs. Mayaguez is tied for second with nine others, including current assistant coach Ryan Saunders ... Nelson Fonseca’s eight steals vs. Nova SE (12-30-93) is the record.
SHARING THE WEALTH: With a long way to go, the Bucs’ 17.6 assists per game average this season ranks third all-time in school history ... In 1992-93, the Bucs averaged 18.7 per game.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Barry is on pace to become one of the best defensive rebounding teams in school history ... The Bucs 28 defensive boards per game ranks second in single season history ... The school record is 29.1 set in 2000-01.
BOARDING SCHOOL: Similarly, the Bucs have a chance to become one of the better offensive rebounding teams in school history ... Barry is averaging 14.8 offensive boards per game, which ranks second to the 1991-92 team that pulled down 16.0 rebounds per game.
FREE THROW FORM: Barry has a chance to become one of the better free throw shooting teams in school history ... The Bucs 73.3 percent currently ranks fourth in Bucs single season history ... The 2004-05 team shot a school-record 74.6 percent.
SHOOTING STARS: Barry is on pace to become one of the better field goal shooting teams in school history ... This year’s team is shooting a school-record .497 from the field ... The 1987-88 team shot .483 for the season.
BOLANOS UPDATE: Injured Jr. G Derrick Bolanos will see a specialist on Dec. 20 to determine whether he can begin rehab.
BUCS RECORD WHEN:
Overtime Games: 0-0
Home Games: 4-0
Road Games: 1-0
Neutral Games: 0-0
Night Games: 5-0
Day Games: 0-0
Leading at Halftime: 3-0
Trailing at Halftime: 2-0
Tied at Halftime 0-0
After a Loss: 0-0
Scoring 80+ points: 4-0
Scoring 70-79 points: 1-0
Scoring 60-69 points: 0-0
Scoring 50-59 points: 0-0
Games Decided by 2 points or Less: 2-0
Games Decided by 5 points or Less: 0-0
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 1-0
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 0-0
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 2-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 5-0
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 0-0
Matching Opponents in Rebounds 0-0
Committing 10 or Fewer Turnovers 0-0
Committing 11 or More Turnovers: 5-0
5 Starters Reach Double Figures: 1-0
4 Starters Reach Double Figures: 2-0
3 Starters Reach Double Figures: 5-0
2 Starters Reach Double Figures: 5-0
1 Starter Reaches Double Figures: 5-0
Shooting 50% or Better FG: 2-0
Shooting 40-49% FG: 3-0
Shooting Under 40% FG: 0-0
Opponents Shoot 50% or Better FG: 2-0
Opponents Shoot 40-49%: 1-0
Opponents Shoot Under 40%: 2-0
Shooting 80% or Better FT: 2-0
Shooting 70-79% FT: 1-0
Shooting 60-69% FT: 2-0
Shooting Under 60% FT: 0-0
Opponents Shoot 80% or Better FT: 1-0
Opponents Shoot 70-79% FT: 0-0
Opponents Shoot 60-69% FT: 2-0
Opponents Shoot Under 60% FT: 2-0