FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU men's basketball coach Michael Fly announced Friday that the Eagles have inked a three-year contract with Pac-12 Conference member USC.
 
The Trojans will host games on Dec. 29, 2019 and at a to-be-determined date in the 2021-22 season. The Eagles are scheduled to welcome USC to Alico Arena on Nov. 10, 2020.
 
The series adds another marquee non-conference home matchup for FGCU in the 2020-21 campaign already featuring a bout with Rhode Island that was pushed back a year from next season's slate due to a scheduling conflict. The Eagles have hosted a team from a Power-5 Conference just twice in school history, both times against Miami (Nov. 27, 2011/Nov. 13, 2012). The latter date witnessed the Green and Blue earning arguably the best regular season win in program history by a 63-51 result over the eventual ACC Champions, which helped springboard the historical Sweet 16 run, whereby, the Eagles became the only No. 15 seed in history to advance that far in the tournament.
 
"This is a tremendous series for our program and our fans. We're extremely excited to make the trip to Los Angeles and to have Coach Enfield and the Trojans return to Alico Arena," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "Coach Enfield continues to be tremendous for our program, as he has maintained relationships to this day with myself, (AD) Ken (Kavanagh) and people in the FGCU community. We're excited about the challenge and we're very appreciative to USC for agreeing to this multi-year contract."
 
USC is led by former FGCU head coach Andy Enfield, who guided the Green and Blue to the aforementioned 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 and dawned the birth of the infamous #DunkCity.
 
Fly was an assistant on Enfield's FGCU staff for two years (2011-13) and recently wrapped up his first season as head coach for the Green and Blue. During his inaugural campaign, he was one of just three first-time head coaches in all of NCAA Division I to lead their respective teams to a top-3 conference finish. The Eagles went 9-7 in the league, which included a victory over a Lipscomb club who became the first team in ASUN Conference history to advance to the finals of the NIT.
 
Enfield is 110-93 in six years at USC and has engineered one of the best turnarounds in collegiate basketball over the past few years. He inherited a team that finished with just 10 Pac-12 wins combined in the two years prior to his arrival, and USC tallied just five more league wins and a pair of 12th-place finishes during his first two campaigns. From there, he guided the Trojans to three-straight 20-win seasons that included a trio of postseason appearances. USC competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2017, earning two wins. The team was selected for the 2018 NIT despite a second-place finish in the conference and owning the highest RPI (34) to miss the NCAA Championship since the field expanded to 68 teams in 2011.
 
These will be the first meetings between the two programs. FGCU has only faced a Pac-12 school once in history, falling at Arizona State on Nov. 28, 2007.
 
Those interested in becoming new season-ticket holders for 2019-20 can do so by visiting the link below. Joining the Season Ticket Priority List requires a $100 non-refundable deposit which will be credited toward the complete price of the season tickets.
   
Fans can also join the new season-ticket wait list by contacting an Alico Arena Ticket Office representative over the phone at 239-590-7145 or by visiting Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
The priority list will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because nearly all Priority Level 1 and 2 season ticket locations were sold out in 2018-19, seating in these sections cannot be guaranteed for new purchasers. Seating location availability for new ticket packages will depend on renewals and upgrades of current season ticket holders. Like in the past, Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.
 
Season-ticket renewal information, including pricing, Eagles Club membership requirements and renewal deadlines will be sent via email from the FGCU Ticket Office in mid-to-late May. To ensure contact information is up-to-date, fans are encouraged to fill out the form below.
   
FGCU is set to return a strong young core featuring players such as rising junior Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, GA/Kell HS) and rising sophomores Zach Scott (Miami, FL/Westminster Academy) and Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, FL/Southwest Florida Christian Academy). Playing in 23 games as a sophomore, Thomas transformed into a defensive stalwart in the last half of the year. He finished the campaign with 44 blocks, while pulling down 4.7 rebounds a game. Scott became the fourth freshman in school history to earn 20 starts and landed on the ASUN All-Freshmen Team after averaging 8.4 points and 3.1 assists. Catto grew into a steady hand off the bench in his inaugural campaign, appearing in all 32 games and finishing with averages of 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
 
Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, FL/Bishop Kenny HS) is currently slated to be the lone senior on next year's squad. The lockdown defender played every game this past season and made 24 starts, averaging 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
 
In addition to home games with FAU (Nov. 20), UMBC (TBD), plus an expected Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Alico Arena, the Eagles have return games to FIU (Dec. 4) and South Dakota State (Dec. 18) already confirmed. The rest of the 2019-20 schedule will be released intermittently over the coming weeks as games are finalized.
 
GAME DATES
Dec. 29, 2019 – at USC
Nov. 10, 2020 – at FGCU
TBD in 2021-22 – at USC
 
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 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 that time, he helped FGCU to a 155-86 record (.643 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 in 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).
 
#FEEDFGCU
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.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 76 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 35 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 and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM --