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| 2019-20 NCAA Men's Basketball Weekly Whistle #5 |
| • J.D. Collins, NCAA national coordinator of men's basketball officials, clarifies and provides examples of rules points of emphasis for the 2019-20 men's basketball season. This episode focuses on Traveling - in the Post and the Perimeter. |
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Following a 10 day break for exams, the FGCU men's basketball team is back in action with a Wednesday night match-up at South Dakota State (8 PM ET). The game will be televised regionally on the Midco Sports Network and streamed online through www.GoJacks.com and ESPN+.
The Eagles are coming off a 64-59 loss to Robert Morris back on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Alico Arena. The nip-and-tuck affair saw nine lead changes along with nine ties until the Colonials were able to make late trips to the free throw line count down the stretch.
That marked the fifth game this season decided by six-or-fewer points (1-4) for FGCU.
As a team, the Eagles rank among the top three in the ASUN for 12 different statistical categories. FGCU leads the league in total steals (82), steals per game (6.8), total blocked shots (54), and blocked shots per game (4.5). Defensively, the Eagles rank fourth in the ASUN in points allowed per game (69.7), but have struggled offensively with 59.7 points per outing which ranks seventh in the league.
Individually,
Zach Scott leads the league in total steals (24),
Jalen Warren ranks second in total assists (39),
Dakota Rivers ranks second in total blocks (20), and
Justus Rainwater ranks sixth in total rebounds (85).
Zach Scott continues to lead the Eagles offensively, averaging 12.5 points per game. He has contributed double-digit points in all but four games. He is followed closely by
Caleb Catto (9.8 ppg) and
Jalen Warren (9.1 ppg). The trio has combined for 376 points, over half of the team's 716 total this year.
Warren and Catto have also done a great job of sharing the rock. Warren leads the team with 39 assists, while Catto has contributed 31.
Opponents have had a hard time shooting over bigs
Justus Rainwater and
Dakota Rivers, as the duo has combined for 37 blocks this year. Rivers is averaging 1.67 blocks per game, the 13th-most of any other freshman in the nation.
South Dakota State is 7-6 on the year with a 6-0 mark at Frost Arena. That six-game home start is part of a 14-game home win streak which is the nation's sixth-longest such streak. The Jackrabbits snapped a three-game losing skid on Dec. 13 with a 66-53 win over Nebraska Kearney. Douglas Wilson leads the team in scoring with 16.4 points per night.
Following tonight's game, FGCU return to Alico Arena to host St. Thomas University on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is slated for 7 PM on ESPN+.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Alico Arena Box Office, online at www.FGCUAthletics.com or calling 239-590-7145.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Wednesday's game will be the fourth time that the Eagles and the Jackrabbits have played including the second visit to Sioux Falls. Last year, FGCU picked up an 84-78 win over South Dakota State in Alico Arena. Four Eagles reached double figures led by 23 points from
Haanif Cheatham.Â
The teams first played on Nov. 30, 2015 with FGCU earning a 71-58 road win; The Jackrabbits returned the favor the next year in Fort Myers picking up a 56-52 win to even the series.
BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now including single-game tickets and the popular mini-plan options. For more information, contact an FGCU Ticket Office representative by calling 239-590-7145, visiting Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by visiting www.FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets.Â
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COACH FLY
Michael Fly was introduced as the fourth FGCU men's basketball head coach on April 5, 2018. He had spent the previous seven years as an assistant coach on the Eagles' staff. In his time with the Eagles, he helped FGCU to a 157-97 record (.618 winning percentage), including six ASUN Tournament Final appearances, three NCAA Tournament victories, three ASUN Tournament titles and three ASUN Regular Season Championships, two berths in the NIT, a CIT appearance and a run to the Sweet 16. He has coached 13 all-conference selections while with the Green and Blue, including two ASUN Player of the Year honors in Sherwood Brown and Brandon Goodwin, two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant and one ASUN Newcomer of the Year inÂ
Schadrac Casimir. Of the top-10 players in career points at FGCU, Fly has helped develop eight of them, including all-time leading scorer Thompson (1,835). Additionally, the Kentucky alumnus has coached both the ASUN all-time assists leader Brett Comer (845; 24th in NCAA history) and FGCU all-time leading rebounder Chase Fieler (714).
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#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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.
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ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 80 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as two of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
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--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--
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