DUNK CITY, Fla. – Looking to extend its winning streak to five in a row and avenge a loss just 10 days ago to a strong Middle Tennessee squad, the FGCU men's basketball team continues its six-game homestand by welcoming the Blue Raiders to Alico Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. for a premier matchup between two of the nation's best mid-major programs.
 
WHAT TO KNOW – GREENOUT; Wear Green
Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys as part of the department's Toys For Tots drive throughout the first few weeks in December. Boxes will be available in the Alico Arena lobby, and men's and women's basketball players will personally deliver all donated toys to the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida prior to Christmas.
 
Also, Saturday will mark the second designated "Dirty Bird Only" student-section game of the year where those who are not members of the Dirty Birds will not be permitted to occupy the normal student section, but instead a section higher up in the arena. To become a Dirty Bird member or renew a current membership, log on to JoinDirtyBirds.com.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
^ FGCU is an incredible 80-14 (.851) at Alico Arena since the start of the 2012-13 season. The Eagles are already 5-0 this year, outscoring their opponents by an average of 22.6 points per game.
 
^ Both Middle Tennessee and FGCU have made the NCAA Tournament three times in the previous five years. Both teams won a game in the tournament in 2016 (16 FGCU def. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson; 15 Middle Tennessee def. 2 Michigan State), while the Blue Raiders also picked up a victory last year (12 Middle Tennessee def. 5 Minnesota). In the history of the NCAA Tournament, 15 seeds have won nine total games – FGCU (2) and Middle Tennessee (1) are responsible for three of those victories.
 
^ The Eagles led the nation in points in the paint last year, and they have picked up this season right where they left off 2016-17. FGCU has out-scored each of its first eight opponents in the paint:
 
Illinois State: 48-34 (+14)
@ Siena: 50-16 (+34)
@ Bowling Green: 44-32 (+12)
@ Middle Tennessee: 34-32 (+2)
Denver: 35-32 (+3)
Navy: 36-32 (+4)
St. Francis Brooklyn: 48-24 (+24)
Webber International: 70-28 (+42)
Total: +135 / +16.9 Per Game
 
TWEETABLES
1) Middle Tennessee has not played since defeating FGCU in Murfreesboro on Nov. 21, 85-72. In that contest, FGCU shot just 35 percent in the 1st half en route to a 47-29 halftime deficit before out-scoring the Blue Raiders in the 2nd half, 43-38, behind 48-percent shooting.
2) With a win, FGCU would have its second-best start in the Division-I era (2007-08) at 7-2, bested only by an 8-1 start in 2014-15.
3) This is the first time in the D-I era and just the second time in program history (since 2002-03) that FGCU has scored 70+ points in each of its first eight games to start a season (2003-04, 12 straight).
4) In the five games it has out-rebounded its opponent, FGCU has done so by at least a +15 margin (5-0 record in those games). In the three games they have been out-rebounded, the Eagles were -4, -5 and -6 (1-2 record).
5) After not shooting better than 30 percent from 3-point range in any of the first four games of the year, FGCU has connected at better than a 36-percent rate in each of the last four games.
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
This will be FGCU's third of six non-conference games against teams that finished in the top 40 of the RPI last year. Each of those teams won at least 25 games and played in the postseason:
 
Nov. 11: vs. 39 Illinois State (28-7, NIT) | W, 98-87
Nov. 21: @ 34 Middle Tennessee (31-5, NCAA) | L, 85-72
Dec. 2: vs. 34 Middle Tennessee
Dec. 9: @ 40 UT Arlington (27-9, NIT)
Dec. 22: @ 29 Wichita State (31-5, NCAA)
Dec. 27: @ 31 Rhode Island (25-10, NCAA)
 
Each of those NCAA Tournament opponents won a March Madness game last year, and the other two claimed three total victories in the NIT. Those opponents went a combined 142-36 (.798 winning percentage) last season and posted an average RPI of 34.
 
Entering games on Friday, Middle Tennessee has an RPI of 12 (out of 351 D-I teams), according to ESPN. The RPI is used heavily by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee when determining seeding in March Madness. FGCU has an RPI of 91 – tied with Florida – and a ranking which will increase significantly with a win over Middle Tennessee, and also just from playing the next three aforementioned opponents (UT Arlington, Wichita State and Rhode Island).
 
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
^ Middle Tennessee – which received votes in each of the first two Associated Press polls of the season – is off to a 4-1 start for the sixth time in the last seven years, including a 10-1 start a season ago.
^ Senior forward Nick King logged a game-high 25 points in the first meeting between Middle Tennessee and FGCU while sophomore guard Tyrik Dixon notched his first career double-double with 12 points, 10 boards and six assists.
^ King is currently in the midst of an impressive streak of made free throws, converting 21 consecutive attempts from the line dating back to the season opener, while junior guard Antwain Johnson has connected on 11 straight.
^ King has also served as the Raiders' leading scorer in each of his five games in the Blue and White, scoring 20 or more in each of the last four, and ranks 20th nationally and 2nd in Conference USA in points per game (22.8). He is the only C-USA player shooting at least 60 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
^ The Blue Raiders were picked first in the C-USA Preseason Poll with eight 1st-place votes, while senior guard Giddy Potts was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team for the second-consecutive season.
^ Middle Tennessee lost at home to a strong Belmont team, 69-63, on Nov. 16, but bounced back with a 75-65 win at Tennessee State on Nov. 18 before defeating the Eagles on Nov. 21. The Blue Raiders have also won at Murray State (72-67) and opened the year with a 104-52 victory over D-II Trevecca.
 
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
As part of its 115-61 win over Webber International on Wednesday night, FGCU ranked in the top-5 in single-game records in several categories:
 
8-8: Brandon Goodwin tied a single-game record by making at least eight free throws (8-8) without a miss.
29: Assists to rank tied for 4th all-time and tied for 3rd in the D-I era.
45: Made field goals – the 3rd-most in program history and 2nd-most in the D-I era.
57: Total rebounds – the 5th-most all-time and 2nd-most in the D-I era.
63: The most 1st-half points in the D-I era (previous: 57 vs. Webber International on Jan. 5, 2016).
70: Points in the paint to represent the most in the D-I era (unavailable for prior years).
115: The 4th-most points (record: 123) all-time, and the 2nd-most in the D-I era (120).
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
FGCU boasts the following national rankings both as a team an individually:
 
Team:
11 – Total Rebounds (338)
12 – Rebound Margin (+18.2)
21 – Free Throws Made (139)
 
Individual:
8 – Zach Johnson, Total Steals (20)
8 – Christian Terrell, Field-Goal Percentage Among Guards (.610)
14 – Brandon Goodwin, Free Throws Made (46)
 
#DEPTHCITY
In each of the previous two years, FGCU has had 10 different players during the season score double-figure points in a game. Already this year, the Eagles have had nine players reach double-figure points in just eight games. Below is a list of players who have scored 10 or more points in a game this season, how many times they have led (or tied) the team in scoring and their season high.
 
Zach Johnson: 27 (2)
Brandon Goodwin: 21 (3 – 1 tie)
Christian Terrell: 20 (4 – 1 tie)
RaySean Scott Jr.: 15
Antravious Simmons: 15
Dinero Mercurius: 14
Christian Carlyle: 13
Darnell Rogers: 11
Ricky Doyle: 11
 
In a further testament to the depth, every scholarship player for FGCU has a positive plus/minus ratio on the year – one season after every single player on the roster finished with a positive plus/minus ratio (while a player is on the court, the points scored by FGCU compared with the opponent).
 
1K FOR CT
With a 3-pointer from the left-elbow extended on Wednesday night, Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) registered his 1,001st career point, becoming just the 8th member of the program's 1,000-point club (players who have totaled at least 1,000 points exclusively with FGCU). Additionally, the senior became only the 6th person to reach the milestone mark in the D-I era.
 
ODDS & ENDS
FGCU scored 80 or more points in each of the first three games of the season for the first time in the D-I era of the program (since 2007-08) … both of FGCU's losses this year have come when the Eagles have been outrebounded: 46-42 at Bowling Green, 37-32 at Middle Tennessee … Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, Ga./Kell HS) has missed the last five games with a fractured left (non-shooting) hand … Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian HS) injured his shoulder seconds after checking into the game against Denver last Friday and has not played since, remaining day-to-day … under head coach Joe Dooley, the Eagles are 74-5 when leading at the half and 42-6 when scoring at least 80 points … the win over Siena on Nov. 13 marked Dooley's 150th career victory … the 33-point road win (86-53) was tied for the largest victory away from home in D-I program history, and was tied for Siena's largest home defeat in its D-I history (since 1976-77).
 
MILESTONE TRACKER
FGCU is well within reach of several milestone victory marks this season.
 
All-Time Record: 291-197 (9 More Wins For 300)
All-Time Record In D-I Era: 177-158 (23 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record At Home: 196-60 (4 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record vs. ASUN Opponents: 91-81 (9 More Wins For 100)
 
RANKINGS RUNDOWN
FGCU is ranked #13 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. They are joined in the poll by UT Arlington at #4, while Illinois State, Bowling Green and Navy (2017-18 FGCU opponents) are receiving votes. Each of FGCU's first four opponents this year was ranked or receiving votes in either the mid-major or AP polls.
 
In the Associated Press and/or USA Today Coaches Poll, Wichita State is ranked #8 in the country, while UT Arlington and Rhode Island (both 2017-18 FGCU opponents) are both receiving votes.
 
Additionally, in Joe Lunardi's latest ESPN Bracketology, FGCU is predicted as a 14 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament. Along with the Eagles, Lunardi also has Wichita State (3 seed), Rhode Island (9), Middle Tennessee (12) and UT Arlington (12) all included in his initial Bracketology.
 
ASUN PRESEASON FAVORITES
The Eagles are the defending ASUN regular-season and two-time defending tournament champions. FGCU is installed as the preseason ASUN favorites, predicted to return to the NCAA Tournament for a third-straight year and fourth time in the past six seasons. Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) was named the unanimous ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, while Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) joined him on the league's preseason all-conference team.
 
62 INCHES
At just 5-foot-2-inches, freshman Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Believe Prep/ Shiloh HS/Indian Land HS) is by far the smallest D-I player in the nation. The next smallest player is Mount St. Mary's Junior Robinson at 5-5.
 
Rogers is believed to be the smallest scholarship D-I men's basketball player in history. While not confirmed due to many teams not being able to verify early-year rosters, only one player has been confirmed as smaller than 5-2, and that was Dayton's Keith Braswell at exactly 5 foot. However, Braswell was a walk-on during his one season with the Flyers in 1994-95.
 
More recently, Malcolm Reid – a 5-2 walk-on at Southeastern Louisiana in 2015-16 – matched Rogers' height, but he once again was also a walk-on. Darnell's father, Shawnta, stood at 5-4 and put together a heralded career at George Washington, ultimately culminating in him winning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year in 1999.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
FGCU had won 10-straight road games dating back to last year – the 2nd-longest road winning streak in the country before losing on a last-second 3-pointer at Bowling Green on Nov. 18. Last year's national runner-up Gonzaga has the longest current road winning streak at 11 in a row. The next longest road winning streak is six straight by six different teams.
 
Overall, FGCU was a program-best 10-3 away from Alico Arena last season, with all three losses coming by single digits. The Eagles finished a program-best 7-0 on the road in the ASUN last 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.
 
HEAD COACH JOE DOOLEY
Dooley has guided the Eagles to at least 20 wins and postseason appearances in each of his first four full campaigns with the team. Last season, he became the first coach in program history to be named ASUN Coach of the Year, and was also tabbed as the NABC District 3 Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, FGCU was statistically the 4th-best team in the country in scoring on possessions immediately following timeouts last season, averaging 1.059 points per possession.
 
LOCKING IN ON D
Since Dooley took over FGCU in 2013-14, FGCU has held 40 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 three of Dooley's four years with FGCU and finished 2nd in the other season. Last year, the Eagles paced the conference by holding opponents to just 69.3 points per game – exactly six points better than any other team.
 
FAMOUS LINEAGE
FGCU has a pair of players related to Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers in Michael Gilmore (Jacksonville, Fla./Miami/VCU/Rickards HS) and walk-on Ryan McAdoo (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews HS). Gilmore is the nephew of Artis Gilmore, a six-time NBA All-Star, while McAdoo is the son of Bob McAdoo, a five-time NBA All-Star and NBA MVP in 1975.
 
MEN'S & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SUCCESS
FGCU is one of only seven schools in the country which have had its men's and women's teams win at least 20 games in five-straight seasons, joining: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Baylor, BYU and Saint Mary's.
 
Additionally, with both the men's and women's teams winning at least 26 games last season, FGCU is one of only three non-Power 5 schools in the nation to boast that claim along with Gonzaga and Bucknell. In total, only nine schools had both its men's and women's basketball teams record at least 26 victories a year ago: Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan, South Carolina, Baylor and Florida State.
 
BUILDING A TRADITION
FGCU is believed to be the only men's D-I program in NCAA history to make five postseason appearances in its first six years of eligibility (2013: NCAA; 2014: NIT; 2015: CIT; 2016: NCAA; 2017: NCAA).
 
The Eagles are also one of just 23 teams in the nation to have won at least 20 games and made postseason appearances in each of the past five seasons. Of those 23 teams, only six are mid-major schools, as FGCU joins Vermont, Belmont, New Mexico State, Iona and UC Irvine to hold that distinction.
 
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 games on Dec. 1)
 
1) Florida: 105
2) FGCU: 97
3) Miami: 96
4) Florida State: 91
5) North Florida: 79
6) UCF: 65
7) Jacksonville: 58
8) FIU: 54
9) Bethune-Cookman: 47
10) Stetson: 46
11) USF: 41
12) FAU: 40
13) Florida A&M: 31
 
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. Last year, Florida natives were responsible for 80 percent of FGCU's points and 75 percent of the Green and Blue's rebounds and assists.
 
This season, eight of FGCU's 13 scholarship players hail from the Sunshine State, and including walk-ons there are 11 total players from Florida on the 2017-18 roster.
 
RECAPPING 2016-17
^ FGCU claimed its first outright ASUN regular-season title (12-2) and second overall. The Eagles set a program D-I regular-season record with 23 wins and tied the all-time victory mark of 26, finishing one triumph shy of matching the program's all-time mark.
^ Additionally, the Green and Blue recorded the first single-digit loss season in the D-I era (since 2007-08). FGCU set D-I program single-season records in points per game (79.4), rebound margin (+5.4) and field goal percentage (.499) – 5th-best in the nation.
^ The Eagles made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in five years (six seasons of eligibility) and earned a program-best No. 14 seed. Despite losing its leading rebounder and shot blocker in Demetris Morant early in the 2nd half with an ankle injury, FGCU went on to fall to 3rd-seeded Florida State – the second-tallest team in the nation – by just six points, 86-80.
 
LOW-POST FORCE
FGCU led the country in points in the paint per game last year at 41.3. Included in that average were a pair of then-D-I program record performances of 68 points in the paint versus Ave Maria and Florida National.
 
2016-17 Points In The Paint Leaders
1) FGCU: 41.3
2) Utah: 41.1
3) North Carolina: 39.9
4) VCU: 38.2
5) Kentucky: 37.3
 
#DUNKCITY
Helping fuel that low-post production was FGCU finishing 3rd in the nation with 159 dunks – 11 more than the original Dunk City Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13.
 
2016-17 Team Dunk Leaders
1) Florida State: 183
2) Kentucky: 179
3) FGCU: 159
4) USC: 154
 
2016-17 Individual Dunk Leaders
1) Tacko Fall (UCF): 106
2) Bam Adebayo (Kentucky): 101
3) Demetris Morant (FGCU): 97
 
BY THE NUMBERS
4: FGCU hit four game-winning shots/free throws in the final 35 seconds last year: Terrell had one, and Goodwin had the other three.
16: FGCU erased a 16-point 1st-half deficit in its home opener last year against UT Arlington en route to an 85-72 win. It marked the largest comeback in the program's D-I history; one point shy of tying the all-time mark of 17 set in 2005-06.
66: The Eagles set a D-I program record by scoring 66 points off the bench last year against Ave Maria.
98: FGCU's 98 points against Illinois State were the most in a season opener in program history. The previous high was 90 in the program's first-ever game in 2002-03 versus Puerto Rico-Bayamon.
 
2016-17 RE-TWEETS
1) The Eagles won 11 non-conference a season ago – the most in program history.
2) FGCU had two separate 4+ game winning streaks in D-I non-conference history for the first time.
3) FGCU won three games by one point for the first time in a single season, and it had a record four games decided by a single point.
4) Incredibly, all 15 of FGCU's players had a positive plus/minus ratio, and every scholarship player was at least +40 on the year.
5) FGCU recorded three 100+ point games last season, marking the first time in single-season D-I history that occurred.
 
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: 26-8, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
2017-18: 6-2, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 177-158, 91-81 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 123-59, 58-20 ASUN
 
GOODWIN'S RECORD-SETTING 2016-17
Goodwin was the unanimous ASUN Newcomer of the Year, in addition to being named ASUN First Team, ASUN Tournament MVP and setting a league record by securing six ASUN Newcomer of the Week honors. He was also named to the NABC All-District First Team after setting a program record by scoring 629 points. He hit three game-winning shots and led FGCU in scoring (18.5) and assists (4.1).
 
HOME RECORD INFO
In addition to the aforementioned overall home success, in ASUN games FGCU has been even more dominant, posting a 34-5 (.872) mark against league foes in the regular season since 2012-13.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will close out its season-long six-game homestand on Tuesday when the Eagles welcome cross-state foe FAU to Alico Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Owls are 3-3 on the year – but two of those wins have come over non-D-I opponents – entering a home contest with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday night. The game will be the backend of a doubleheader as the FGCU women face Southeastern at 4:30 p.m.
 
SOCIAL CENTRAL
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, Like us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB and watch us on Snapchat at FGCU_MBB.
 
COACH DOOLEY
FGCU is led by head coach Joe Dooley, who is in his 5th season with the Eagles in 2017-18 and has coached eight all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20+ win seasons and postseason appearances in all four years: 2014 NIT; 2015 CIT; 2016 NCAA; 2017 NCAA. Dooley was named the 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year and the 2017 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a D-I program record 26 wins. In 8+ seasons overall as a head coach, Dooley has a record of 154-100 (.606), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 97-48 (.669). Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine-straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.