STILLWATER, Okla. – The 7th-seeded FGCU men's basketball team begins its 2018 NIT with a trip to 2nd-seeded Oklahoma State on Tuesday, Mar. 13, for a 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. local) tipoff which will air nationally on ESPN2.
 
WATCH PARTY
Miller's Ale House in Gulf Coast Town Center will serve as the official watch party. Those with an FGCU or Eagles Club ID will receive 10 percent off their bill. Those who bring an FGCU Basketball Ticket Stub will receive $5 off their $25 bill (or higher). Additionally, those simply wearing FGCU gear will receive $5 zingers. Dirty Bird members are encouraged to check the Wings Up app for information regarding their discounts.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE | COMPLETE BRACKET
FGCU earned an automatic berth into the NIT with its ASUN Regular Season Championship as the Green and Blue posted their second-straight 12-2 league slate. Oklahoma State received an at-large invitation and will be making its 40th all-time postseason appearance.
 
The Eagles lost in the ASUN Championship Final to Lipscomb, prompting the NIT designation, while the Cowboys were considered by many the biggest NCAA Tournament snub on Sunday night as Oklahoma State was left out of the 68-team field despite defeating NCAA participants Kansas (twice), West Virginia, Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma.
 
The winner of FGCU-OKST will advance to play at the victor of 3rd-seeded Stanford (18-15) and 6th-seeded BYU (24-10) between Mar. 16-19. The Cardinal and Cougars play on Wednesday, Mar. 14, at 10 p.m. Eastern. The higher-seeded team (unless there is an arena conflict) will host games until the semifinals and final at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
 
OPENING-TIP ITEMS
^ This will mark FGCU's second NIT appearance. In 2014, the 8th-seeded Eagles traveled to top-seeded Florida State and valiantly battled the Seminoles before just falling short, 58-53.
 
^ FGCU will be making its sixth-straight postseason appearance, and is believed to be the only school in NCAA Division-I Men's Basketball history to play in six postseason tournaments in its first seven years of eligibility. After joining the D-I ranks in 2007-08, the Eagles went through a four-year transition before becoming eligible for the postseason in 2011-12. That year, FGCU lost in the ASUN Tournament Final despite leading Belmont at the half, and since then the Green and Blue has had an unprecedented run of success:
 
2013 NCAA Sweet Sixteen (Only 15 Seed Ever; ASUN Tournament Championship)
2014 NIT First Round (ASUN Regular Season Championship)
2015 CIT First Round
2016 NCAA First Round (Record-Setting 31-Point First Four Win; ASUN Tournament Championship)
2017 NCAA First Round (ASUN Regular Season And Tournament Championship)
2018 NIT (ASUN Regular Season Championship)
 
^ In FGCU's 108-96 ASUN Championship Final loss to Lipscomb last Sunday, Zach Johnson tied the program's single-game scoring record with 37 (set the D-I program record), while Brandon Goodwin matched what was the D-I program record coming into the game with 34 points. The 71 combined points are the most in program history by two players (many more record numbers later in this release).
 
^ As a team, FGCU needs eight more 3-pointers to set the single-season program record (current: 244; record: 251 in 2011-12). The Eagles also need just four more assists to establish the program's D-I era single-season mark (current: 524; record: 527 in 2016-17). Additionally, FGCU is on pace to set several D-I era or all-time single-season program marks:
 
Points Per Game: 81.7 (D-I Record)
Rebound Margin: +5.8 (D-I Record)
Scoring Margin: +10.1 (Tied D-I Record)
Free-Throw Percentage: .742 (All-Time Record)
Field-Goal Percentage: .497 (.003 Shy Of All-Time Record)
 
TWEETABLES
1) Brandon Goodwin is one of only eight players nationally who is leading his team in points, rebounds and assists. He needs 16 points to break his own single-season program record for scoring set last year with 629.
2) FGCU has won seven-straight road games, tied for the 5th-longest current streak in the nation. Earlier this year, FGCU had the country's 2nd-longest road winning streak snapped at 10 (more info later).
3) Christian Terrell is the only player in program history with 1,300 career points, 500 career rebounds and 250 career assists.
4) FGCU is the only school in the history of the ASUN Conference to post six-straight 20-win seasons.
5) The Eagles led the country in points in the paint per game last year with 41.3 (3rd in dunks with 159) and this season are again among the nation's leaders at 40.8.
 
NEW RULES IN PLAY FOR THE NIT
The NIT will utilize the following experimental rules during all Tournament games.
 
1) Extend the 3-point line to the same distance used by FIBA for international competition (22 feet 1.75 inches at the top of the key and 21 feet 7 and 7/8 inches in the corners).
 
2) Widen the free-throw lane from 12 feet to 16 feet consistent with the width used by the NBA.
 
3) Games will be divided into four 10-minute quarters as opposed to two 20-minute halves.  Team will shoot two free throws beginning with the 5th foul of each quarter. There will be no 1-and-1 free throws.  In overtime games, team fouls will not be reset at the end of the 4th quarter.
 
4) Reset the shot clock to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound instead of the full 30 seconds.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
^ Jeffrey Carroll leads the Cowboys' offense with 15.1 points per game, while Kendall Smith is the club's only other double-figure point scorer at 12.9.
 
^ OSU went 8-10 in Big 12 play. Both FGCU and Oklahoma State played Wichita State in the non-conference, with the Eagles falling to the Shockers, 75-65, and the Cowboys being defeated, 78-66.
 
STARTING LINEUP SHUFFLE
Through 34 games this year, FGCU has used 17 different starting lineups – tied for the 3rd-most in the nation:
 
1) Siena: 19 In 32 Games
2) UT Martin: 18 In 31 Games        
T-3) FGCU: 17 In 34 Games
        UTEP: 17 In 30 Games
        Bryant: 17 In 29 Games
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
FGCU boasts the following top-35 national rankings both as a team and individually:
 
Team:
13th – Field-Goal Percentage (.497)
20th – Total Rebounds (1,300)
33rd – Total Steals (248)
 
Individual:
16th – Zach Johnson, Total Steals (68)
 
REBOUNDING EMPHASIS
In its 11 losses, FGCU is averaging 33.3 rebounds per game, has a -3.8 rebounding margin and is -20 in second-chance points.
 
In its 23 wins, FGCU is averaging 40.6 rebounds per game, has a +10.4 rebounding margin and is +46 in second-chance points.
 
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 at the time – 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 5th-longest current run in the nation (Vermont: 10; Gonzaga: 9, Virginia: 9, Grambling: 8).
 
The Eagles have won a program-record 14-straight ASUN road games thanks to consecutive 7-0 league marks away from home (the only 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).
 
PAINT EMPHASIS
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. FGCU has either tied or out-scored 29 of its 34 opponents in the paint:
 
Total: +407 / +12 Margin Per Game
 
ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: A Statistical Anomaly
In the 108-96 regulation loss to Lipscomb in the ASUN Championship Final last Sunday, several program records – both good and bad – were equaled or surpassed in the crazy contest:
 
THE GOOD & BAD
32: FGCU trailed by 32 points with 16:20 remaining – however, the Eagles incredibly cut the deficit to just five with 7:45 left, but couldn't get any closer.
40: 3-Pointers Attempted – tied for the most in program history.
 
THE BAD
60: First-Half Points Allowed – the most in any half surrendered.
65.3: Field-Goal Percentage Allowed – the highest ever allowed.
96: Points Scored – the most in a losing effort all-time.
108: Points Allowed – the most allowed ever.
 
THE GOOD
9: Zach Johnson 3-Pointers Made – the most ever against a D-I opponent.
16: Team 3-Pointers Made – tied for the most all-time, and the most ever versus a D-I opponent.
65: 2nd-Half Points Scored – the most in any half against a D-I opponent.
 
FGCU's ASUN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Despite falling just short in its quest for a third-straight ASUN Tournament Championship – and fourth in six years – FGCU has still had an incredible amount of success in the conference tournament. The Eagles have been postseason eligible for seven years, made the ASUN Tournament Final six times and have 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
2018: Lost to Lipscomb in the Final
 
OVERTIME BITS
^ 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).
 
^ Making the performance this year even more impressive for FGCU is that the ASUN Tournament Semifinal and Final games have been the only two contests all season where all 12 scholarship players have been healthy/eligible.
 
ASUN POSTSEASON AWARDS
FGCU collected three ASUN postseason honors when the league announced the winners on Feb. 25 as Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) was named Player of the Year, Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) joined Goodwin on the First Team and Joe Dooley was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
 
Goodwin became the second FGCU product to be named Player of the Year, joining Sherwood Brown in 2013. Johnson 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.
 
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 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.
 
Zach Johnson: 37 (11)
Brandon Goodwin: 34 (16 – 1 tie)
Christian Terrell: 23 (5 – 1 tie)
RaySean Scott Jr.: 21 (1)
Christian Carlyle: 18
Dinero Mercurius: 16 (1)
Michael Gilmore: 16
Antravious Simmons: 15 (1)
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.
 
MEN'S & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SUCCESS
Entering postseason play this week, FGCU is one of only four schools in the country which has had its men's and women's teams both win at least 20 games in six-straight years:
 
FGCU: 23-11 (m); 30-4 (w)
Duke: 26-7 (m); 22-8 (w)
Louisville: 20-13 (m); 32-2 (w)
Saint Mary's: 28-5 (m); 20-10 (w)
 
Schools With 5-Straight Such Seasons & Current Records:
Kentucky: 24-10 (m); 15-17 (w)
Baylor: 18-14 (m); 31-1 (w)
BYU: 24-10 (m); 16-14 (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.
 
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 (as of Mar. 12)
 
1) Florida: 119
2) FGCU: 114
3) Miami: 112
4) Florida State: 105
5) North Florida: 91
6) UCF: 80
7) Jacksonville: 70
8) FIU: 65
9) Bethune-Cookman: 61
10) Stetson: 53
11) FAU: 49
12) USF: 47
13) Florida A&M: 38
 
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.
 
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 308-206) 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) 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).
10) 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).
11) The Eagles' .857 winning percentage (12-2) for the second-straight year in ASUN action is tied for the best in program history.
 
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 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 114-57 (.667 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.
 
NOTEWORTHY
^ The Eagles have lost five 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 89-7 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 has already allowed five 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.
^ 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 283 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.
^ 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 (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) 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 51-11 when scoring at least 80 points (six 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).
 
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 has reached several milestone victory marks this season.
 
All-Time Record: 308-206 (Win 300 On Jan. 24)
All-Time Record In D-I Era: 194-167 (6 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record At Home: 205-66 (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. 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.
 
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.
 
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: 23-11, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 194-167, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 140-68, 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 171-109 (.611), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 114-57 (.667). 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.