DUNK CITY, Fla. – Looking to bounce back from a rare home loss, the FGCU men's basketball team wraps up its season-long six-game homestand Tuesday night at 7:30 as the Eagles face cross-state foe FAU in the backend of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team.
 
WHAT TO KNOW – WHITEOUT; Wear White
Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys as part of the department's Toys For Tots drive throughout the first few weeks of 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.
 
The presenting game sponsor is Powerade, and fans are encouraged to wear white to create a whiteout atmosphere inside The Nest. At 4:30 p.m., the women's basketball team (7-2) commences the doubleheader against 11-0 Southeastern.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
^ FGCU will be looking to bounce back from its first home loss of the season as the Eagles fell on Saturday to Middle Tennessee, 81-76. The Blue Raiders are ranked No. 6 in the RPI, and two of FGCU's three losses this year have come to the preseason Conference USA favorites, while the other setback came on a last-second 3-pointer at Bowling Green.
 
^ Since the 2009-10 season, FGCU has incredibly lost consecutive home non-conference games just one time: Dec. 19 and 22 in 2015 versus South Dakota State (56-52) and Louisiana Tech (66-63). In their entire Division-I history (since 2007-08), the Eagles have lost back-to-back non-conference home games (including road games being played in-between those contests) just three times: once each in 2015-16, 2008-09 and 2007-08.
 
^ 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 had out-scored each of its first eight opponents in the paint before allowing Middle Tennessee to finish with a 46-30 edge on Saturday.
 
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 In 1st 8 Games: +135 / +16.9 Per Game
 
TWEETABLES
1) Despite the loss to Middle Tennessee, FGCU is 80-15 (.842) at Alico Arena since the start of the 2012-13 season.
2) Zach Johnson is two steals shy of becoming just the program's 10th player – and 5th in the D-I era – to record 100 career steals.
3) FGCU and FAU met in each of the Eagles' first two years in D-I, falling at FAU in 2007 (69-55) before bouncing back with a win at home in 2008 (60-55). Last year, FGCU cruised to a 75-62 win in Boca Raton.
4) 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 nine games to start a season (2003-04, 12 straight).
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 five games.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
FGCU boasts the following top-30 national rankings both as a team an individually:
 
Team:
21st – Free Throws Made (158)
25th – Total Rebounds (366)
26th – Rebound Margin (+8.8)
 
Individual:
5th – Christian Terrell, Field-Goal Percentage Among Guards (.605)
11th – Zach Johnson, Total Steals (22)
13th – Brandon Goodwin, Free Throws Made (53)
 
REBOUNDING EMPHASIS
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 four games they have been out-rebounded, the Eagles were -4, -5, -6 and -14 (1-3 record).
 
In their three losses, FGCU is averaging 34 rebounds per game, has a -7.7 rebounding margin and is -25 in second-chance points.
 
In their six wins, FGCU is averaging 44 rebounds per game, has a +17 rebounding margin and is +52 in second-chance points.
 
SCOUTING FAU
^ FAU is coming off a 93-75 win at home over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. The Owls are 4-3 on the year, but two of those wins – over Edward Waters and Ave Maria – came against non-D-I opponents.
^ The Owls competed just down the road from Alico Arena the three days before Thanksgiving as part of the Gulf Coast Showcase, falling to Towson (76-52), defeating Northern Illinois (77-67) and succumbing to Missouri State (71-60) in consecutive days.
^ Justin Massey leads a quarter of FAU double-figure scorers with 13.7 points per game. Gerdarius Troutman (13), Ronald Delph (12.1) and Anthony Adger (10.1) round out the other three. Delph is averaging a double-double on the young season as he also grabs a team-leading 10.1 rebounds per contest – more than one-quarter of FAU's total rebounds this season.
^ In last year's meeting between FGCU and FAU, the Eagles never trailed, led by as much as 20 late in the game and cruised to a 75-62 win. FGCU finished with a 37-27 rebounding advantage and a 40-32 edge in points in the paint.
^ FAU has committed the 28th-fewest fouls in the nation this year. Out of 351 D-I teams, FAU ranks 327th in 3-pointers made with just 39.
 
#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 nine 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: 26 (4 – 1 tie)
Christian Terrell: 20 (4 – 1 tie)
Christian Carlyle: 18
RaySean Scott Jr.: 15
Antravious Simmons: 15
Dinero Mercurius: 14
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 last 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) … freshman 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 missed three complete games before returning on Saturday against Middle Tennessee and making a season-high four 3-pointers … 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).
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
FGCU will play 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 | L, 81-76
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.
 
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
As part of its 115-61 win over Webber International last Wednesday night, FGCU ranked in the top-5 in single-game records in several categories:
 
8-8: Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) 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).
 
MILESTONE TRACKER
FGCU is well within reach of several milestone victory marks this season.
 
All-Time Record: 291-198 (9 More Wins For 300)
All-Time Record In D-I Era: 177-159 (23 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record At Home: 196-61 (4 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record vs. ASUN Opponents: 91-81 (9 More Wins For 100)
 
RANKINGS RUNDOWN
FGCU is ranked #16 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. They are joined in the poll by UT Arlington at #2, 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 #6 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 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 seven straight by four 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. 4)
 
1) Florida: 105
2) FGCU: 97
    Miami: 97
4) Florida State: 91
5) North Florida: 80
6) UCF: 66
7) Jacksonville: 58
8) FIU: 55
9) Bethune-Cookman: 47
    Stetson: 47
11) USF: 41
     FAU: 41
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: 6-3, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 177-159, 91-81 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 123-60, 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 face another stern test as the Eagles head to Texas to face UT Arlington on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. Eastern. The Mavericks are 7-1 on the year, ranked #2 in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Poll and are receiving votes in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Last year, FGCU erased a 16-point deficit en route to an impressive 85-72 win over UTA at Alico Arena.
 
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 154-101 (.604), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 97-49 (.664). 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.