With a promotion to the Division I Atlantic Sun conference on the horizon, the Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball team is making every effort to prepare for more difficult competition.
And luckily for them, the Eagles will be able to benefit from some Division I experience of their own.
Senior captain Beau Bauer, who led last season's Division II team in scoring, assists and three-pointers, is no stranger to the nation's premiere athletic division.
Before transferring to the Fort Myers, Fla., program as a rising junior, Bauer was a starting point guard as a freshman and sophomore for Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he was named to the Division I All-Independent first team.
And in high school, he was the most valuable player for Indiana's Class II-A, an impressive distinction coming from a state known for excellence in youth basketball.
According to FGC coach Dave Balza, Bauer's experience with high-level competition has allowed him to be a more effective leader in preparing his teammates for the climb to Division I and, more immediately, for his team's contest with Penn.
"Since he has come from a Division I program, he has been a tremendous captain," Balza said. "He really gets the team in the right frame of mind."
There's no question that the Walton, Ind., native has led by example, starting 27 games last season at both guard positions.
"I've just tried to be a good leader," Bauer said. "That's the role they've given to me . to be a leader and to take control of the team."
But as the Eagles make the trip up to Philadelphia this week to face Drexel and Penn, both Bauer and Balza know that the Palestra might just be their most difficult test yet.
Although Bauer is comparable to any solid Division-I guard, he will be going up against the Ivy League's most valuable player, Penn's Ibrahim Jaaber.
"It will be a tough match-up for him, to say the least," Balza said. "Bauer will certainly give up a little quickness, so there's going to be added pressure on him to take care of the ball."
Still, Bauer emphasized the need to prepare for the game as if it were just like any other.
"We need to go about every game the same way," he said.
Bauer sad he's looking forward to the challenge of trying to shut down the best guard he'll face all season.
"It's real important to play a team like Penn since we're going to be Division I next year," he said. "It's always exciting to go to a bigger school, and I've heard great things about the Palestra."
After getting pounded at Drexel last night, 73-37, Bauer and the Eagles will hope to get the better end of the stick against their second Philadelphia Division I opponent this weekend.
