DUNK CITY, Fla. – Coming off a 20-point quarterfinal win to open the ASUN Tournament on Monday night, the top-seeded FGCU men's basketball team now turns its focus to a semifinal clash with 5th-seeded North Florida on Thursday, Mar. 1, at 7 p.m. inside Alico Arena.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
Tickets, including an extremely limited amount of reserved chair-back seats, are still available and can be secured by logging on to FGCUTickets.com, calling 239-590-7145 or visiting the Alico Arena Ticket Office. Any remaining student tickets that have not been picked up free of charge by Thursday morning will be released and sold to the public as general-admission seating.
 
Fans are encouraged to wear green to create a GREENOUT atmosphere inside The Nest.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE
FGCU defeated No. 8 USC Upstate, 96-76, on Monday, while North Florida went to No. 4 NJIT and won, 80-76. The Ospreys led by as much as 26 points early in the 2nd half before NJIT made it a one-point game with under a minute left, but couldn't come all the way back.
 
THURSDAY'S OTHER ASUN SEMIFINAL | COMPLETE BRACKET
3 Jacksonville (15-17) @ 2 Lipscomb (21-9) – 8 PM Eastern
 
With a win, FGCU will host either the Dolphins or the Bisons in the Championship Final on Sunday, Mar. 4, at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
 
FGCU's ASUN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This will be the fourth all-time meeting in the ASUN Tournament between FGCU and North Florida. The Eagles have won each of the first three contests – in the 2013 quarterfinals, 2016 semifinals and 2017 final – and each time the Eagles have gone on to claim the tournament title.
 
In last year's final, top-seeded FGCU overcame a sluggish 1st half in which it trailed at the break, 39-33, to outscore the 3rd-seeded Ospreys in the final 20 minutes, 44-22, en route to a 77-61 triumph. In the semifinals in 2016, 4th-seeded FGCU handed UNF the largest loss a No. 1 seed has ever suffered in the ASUN Tournament with an 89-56 thrashing on the road. In 2013, the 2nd-seeded Eagles defeated the 7th-seeded Ospreys, 73-63.
 
FGCU has only been eligible for the ASUN Tournament since 2011-12 following a four-year required transition period to Division I, and in the first three years the Eagles reached the championship final each year – the only program in the history of D-I men's basketball to accomplish that feat. The Eagles have been postseason eligible for six years, made the ASUN Tournament Final five times and won the trophy three times.
 
2012: Lost to Belmont in the Final
2013: Defeated Mercer to win the ASUN Championship
2014: Lost to Mercer in the Final
2015: Lost to USC Upstate in the Semifinals
2016: Defeated Stetson to win the ASUN Championship
2017: Defeated North Florida to win the ASUN Championship
 
FGCU's 15-3 record in ASUN Tournament games is good for an .833 winning percentage, by far the best among current ASUN teams. In fact, North Florida (9-7, .563) is the only other current league member with a better-than-.500 record in ASUN Tournament games. Furthermore, despite appearing in the ASUN Tournament only seven times (including this year), FGCU has the most tournament wins of any current conference member.
 
Team: Record (Tournament Appearances)
FGCU: 15-3 (7)
Stetson: 11-25 (25)
North Florida: 9-7 (9)
Lipscomb: 8-13 (14)
Jacksonville: 6-18 (19)
USC Upstate: 4-7 (7)
Kennesaw State: 2-6 (6)
NJIT: 0-3 (3)
 
FGCU is one of only two active ASUN members (North Florida, 2015) to have won an ASUN Tournament Championship. FGCU's three ASUN Tournament titles are already tied for the 3rd-most in ASUN history (since 1979). Only Belmont (five titles from 2006-12) and UCF (four titles from 1994-05) have more.
 
OPENING-TIP ITEMS
^ Against USC Upstate, FGCU set single-game program tournament records in points (96, previous: 89 @ UNF in the 2016 semifinals) and field-goal percentage (.597, previous: .567 @ UNF in the 2016 semifinals), and tied a program tournament record with 11 made 3-pointers (2013 final versus Mercer). Additionally, Zach Johnson's 26 points were the most in program tournament history (previous: 25 by Bernard Thompson in the 2015 semifinals versus USC Upstate).
 
^ This is the third time FGCU has been the No. 1 seed, winning the title out of that position last year and losing to No. 2 Mercer in the 2014 final.
 
^ FGCU held six ASUN opponents to 60 points or less during the regular season. In the other 42 league games played, there were only five total occurrences of a team being held to 60 or less. FGCU's 68.4 points per game allowed in league play was more than five points better than any other team (Jacksonville, 73.6).
 
^ FGCU is on pace to set several single-season D-I or all-time program records: points per game (80.9 – D-I), free-throw percentage (.740 – all-time) and rebound margin (+6 – D-I). Four of FGCU's top-12 highest-scoring games in program history against ASUN opponents came this year (more info later).
 
^ Making the performance this year even more impressive is that FGCU hasn't had a single game yet this season where all 12 scholarship players have been healthy/eligible. Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny HS) remains questionable for Thursday's game with an ankle injury which has kept him out of the last six contests.
 
TWEETABLES
1) The 103 and 96 points FGCU scored against UNF during the regular season are two of the top-3 scoring games in regulation program history against an ASUN opponent, with 103 being the most ever.
2) Michael Gilmore has two career double-doubles, and both came this year against UNF (14 points, 11 rebounds; 14 points, 12 rebounds).
3) Christian Terrell needs four rebounds to become the first player in program history with 1,200 career points, 500 career rebounds and 250 career assists.
4) FGCU is the first school in the history of the ASUN to post six-straight 20-win seasons.
5) FGCU is 88-19 at home since 2012-13, but its five losses this year (12-5) are tied for the most since 2011-12.
 
SERIES & SEASON RECAP
The series has been a streak of runs by both teams since their first meeting in February of 2003: FGCU W6, UNF W7, FGCU W5, UNF W3, FGCU W7 (current). Five contests in the current seven-game win streak for the Eagles have been decided by double figures.
 
In the first meeting this year, FGCU won at UNF, 96-87, despite not having ASUN Player of the Year Brandon Goodwin, RaySean Scott Jr. or Ricky Doyle. In the second meeting, the Eagles were never threatened as they opened up a 55-28 halftime lead and cruised to a 103-70 victory – the 2nd-largest margin of victory in program history over an ASUN opponent.
 
CONTRASTING STYLES
In their 10 meetings since the start of the 2014-15 season, FGCU and North Florida have put their contrasting offensive styles on display. In those 10 contests (FGCU leads, 7-3; won seven straight), the Eagles have outscored the Ospreys in the paint nine times and by an average of 44.4 to 26.4.
 
Conversely, UNF has made more 3-pointers than FGCU in eight of the 10 games, with one contest – last year's title game – tied. The Ospreys have averaged 9.9 made 3s over that time, while the Eagles have converted just 4.6 per game.
 
DOMINANT IN THE PAINT
In the first eight years of the program's D-I history (2007-15), FGCU scored 50 or more points in the paint against another D-I opponent just twice. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Eagles have accomplished that feat 13 times – including three of the last six times FGCU has played UNF.
 
Over the past 10 games, the Eagles have scored an incredible 476 points in the paint, coming out to an average of 47.6 per contest. Included in that stretch are two dominant performances by the Eagles against UNF with paint totals of 56 (+30 margin) and 66 (+36 margin). The 66 paint points are the most in program history against a D-I opponent.
 
SCOUTING NORTH FLORIDA
^ UNF ranks 4th in the nation in 3-pointers made (347) and 6th in the country in attempts (919). Additionally, the Ospreys are 34th in the nation in free-throw percentage at .761.
 
^ Sophomore Noah Horchler was named the ASUN Newcomer of Year as he's averaging 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Trip Day (11.3 ppg) was tabbed to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. Ivan Gandia-Rosa leads the Ospreys with 14 points per game.
 
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
FGCU finished the regular season ranked 1st in several key statistical categories, while North Florida ranked near the bottom:
 
Points Allowed Per Game
1) FGCU: 68.4
7) N: 87.3
 
Rebounds Allowed Per Game
1) FGCU: 30.4
8) North Florida: 40
 
Rebound Margin
1) FGCU: +9.1
8) North Florida: -5
 
Scoring Margin
1) FGCU: +13.9
6) North Florida: -2.2
 
BIO BLAST
Brandon Goodwin: Has already broke his own single-season D-I program record for free throws made (137); all-time record: Leighton Bowie with 156 in 2003-04.
 
ASUN POSTSEASON AWARDS
On Sunday, FGCU collected three ASUN postseason honors as Brandon Goodwin was named Player of the Year, Zach Johnson joined Goodwin on the First Team and Joe Dooley was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
 
Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) became the second FGCU product to be named Player of the Year, joining Sherwood Brown in 2013. Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) landed on the First Team for the first time in his career, while Goodwin has been chosen to the First Team now in consecutive years. Dooley also collected his second-straight Coach of the Year honor after guiding the Eagles to back-to-back 12-2 league marks.
 
For the complete release and teams, click here.
 
LEADING THE PACK
In ASUN play, FGCU led the league in almost every key category – and did so by a wide margin in many cases (2nd-place team listed):
 
Points Per Game Allowed
1) FGCU: 68.4
2) Jacksonville: 73.6
 
Scoring Margin
1) FGCU: +13.9
2) Lipscomb: +4.4
 
Field Goal Percentage
1) FGCU: .515
2) North Florida: .480
 
Field Goal Percentage Defense
1) FGCU: .409
2) Jacksonville: .435
 
Rebound Margin
1) FGCU: +9.1
2) Lipscomb: +6.4
 
COMEBACK KINGS
Twice this year FGCU has overcome 18-point deficits to win (at Lipscomb: trailed 66-48; at USC Upstate: trailed 32-14). Those 18-point comebacks are the largest in program history, besting the previous mark of 17 set twice in the 2005-06 season and the 16-point D-I record last year against UT Arlington.
 
Against Lipscomb, FGCU posted an incredible 33-4 run to overcome the deficit, and versus USC Upstate the Eagles shot a torrid 72.7 percent in the 2nd half, scoring 56 of their 59 points in the paint or at the free-throw line to outscore the Spartans, 59-27.
 
#DEPTHCITY
FGCU has had 11 different players already this year reach double-figure points in a game – tied for the 5th-most in the nation. 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.
 
Brandon Goodwin: 28 (15 – 1 tie)
Zach Johnson: 27 (10)
Christian Terrell: 23 (5 – 1 tie)
RaySean Scott Jr.: 21 (1)
Christian Carlyle: 18
Dinero Mercurius: 16 (1)
Antravious Simmons: 15 (1)
Michael Gilmore: 14
Darnell Rogers: 11
Ricky Doyle: 11
Brady Ernst: 10
 
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). Additionally, FGCU has 10 different players who are averaging double-figure minutes.
 
WINNING STREAKS SNAPPED
With the loss to Kennesaw State on Feb. 15, FGCU had the following winning streaks come to an end:
 
OVERALL: 13 – FGCU's 13-game winning streak was the longest in D-I program history, besting a 10-game run in 2014-15. The all-time program record is 14 on two occasions in the D-II era (2003-04 and 2006-07). The 13-game winning streak was tied for the 4th-longest in the nation at the time.
 
ASUN OVERALL: 15 – FGCU's 15-game regular-season winning streak in ASUN play was tied for the 3rd-longest in the nation at the time.
 
KENNESAW STATE: 15 – FGCU had won 15 games in a row over Kennesaw State – then the longest winning streak by a current league member over another current league foe.
 
RECORD-SETTING ROUT TO OPEN ASUN PLAY
FGCU opened ASUN play with a 90-52 rout of Stetson at Alico Arena on Jan. 6. The 38-point win was the largest in program history over a conference member, surpassing the previous record of 33 in the 2016 ASUN Tournament semifinal at North Florida, 89-56.
 
PROGRAM'S LARGEST WINS vs. ASUN OPPONENT
1) +38: 90-52 vs. Stetson (1/6/18)
T-2) +33: 103-70 vs. North Florida (1/29/18)
        +33: 89-56 @ North Florida (ASUN Semifinals; 3/3/16)
4) +32: 70-38 vs. USC Upstate (2/6/11)
5) +31: 96-65 vs. Stetson (1/25/13)
6) +30: 87-57 vs. Stetson (ASUN Quarterfinals; 2/27/17)
 
PROGRAM'S MOST POINTS vs. ASUN OPPONENT
1) 111 @ Stetson (1/25/11) *3OT
2) 103 vs. North Florida (1/29/18)
3) 100 vs. Jacksonville (2/6/14)
4) 97 @ USC Upstate (2/18/17) *OT
T-5) 96 @ North Florida (1/24/18)
        96 vs. Stetson (1/25/13)
7) 93 vs. Kennesaw State (2/15/18)
T-8) 92 @ Northern Kentucky (3/1/14)
        92 vs. Kennesaw State (1/28/12)
        92 @ Stetson (1/20/12)
T-11) 90 vs. Stetson (1/6/18)
        90 vs. ETSU (1/18/14)
 
ASUN RE-TWEETS
1) FGCU shot a season-high 60 percent (30-50) from the field against Stetson. The percentage was the 6th-highest in program history versus a D-I opponent (record: 65.6 vs. Jacksonville on Feb. 6, 2014).
2) The 90 points against the Hatters were the most ever in an ASUN opener for the Eagles, besting the previous mark of 89 set at Stetson in the 2017 conference opener.
3) It marked the fourth-straight year that FGCU beat Stetson to open ASUN play. The Eagles won their seventh in a row to begin league action, and are now 9-2 all-time in ASUN openers.
4) FGCU secured its 300th all-time win (now 306-205) since the program's first season in 2002-03 with the 96-87 victory at North Florida on Jan. 24.
5) The Eagles made a season-low one 3-pointer in the victory over Jacksonville on Jan. 27. Each of the last three times FGCU has made one 3-pointer in a contest, the Eagles have won the game.
6) FGCU secured its 100th all-time ASUN win (now 103-83) on Feb. 3 at Jacksonville, 80-55. After going just 33-61 in ASUN play from 2008-12, the Eagles are now 70-22 since 2013.
7) FGCU scored 59 2nd-half points – its second-most ever against a D-I team – to overcome an 18-point deficit and win at USC Upstate on Feb. 10, 88-71.
8) The 49 points that FGCU held Kennesaw State to on Jan. 20 were its fewest allowed to a D-I opponent this year. The Eagles' 66 points against the Owls were their fewest in a win over a D-I opponent this season.
9) The 97 points FGCU allowed in regulation to Kennesaw State on Feb. 15 are tied for the 3rd-most in D-I program history: 102 by ETSU in 2008-09; 99 by Mercer in 2007-08; 97 by Michigan State in 2009-10.
10) The 93 points FGCU scored against Kennesaw State were the most ever in a losing effort in program history.
11) FGCU shot 56.7 percent (34-60) from the floor versus Kennesaw State, tied for its highest percentage in an ASUN loss in program history (56.7; 34-60 against Jacksonville in 2015-16).
12) FGCU is the first ASUN program to go undefeated on the road in league games in consecutive seasons (7-0 each of the last two years).
13) The Eagles' .857 winning percentage (12-2) for the second-straight year in ASUN action is tied for the best in program history.
 
SLOW STARTS, POSTSEASON FINISHES
The Eagles have made six-consecutive postseason appearances (including this year's NCAA or NIT trip), but they have gotten off to slow starts previously – not unlike this year's 9-8 non-conference mark. In 2015-16, FGCU was 7-7 through 14 games (what it was this year), but went on to post a 21-14 record and win an NCAA Tournament game. In 2013-14, the Eagles went 6-7 in the non-conference schedule before finishing 22-13 overall, winning the ASUN regular season crown and playing in the NIT.
 
STARTING LINEUP SHUFFLE
Through 32 games this year, FGCU has used 16 different starting lineups – tied for the 5th-most in the nation:
             
T-1) Siena: 18 In 30 Games
        UT Martin: 18 In 31 Games        
T-3) UTEP: 17 In 28 Games
        Bryant: 17 In 29 Games
T-5) FGCU: 16 In 32 Games
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
FGCU boasts the following top-30 national rankings both as a team and individually:
 
Team:
8th – Total Rebounds (1,230)
13th – Field-Goal Percentage (.498)
29th – Total Steals (228)
 
Individual:
13th – Zach Johnson, Total Steals (65)
 
REBOUNDING EMPHASIS
In its 10 losses, FGCU is averaging 33 rebounds per game, has a -4.4 rebounding margin and is -41 in second-chance points.
 
In its 22 wins, FGCU is averaging 40.9 rebounds per game, has a +10.7 rebounding margin and is +40 in second-chance points.
 
PAINT EMPHASIS
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 either tied or out-scored 28 of its first 32 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)
Middle Tennessee: 30-46 (-16)
FAU: 42-34 (+8)
@ rv UT Arlington: 26-26 (0)
Oral Roberts: 22-58 (-36)
@ FIU: 34-26 (+8)
@ #11 Wichita State: 28-16 (+12)
@ rv Rhode Island: 36-28 (+8)
Florida Memorial: 42-12 (+30)
Florida Tech: 38-20 (+18)
Stetson: 28-20 (+8)
USC Upstate: 40-22 (+18)
NJIT: 38-26 (+12)
@ Lipscomb: 34-32 (+2)
@ Kennesaw State: 40-20 (+20)
@ North Florida: 56-26 (+30)
Jacksonville: 48-44 (+4)
North Florida: 66-30 (+36)
@ Jacksonville: 46-22 (+24)
@ NJIT: 26-28 (-2)
@ USC Upstate: 56-20 (+36)
Kennesaw State: 56-34 (+22)
Lipscomb: 44-48 (-4)
@ Stetson: 38-22 (+16)
USC Upstate: 40-20 (+20)
Total: +409 / +12.8 Margin Per Game
 
MILESTONE MARKS
The win over Florida Tech on Dec. 31 was highlighted by a pair of milestone accomplishments for Zach Johnson and Joe Dooley. Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) became just the ninth member of the program's 1,000-point club, while Dooley reached 100 career wins with the Eagles.
 
In addition to becoming just the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and second this season (Christian Terrell), Johnson is only the third to do so as a junior, joining all-time leading scorer Bernard Thompson (1,835) and 2nd all-time leading scorer Brett Comer (1,477).
 
Dooley became the first coach in the D-I history of the program (since 2007-08) to reach the century mark for wins. Now in his 5th season with the Eagles, Dooley is 113-56 (.669 winning percentage). He has the 2nd-most wins all-time, behind only Dave Balza's 153-121 mark in the program's first nine years from 2002-11.
 
GREAT ROAD WIN
FGCU's lone win during a 1-6 stretch earlier this season against D-I opponents was one of its most impressive road victories in program history as FGCU knocked off UT Arlington, 85-78, on Dec. 9. UTA entered the game ranked No. 42 in the RPI and receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. The Eagles snapped the Mavericks' 21-game home-court regular-season winning streak.
 
NOTEWORTHY
^ The Eagles have lost four times this year when scoring 85 or more points – something that hadn't happened even once since the first year of the program in 2002-03 (three times that season).
^ The Eagles dropped consecutive ASUN regular-season home games Feb. 15 and 17 for the first time since the 2011-12 season. FGCU has lost four ASUN games total in the last two years; all four have come at home.
^ The Eagles scored 70+ points in each of their first 11 games, coming one performance short of matching the 2003-04 team for most consecutive games to start a season (12) with scoring 70 or more points.
^ The 83-64 loss at home to Oral Roberts on Dec. 16 was tied for the worst home non-conference loss in the program's D-I history (77-58 vs. Drexel on Nov. 14, 2007).
^ Entering this season, FGCU was 68-4 when leading at the half under Dooley. The Eagles are now 88-7 when leading at the break as they have lost halftime leads this season at Bowling Green (43-40), versus FAU (45-34) and at FIU (43-40).
^ FGCU allowed FAU to score 58 points in the 2nd half on Dec. 5 – the most the Eagles have allowed in their D-I history behind only a 59-point performance by Mercer on Jan. 17, 2008.
^ The 92 points FGCU allowed to FAU were tied for the most in a regulation game under Dooley (92 at Lipscomb on Feb. 27, 2014), and the most surrendered by the Eagles in any regulation game since Belmont scored 95 on Jan. 16, 2012.
^ FGCU has already allowed four opponents to score 90+ in regulation this year. In the previous four years under Dooley, that had only occurred two times total.
^ 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.
^ Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) is just the 6th player in program history with 1,000 career points and 400 career rebounds.
^ The Eagles shot 50.7 percent from the floor against FAU – their 2nd-highest shooting percentage in a loss in D-I non-conference history (61.4 percent at TCU on Nov. 11, 2011).
^ FGCU has made at least one 3-pointer in 281 straight games – dating back to Jan. 8. 2010, at home against North Florida. Incredibly, the Eagles also failed to make a 3-pointer in their next game two days later at The Nest versus Jacksonville. Those are the only two games in program history that FGCU has not made a 3-pointer.
^ As part of its victory over UT Arlington, FGCU set then-season highs against a D-I opponent in 3-pointers made (10), 3-point percentage (.526), points off turnovers (24), free-throw percentage when making double figures (.826), field-goal percentage (.549) and bench points (27).
^ FGCU committed 24 turnovers against UT Arlington – tied for the most in a win in D-I program history (Campbell, Dec. 18, 2008).
^ FGCU had a 43-28 rebounding edge at FIU – representing the first time in D-I program history (since 2007-08) it has lost when having a +15 advantage on the glass.
 
ADDED THREAT
With the conclusion of the fall semester, Dec. 16 against Oral Roberts marked the Green and Blue debut of redshirt junior Michael Gilmore. In his first game eligible, Gilmore (Jacksonville, Fla./Miami/VCU/Rickards HS) started, scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists.
 
The uber-talented 6-10, 210-pound forward from Jacksonville transferred to FGCU in January of 2017. Gilmore began his career at VCU, playing his freshman and sophomore years with the Rams, before transferring to Miami (but not playing) in the summer of 2016 and then joining the Eagles. He had not played since Mar. 20, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round. In that game with VCU, Gilmore scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds against 2nd-seeded Oklahoma.
 
1K FOR CT
With a 3-pointer on Nov. 29, Terrell registered his 1,001st career point, becoming – at the time – just the eighth 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 sixth person – at the time – 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 … freshman Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, Ga./Kell HS) missed 14-straight games from Nov. 21-Dec. 31 with a fractured left (non-shooting) hand, but returned for the ASUN opener on Jan. 6 against Stetson and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds; in his first two games back, he secured 14 rebounds, and at Kennesaw State on Jan. 20 he scored a career-high nine points and grabbed a career-high-tying eight rebounds … Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian HS) injured his shoulder seconds after checking into the game against Denver on Nov. 24 and missed three complete games before returning on Dec. 2 against Middle Tennessee and making a season-high four 3-pointers … under Dooley, the Eagles are 50-10 when scoring at least 80 points (five losses this year) … 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 FGCU's D-I history, and was tied for Siena's largest home defeat in its D-I history (since 1976-77).
 
HOME SUCCESS
Since 2012-13, FGCU is 39-7 (.848) in the regular season against ASUN opponents at Alico Arena. Including ASUN Tournament games in that same stretch, the Eagles are 48-9 (.842) at home versus league foes. Overall, FGCU boasts an 88-19 record (.822) at The Nest since the 2012-13 season.
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
FGCU played 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, and the Eagles went 2-4 against the group:
 
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) | W, 85-78
Dec. 22: @ 29 Wichita State (31-5, NCAA) | L, 75-65
Dec. 27: @ 31 Rhode Island (25-10, NCAA) | L, 80-60
 
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 on Nov. 29, FGCU ranked in the top 5 in single-game program records in several categories:
 
8-8: Goodwin tied a 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: 307-205 (Win 300 On Jan. 24)
All-Time Record In D-I Era: 193-166 (7 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record At Home: 204-65 (Win 200 On Jan. 11)
All-Time Record vs. ASUN Opponents: 103-83 (Win 100 On Feb. 3)
 
UNCHARATERISTIC DROPOFF
Entering this season – in four years under Dooley – FGCU had surrendered a double-figure lead and lost a game just four times. Already this year, the Eagles have lost four double-figure leads (and dropped the game): 13 at Bowling Green, 12 vs. Middle Tennessee, 14 vs. FAU and 11 at FIU.
 
The four double-figure leads are the most in a single season since the 2012-13 team – which reached the Sweet Sixteen – surrendered five such advantages, including an 11-point edge in the aforementioned Sweet Sixteen against Florida.
 
FGCU lost consecutive double-figure point leads against Middle Tennessee and FAU. It's just the third time in program history (2002-03, 2012-13) that the Eagles have given up back-to-back double-figure point leads.
 
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 a program-best 10-straight road games dating back to last year – the 2nd-longest road winning streak in the country – before a last-second loss at Bowling Green on Nov. 18. FGCU now carries a seven-game road winning streak, which is tied for the 4th-longest current run in the nation (Vermont: 10; Gonzaga: 9, Virginia: 8).
 
The Eagles have won a program-record 14-straight ASUN road games thanks to consecutive 7-0 league marks away from home (first ASUN team ever to go undefeated in consecutive seasons).  Prior to this current stretch, FGCU's longest road conference winning streak in program history was just five in 2014-15. FGCU now has two of the ASUN's six all-time perfect road league seasons: Northeastern Louisiana (3-0 in 1979-80), College of Charleston (8-0 in 1994-95 & 1996-97) and Samford (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 five 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.
 
FAMOUS LINEAGE
FGCU has a pair of players related to Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers in Gilmore 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 was one of only seven schools in the country entering this season which have had its men's and women's teams win at least 20 games in five-straight years, joining: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Baylor, BYU and Saint Mary's.
 
Among those teams looking to make it six-straight seasons, here are the 2017-18 men's and women's basketball records for each school (entering games on Feb. 24):
 
FGCU: 22-10 (m); 27-4 (w)
Duke: 24-6 (m); 22-7 (w)
Saint Mary's: 27-4 (m); 20-9 (w)
Louisville: 19-10 (m); 29-2 (w)
Kentucky: 20-9 (m); 14-16 (w)
Baylor: 17-12 (m); 28-1 (w)
BYU: 22-9 (m); 16-13 (w)
 
Additionally, with both the men's and women's teams winning at least 26 games last season, FGCU was 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 six postseason appearances in its first seven years of eligibility (2013: NCAA; 2014: NIT; 2015: CIT; 2016: NCAA; 2017: NCAA; 2018: NCAA or NIT).
 
The Eagles – entering this season – were 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 Feb. 27)
 
1) Florida: 117
2) FGCU: 113
3) Miami: 110
4) Florida State: 104
5) North Florida: 91
6) UCF: 78
7) Jacksonville: 70
8) FIU: 64
9) Bethune-Cookman: 60
10) Stetson: 53
11) FAU: 49
12) USF: 45
13) Florida A&M: 37
 
FGCU is the only D-I team in the state of Florida which has posted five-straight 20-win seasons (six-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.  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
 
THE GROWTH OF FGCU
After starting their D-I transition with five-straight losing seasons, the Eagles have now posted six-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 five 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: 22-10, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 193-166, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 139-67, 70-22 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).
 
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 10 all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20 win seasons and postseason appearances in all five years: 2014 NIT; 2015 CIT; 2016 NCAA; 2017 NCAA; 2018 NCAA/NIT. Dooley was named the 2017 and 2018 ASUN Coach of the Year, in addition to 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 170-108 (.612), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 113-56 (.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.