Courtesy of FGCUAthletics.com
ORLANDO – Making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years, the 14th-seeded FGCU men’s basketball team is ready for its First Round matchup with in-state foe and 3rd-seeded Florida State on Thursday, Mar. 16, at 9:20 p.m. from the Amway Center.
SETTING THE STAGE
The Eagles are 3-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, with the .600 winning percentage ranking as the 23rd best and 2nd-highest ever among non-Power 5 or American Athletic Conference teams (Loyola Chicago, .692).
Florida State is the 2nd-tallest team in the nation at an average of 79.2 inches per player (FGCU: 76.9). FGCU leads the nation in points in paint at 41.5 per game. In their three games against BCS opponents this year (Florida, Baylor, Michigan State), the Eagles were only out-scored in the paint by an average of 34.6 to 30.6, and in all three of those games they did not have injured Marc-Eddy Norelia (17.1 ppg last year).
Helping fuel that low-post production is a return of Dunk City as FGCU has already thrown down more dunks this season (157) than the original Dunk City squad in 2012-13 (148). FGCU connects at a 50.2-percent clip from the floor – the 5th-highest rate in the country – and has just 7 percent of its 2-point shots blocked – which ranks as the 7th-lowest rate in the nation.
TWEETABLES
1) This is the second meeting between FGCU and Florida State, with the Seminoles winning the first in the opening round of the 2014 NIT, 58-53.
2) Florida State (171) and FGCU (157) rank 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the nation in dunks this year (Kentucky is 2nd with 164).
3) FGCU and FSU are two of just seven schools in the nation with its men’s and women’s team having won 25+ games: Duke, Notre Dame, Baylor, Gonzaga and Bucknell.
4) With a win, FGCU would match its all-time single-season win record with 27 (final year of Division II in 2006-07); 26 wins currently is tied with the 2012-13 team for the D-I mark.
5) FGCU is 68-4 (18-0 this year) under 4th-year head coach Joe Dooley when leading at the half and 39-4 (14-1 this year) when scoring at least 80 points.
FGCU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Year: Round, Opponent: Result
2013: First, 2 Georgetown: W, 78-68
2013: Second, 7 San Diego State: W, 81-71
2013: Sixteen, 3 Florida: L, 62-50
2016: First Four, 16 Fairleigh Dickinson: W, 96-65
2016: First, 1 North Carolina: L, 83-67
The 31-point win over fellow 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson last March was the largest margin of victory in the history of the First Four. Then, against North Carolina in Raleigh, FGCU trailed by just a single point at halftime, 41-40 – the closest any NCAA Tournament opponent was at the break against the eventual national runner-up Tar Heels.
NATIONAL LEADERS: POINTS IN THE PAINT (PER GAME)
1) FGCU: 41.5
2) Utah: 41.1
3) North Carolina: 39.9
4) Kentucky: 38.4
5) VCU: 38
Helping fuel that low-post production for FGCU is a re-emergence of Dunk City as the Eagles are averaging 4.7 dunks per game, surpassing the average of 4 per game thrown down by the original Dunk City Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13. With 157 dunks in 33 games this year, the Eagles have already surpassed that iconic 2012-13 squad’s record total of 148 in 37 contests.
NATIONAL DUNK LEADERS
For fans who like dunking, Orlando is likely the best of all the First- and Second Round NCAA Tournament sites as it features two of the top-3 teams in the nation in total dunks this year: Florida State (1st, 171) and FGCU (3rd, 157). Kentucky is 2nd in the country with 164 slams on the year.
Individual Dunk Leaders:
Tacko Fall, UCF: 100
Demetris Morant, FGCU: 96
Bam Adebayo, Kentucky: 91
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
In addition to the points in the paint and dunking numbers, FGCU ranks inside the top 25 nationally in several key statistical categories:
5th: Field Goal Percentage, .502
18th: 3-Point Percentage Defense, .309
22nd: Rebound Margin, +6.2
MOST WINS IN FLORIDA
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, FGCU has the 2nd-most wins among D-I schools in the state of Florida (entering the NCAA Tournament):
1) Florida*: 97
2) FGCU*: 91
3) Miami: 90
4) Florida State*: 84
5) North Florida: 77
6) UCF: 58
7) Jacksonville: 55
8) FIU: 51
9) Bethune-Cookman: 43
10) Stetson: 41
11) USF: 37
FAU: 37
13) Florida A&M: 30
* Playing in Orlando
FGCU is the only D-I team in the state of Florida which has posted four-straight 20-win seasons (five-consecutive for the Eagles). As FGCU has moved among some of the preeminent teams in the state, it has done so with Florida talent. This year, Florida natives are responsible for 80 percent of FGCU’s points and 75 percent of the Green and Blue’s rebounds and assists.
AMONG THE NATION’S ELITE
Entering the NCAA Tournament, FGCU is one of just seven schools in the country to have its men’s and women’s teams win at least 20 games in five-straight seasons: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Baylor, Saint Mary’s and BYU.
SINGLE-SEASON PROGRAM RECORDS
FGCU set a D-I program record with 23 regular-season wins, and has clinched its first single-digit loss season in the D-I era. FGCU is averaging 79.4 points per game, which would be a single-season D-I program record – more than two points better than last year’s record of 77.2, and way more than the 72.9 averaged by the Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13. FGCU’s 50.2-percent clip from the floor would also be the best all-time, and its rebound margin of +6.2 would be the best in the D-I era.
Additionally, FGCU has several players who have already achieved or are closing in on single-season program and career records:
Marc-Eddy Norelia: With eight rebounds in the ASUN Tournament Final, he became just the 3rd player in program history with 1,000 career points (1,075) and 600 rebounds (605). The others are Bernard Thompson (1,835; 623) and Chase Fieler (714; 1,306).
Brandon Goodwin: With 19 points in the ASUN Tournament Final, he eclipsed Norelia’s single-season scoring record of 597 set last year (601 now). He needs just nine points to secure 1,000 for his career.
Demetris Morant: Needs 11 rebounds to move into 2nd place on the program’s single-season rebound record. Three of the top-4 single-season rebounding totals in program history have come under the direction of Dooley. Additionally, Morant (48) needs just four blocks to set the single-season program record for rejections (Kyle Marks, 51 in 2008-09).
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Florida State went a perfect 18-0 at home, but just 4-6 in true road games and 3-2 in neutral-court settings. The Seminoles – who finished 2nd in the ACC during the regular season – lost in the ACC Tournament semifinals to Notre Dame after defeating Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals.
Dwayne Bacon was a Second Team All-ACC performer and leads FSU with 16.9 points per game. Jonathan Isaac was an ACC Honorable Mention and All-Freshman Team member and averages 11.9 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per outing.
LOCKING IN ON D
Since Dooley took over FGCU in 2013-14, FGCU has held 35 teams to 60 points or fewer. The Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13 held 13 opponents to 60 points or fewer, but prior to that – in five seasons of D-I history – FGCU teams had only held opponents to 60 points or fewer 20 times.
The Eagles have led the ASUN in scoring defense in two of Dooley’s three years with FGCU and finished 2nd in the other season. This year, the Eagles are again leading the ASUN by holding opponents to just 68.8 points per game – more than six points better than any other team.
#DEPTHCITY
Last year, FGCU had 10 different players reach double-figure points in a game (tied for the 3rd-most in the nation). This year, the Eagles have again had 10 players reach double-figure points (Reggie Reid: 9-point game). Below is a list of players who have scored 10 or more points in a game, how many times they have led (or tied) the team in scoring and their season high.
Brandon Goodwin (19 – includes 3 ties): 29 (2x)
Demetris Morant (3): 25
Zach Johnson (6 – includes 2 ties): 24 (2x)
Rayjon Tucker: 23
Marc-Eddy Norelia (2): 21
Christian Terrell (4): 20
Christian Carlyle: 19
Antravious Simmons (2 – includes 1 tie): 18
RaySean Scott Jr.: 14
Kevin Mickle: 13
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Of FGCU’s 13 D-I non-conference opponents this year, four are in the top 50 of the RPI (Florida (10), Baylor (11), UT Arlington (45) and Michigan State (50)), and eight are inside the top 130 (Louisiana Tech (117), Georgia Southern twice (122) and La Salle (126). FGCU is currently 85 in the RPI – the only ASUN team in the top 185. Florida State enters the NCAA Tournament with an RPI of 14.
FGCU was down just one point with under 3 minutes to play at previously #1-ranked Baylor before falling short, 81-72, lost to current #17 Florida despite holding a five-point lead with 15 minutes remaining and overcame a double-figure 2nd-half deficit to defeat UT Arlington – one of only two teams (former #1 Gonzaga) to have beaten #21 Saint Mary’s – convincingly, 85-72. Additionally, FGCU controversially lost, 78-77, at then-#13 Michigan State (more info later in this release). The Eagles were without Norelia (broken hand) against Florida, Baylor and Michigan State.
ROAD WARRIORS
FGCU – which has played its final true road game of the year – concluded the season riding a nine-game road winning streak, which is tied for the 2nd-longest run in the nation behind only an 11-game stretch by former #1 Gonzaga.
The Eagles finished a program-best 7-0 on the road in the ASUN this year, surpassing the previous single-season record for wins of five. FGCU is the first ASUN institution to go undefeated on the road in conference action since former league member Samford went 8-0 in 1998-99.
Overall, FGCU is also a program-best 10-3 away from Alico Arena this year, with all three losses coming by single digits.
YOUTHFUL EAGLES
FGCU is getting the job done again this year with a youthful group as 79 percent of its total points, 68 percent of its rebounds and 85 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction of Dooley:
Leading At The Half: 68-4 (.944)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 50-5 (.909)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 71-14 (.835)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 54-11 (.831)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 39-4 (.907)
RE-TWEETS
1) After not having a single-digit turnover game versus a D-I opponent through the first 20 games, FGCU has single-digit giveaways in seven of the last 13 games.
2) FGCU posted its largest comeback in the program’s D-I era against UT Arlington on Nov. 16 as the Eagles erased a 16-point deficit (one shy of matching the all-time mark set in 2005-06).
3) The Eagles posted D-I program records in points (120), field goals made (47), field goal percentage (67.1), assists (29) and win margin (60) in its 120-60 victory over NAIA member Ave Maria on Nov. 29.
4) Morant pulled down the 4th-most rebounds in single-game D-I program history (most in a regulation game) with 17 against Georgia Southern on Dec. 13.
5) The 11 non-conference wins were the most in program history, and the three 100+ point games already marks the first time in single-season D-I history that has occurred.
6) FGCU had two separate 4+ game winning streaks in D-I non-conference history for the first time.
7) FGCU has won three games by one point for the first time in a single season, and it has had a record four games decided by a single point this year.
8) Incredibly, all 15 of FGCU’s players has a positive plus/minus ratio, and every scholarship player is at least +40 on the year.
9) Following called timeouts this year, FGCU ranks 4th in the nation in points per possession after that timeout at 1.059 (leader: UCLA, 1.083).
MARC-EDDY NORELIA
Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Olympia HS/Tulane) missed the first four games of the year with a broken left (shooting hand) before playing the next seven games. He then missed the next six games for personal reasons. Norelia did not travel with the team or partake in practice from Dec. 14-28, but rejoined practice on Dec. 29. He sat on the bench versus Florida Tech on Dec. 31, but did not dress; did dress at Stetson on Jan. 7; returned on Jan. 12 at Kennesaw State. The forward is the team’s leading returning scorer (17.1) and rebounder (9.3) from a season ago.
GAME-WINNERS THIS YEAR
FGCU has hit four game-winning shots this year in the final 35 seconds. The first came on Nov. 25 when Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) hit a contested layup with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to give the Eagles a 68-67 win against Long Beach State.
The second came on Dec. 20 when Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) hit a floater in the paint with 12 seconds remaining to hand FGCU a 79-78 win at Louisiana Tech. LA Tech entered the contest with a dominant record of 71-2 at home since February of 2012 – with the .973 winning percentage over that time being the best in the nation.
Goodwin then hit three free throws with .6 of a second left to give the Eagles an 89-88 win at Stetson at Jan. 7. FGCU trailed by eight points with just under 70 seconds remaining before mounting an incredible comeback.
The most recent game-winning effort came on Jan. 25 when Goodwin again won it for the Eagles, knocking down a baseline 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to break an 80-80 tie at North Florida en route to an 86-82 triumph.
BAHAMIAN SUMMER
FGCU spent Aug. 5-10 of last summer at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, playing three exhibition games and bonding as a team off the court. The Eagles won their three games by scores of 92-89, 113-58 and 87-69. In their first game, because of foul trouble and an injury-shortened bench, the Green and Blue finished the contest with just three players (watch).
THE GROWTH OF FGCU
After starting their D-I transition with five-straight losing seasons, the Eagles have now posted five-consecutive 20-win seasons. After not finishing higher than 6th place in the ASUN the first five years, FGCU has finished no worse than a tie for 2nd each of the past four seasons.
2007-08: 10-21, 6-10 ASUN (T-8th)
2008-09: 11-20, 7-13 ASUN (9th)
2009-10: 8-21, 5-15 ASUN (T-10th)
2010-11: 10-20, 7-13 ASUN (7th)
2011-12: 15-17, 8-10 ASUN (T-6th)
2012-13: 26-11, 13-5 ASUN (2nd)
2013-14: 22-13, 14-4 ASUN (T-1st)
2014-15: 22-11, 11-3 ASUN (2nd)
2015-16: 21-14, 8-6 ASUN (T-2nd)
2016-17: 26-7, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 171-155, 91-81 ASUN
Last 4+ Years: 117-56, 58-20 ASUN
RECAPPING THE ASUN TOURNAMENT
FGCU claimed its first outright ASUN regular-season championship (second overall; shared with Mercer in 2014 at 14-4) after going 12-2. The Eagles secured the top seed in the ASUN Tournament for second time, but for the first time won the championship with that No. 1 seed as all three home victories came by double figures.
The Eagles opened tournament action with a dominant 87-57 win over 8th-seeded Stetson. The 87 points and 30-point margin of victory for FGCU were the program’s 2nd-most in FGCU history in an ASUN Tournament game (89-56 in the semifinals last year at top-seeded North Florida).
FGCU grabbed 51 rebounds in the quarterfinal matchup with Stetson – the most in the program’s ASUN Tournament history. Norelia set the FGCU’s ASUN Tournament record with 15 rebounds. The Eagles’ +27 rebound differential (51-24) versus Stetson was the 2nd-largest in the program’s D-I era (+30 vs. Stetson in January of 2015) and most in an ASUN Tournament contest.
In the semifinals, FGCU posted a 74-62 win over 5th-seeded Kennesaw State. Goodwin scored a program ASUN Tournament record 28 points, including a record 11 made field goals.
In the final, FGCU trailed 3rd-seeded North Florida at the half, 39-33, but behind Goodwin – who scored 14 in the 2nd half – controlled the final 20 minutes as the Eagles doubled-up the Ospreys, 44-22, en route to a 77-61 victory.
Goodwin was named Tournament MVP after averaging 20 points over the three games. Norelia averaged a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to also be named to the All-Tournament Team, and Morant also landed on the team with 12 points and six rebounds per contest.
ASUN POSTSEASON AWARDS
Goodwin was named the ASUN Newcomer of the Year, Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) was tabbed as the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and Dooley garnered ASUN Coach of the Year honors in voting conducted by coaches following the regular season.
For the complete release announcing FGCU’s ASUN postseason award winners, click here.
NEXT UP
With a win, FGCU would advance to face either 6th-seeded Maryland (24-8) or 11th-seeded Xavier (21-13) in the Second Round on Saturday at a time yet to be determined.
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