FGCU's Chase Fieler To Compete In College Slam Dunk Contest

(Courtesy of Tessa Mortensen)

With his selection to the College Slam Dunk Championship, Florida Gulf Coast senior Chase Fieler will have one last opportunity to continue his part of the nation renowned Dunk City moniker.

Located at SMU's Moody Coliseum on Thursday, April 3, the event will pit the NCAA's best slam dunkers, and also three point shooters, against each other. First, the Men's and Women's 3-Point Championships are held and then the heralded dunk contest commences.

This year's field includes Cleanthony Early (Wichita State), Michael Craig (Southern Miss), Ronald Roberts Jr. (St. Joseph's), and more. In 2013, Detroit's Doug Anderson won the contest by throwing down this monster slam. Chase Fieler, after putting home 24 dunks this season (unofficial stat), will have the chance at taking home this year's hardware.

The Eagles' lone senior averaged 13.9 points, and 7.4 rebounds a game this season - all while shooting over 54% from the field. He left the program as the leader in field goals made, rebounds, blocks, games started, and minutes played.

His selection gives FGCU back to back years of representation in the event. In 2013, Sherwood Brown competed in the 3-Point Championship after knocking 73 of his long range shots during the regular season - good for 37.6%.

The contest begins at 9 p.m. EST and fans can watch it all live on ESPN. In addition, Eagles fans can participate on social media to help Chase win it all. Just tweet using the hash-tag #CollegeSlam and the participant's last name and a score 1 through 10, e.g #Fieler10 after every dunk. These votes will be averaged and given as the fifth score to accompany those given by the four judges.

For more on FGCU, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Butler Transfer Nolan Berry Hearing From Florida Gulf Coast

Butler freshman Nolan Berry has decided to transfer, and according to Ben Weixlmann of Scout, he has already heard from Florida Gulf Coast, along with Saint Louis, Loyola (IL), Northwestern, Vermont, Davidson, and UC-Davis.

Berry received his release from the Bulldogs after completing his freshman season at Hinkle Fieldhouse. In 18 games, the 6'10" center averaged 5.9 minutes and 1.9 points.

Coming out of high school, Berry held offers from Purdue, Missouri, and Saint Louis. His hometown Billikens are clearly an option, but SLU assistant coach at the time, Porter Moser, is now the head coach at Loyola (IL).

Berry graduated from De Smet Jesuit HS, the same school current 2014 signee Eric Moeller arrived from. FGCU recruited Moeller out of high school, but he attempted to walk on at Missouri before ending up at College of Central Florida (JUCO).

With the Eagles showing interest in Berry along with power forward Jabari McGhee of Hargrave Military (Va.), they are clearly trying to strengthen up a front court that contains questions marks. Senior Chase Fieler is gone while center Nate Hicks will undergo ACL surgery on Friday - the typical recovery time is sixth months. That being said, FGCU is currently one over the scholarship limit for next season.

For more on FGCU make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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2014 Power Forward Jabari McGhee Talks FGCU Visit And More

(via Jamie Shaw)

Out of Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.), 2014 power forward Jabari McGhee took an official visit to Florida Gulf Coast earlier in March.

"It was great. It was better than what I thought it was going to be," McGhee said. "The people on campus were very welcoming. It felt like a very homey place - it was nice."

McGhee is a composite three star (247 Sports) ranked 11th in the 2014 class in the state of Virginia. At 6'7" 210 lb., he said FGCU sees him at the four.

"I play with a high motor and they like that about me - come in and get rebounds, finish around the rim and take advantage of the opposing player when I can. That's just what I do."

Prior to taking his visit to FGCU, McGhee visited Western Kentucky. He is taking in Louisiana Lafayette this upcoming weekend and has plans to schedule other visits.

"It's down to FGCU, Western Kentucky, Louisiana Lafayette, Ole Miss, and Georgia Tech," McGhee said.

He isn't looking to start right away, but just patient to find the right fit for him.

"It's not really about that [getting a lot of minutes]. I love to play, but I feel whatever team I go to, I have to bring something to the table. If I'm learning from a guy that's in front of me, thats fine with me. I just want to go the best school with a great family team and that makes me an all around better player."

With visits still to take, McGhee has not yet set out a time table for his decision.

For more on FGCU, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Sherwood Brown Taking Advantage Of Increased Time

(Courtesy of Mike McSweeney)

Florida Gulf Coast alumni Sherwood Brown recently picked up two starts for the Maine Red Claws and has received extended minutes as of late.

"I've always got the same mind set," Brown said when asked about starting instead of coming off the bench.

This increased time spurred from both Chris Babb (Celtics) and Chris Wright (Bucks) receiving NBA call-ups and fellow guard Abdul Gaddy going down with the flu for a game.

"Opportunities present themselves in mysterious ways," Brown said. "You can never really ask for an opportunity. They just appear and you have to grasp it and take advantage."

And take advantage, Brown has. On March 21, on the road against the Delaware 87ers, the 2013 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year got the start and scored a career high 21 points while adding 6 rebounds and 7 assists. He followed that up by scoring 14 points (all first half) on 4/6 shooting from beyond the arc on Sunday, March 23.

"I've always been scorer since I started to play basketball. I felt the need to step up and I was expected to," Brown said.

Although the Red Claws have officially been eliminated from the NBA D-League playoff race, you can catch Maine in action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as they take on the Canton Charge.

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NCAA Tournament: Women's Upset Bid Falls Just Short Against Oklahoma State

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Mackey Arena presented a warm, embracing environment for the FGCU women's basketball team, but the Midwestern support couldn't boost a stagnant Eagles offense late in the game, and the Blue and Green fell 61-60 in overtime to No. 5 Oklahoma State.

With 10 Florida Gulf Coast players from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Eagles fans dominated well over one section of Mackey Arena, with school president Wilson Bradshaw leading the charge in the front row.

As the contest got underway, FGCU struggled to keep a larger Cowgirls team off the glass and fell quickly into a 16-6 hole. The Eagles did a fantastic job getting to the basket but just couldn't convert.

“We missed wide-open layups that we usually wouldn’t miss. Today we were nervous going into the game and it came back to bite us," said senior Sarah Hansen.

But behind an electric Dirty Bird contingent, they stormed back and tore off a 19-8 run to end the 2nd half, leaving the score tied at the break. A huge factor was sophomore guard Stephanie Haas who tallied 12 of her 15 points in the first half.

The Eagles continued the run after the break and held a 10 point lead halfway through the 2nd half. At that point however, the offense became stagnant as the Cowgirls switched to a zone.

"We had a couple shot clock violations but you have to give Oklahoma State credit for taking us out of that and forcing tough shots at the end," Haas said.

The Eagles formed a five out attack which relied heavily on the outside shot but FGCU wasn't converting; they failed to score once in a six minute period and only a Kaniesha Atwater layup with 35 seconds left forced overtime.

"We we're getting complacent and weren't attacking or looking to shoot. We passed up a couple shots in the end," Hansen said. "We tried not to lose as opposed to try to win."

Absent from the court was first half spark Stephanie Haas, who recorded just seven minutes after the break.

"We were going with our most defensive lineup. Atwater, I didn't want to take her off No. 3 because she was doing such a great job," said head coach Karl Smesko.

Now 0-2 in NCAA Tournament appearances, Florida Gulf Coast ended the season 26-8 and will be losing senior and points record holder Sarah Hansen. They bring in three star guard Tayler Goodall out of Columbus, Ind., and redshirt freshman Taylor Gradinjan will return following an ACL injury.

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NCAA Tournament: FGCU Women's Basketball Primed For Oklahoma State

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

After defeating Stetson in the Atlantic Sun finals, the FGCU women's basketball team is primed for their first round NCAA Tournament matchup with No. 5 Oklahoma State.

"Our goal all season long was to make it to the NCAA Tournament, and we had to win a couple last-second games or overtime games to put us in this position. But we're excited about the opportunity and we're trying to be as prepared as we can to be competitive and to give us the best opportunity to win," said head coach Karl Smesko.

The Eagles (26-7, 17-1) found their way into their 2nd NCAA Tournament through timely long range shooting; the Blue and Green convert on 35% of their three point attempts.

"I don't think there's any pressure. We just have to make sure we continue what we've been doing all year," said Whitney Knight. "We know we can knock down the shots."

Leading the charge for the Eagles is Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Sarah Hansen, who is averaging 13.8 ppg, and 7.1 rpg.

"We know we belong here and we're excited to be here," Hansen said.

The tip-off is at 11:00 a.m. and the game can be watched on ESPN2.

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Know the Opponent: Q & A With Tomahawk Nation

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

In preparation for FGCU's showdown with Florida State in the NIT, the FGCU Eagles Nest conducted a question and answer session with FSU hoops guru Michael Rogner of Tomahawk Nation. Enjoy.

Liam Jones: Is FSU the type of high major team (i.e Kentucky) that might tend to start slow or not put it all out there in a NIT first round game? 

Michael Rogner: I think that's a danger with all high major teams. But this team has been pretty consistent in their effort this season (unlike last year), so I would expect that they'll give FGCU their best shot.

LJ: How does the injury to Ian Miller effect the 'Noles offense, if he is hindered or did not play all together? 

MR: This is really big. He was hurt earlier in the season and FSU lost 2 of 3 without him, and looked pretty bad to be honest. Then, in the ACC quarterfinal vs Virginia, he was hurt again when a Virginia player essentially tackled him from behind and landed on Miller's foot. Miller isn't just FSU's best point guard, but he's also the one player who can make something happen out of bad possessions. He's almost impossible to stop off the dribble, and as Jay Bilas repeatedly pointed out during games, his range starts as soon as he crosses mid court. As a senior he's still prone to a lot more bad decisions than you'd want, but when it gets down to it he's the most important player on FSU's roster. Okaro White might be more important on a possession to possession basis, but from a positional standpoint, FSU only has 4 guards on scholarship, and without Miller the other three will be forced to play far too many minutes.

LJ: I haven't watched much of Okaro White but how dynamic is he and what have other teams done successfully to slow him down? 

MR: Other teams haven't done much to slow Okaro down, because he generally slows himself down. He plays with remarkable passion and emotion, but that also gets him in trouble. Typically, he'll sit most of the first half after he gets himself into foul trouble by trying to make silly plays. Yes, you want your players to make mistakes based on aggression, but he takes it too far. When he does stay in the game, he's a unique talent. He's 6-8 and has never played at more than 205 pounds, but he plays above the rim and is a pogo stick on the offensive glass. He scores most of his points from within 5-feet of the basket, but when guarded by larger players FSU will just give him the ball 20' from the basket and clear out. If he stays out of foul trouble and plays a solid game then I really like FSU's chances even without Ian Miller.

LJ: This clearly isn't the NCAA Tournament that fans were hoping for, what do you think the turnout will be?

MR: It will be terrible. I'd guess around 3,000 in attendance, and that's with FSU giving away 1,000 free tickets. Because of the football program FSU fans have become remarkably spoiled. FSU football spends at an elite level (much more than ACC teams and competitively with a lot of SEC teams) and so of course, the football program is elite - if it wasn't, there'd be a serious problem. Meanwhile, spending on FSU basketball is at or near the bottom of the ACC, yet fans demand elite results. Two years ago FSU won the ACC basketball title, and the last place SEC team (South Carolina) drew more fans per game. The Noles have won more ACC games in the past 7 years than any team but Duke and North Carolina, but still, the fans stay away, and even more annoyingly a significant portion call for the firing of Coach Hamilton. They're getting a champagne program on a Ripple budget, and they're totally clueless as to how good they have it.

LJ: FGCU is now on people's radar after last year, but has Florida State had any trouble overlooking somewhat lesser opponents? 

MR: Not at all. There are two ACC teams who haven't lost all year to a team ranked outside Pomeroy's top 75 (FGCU is No. 180), and FSU is one of them. But, of course, FSU will most likely be playing without Ian Miller. With a healthy Miller I'd guess FSU would have a 90% chance of winning. Without him, I think that drops to about 75%.

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FGCU To Play Florida State In First Round Of NIT

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Although their NCAA Tournament hopes were dashed in the Atlantic Sun Championship, Florida Gulf Coast gets a postseason chance in the form of the NIT. It was announced Sunday that the Eagles, seeded 8, will travel to Florida State to battle the No. 1 seeded Seminoles.

This experience will be something key for an Eagles squad that primes for a somewhat weaker Atlantic Sun next year. A mature, veteran team will take this game, against a high major school, as a chance to improve and measure their abilities. From what we have seen from FGCU this year, there is no doubt they will do exactly that.

“It’s a tremendous honor to play in the NIT. If you look at some of the programs that are participating, you’ve got teams that have won national championships, you’ve got teams that have been to the Final Four recently," said head coach Joe Dooley in a Naples Daily News article. "Our guys are appreciative that they continue to play.”

The Blue and Green are coming off a 22-12 (14-4) season while the Seminoles barely missed out on the NCAA Tournament after finishing their 19-13 (9-9) season with a loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament. FSU contains three double digit scorers in guard Aaron Thomas (14.1 ppg), guard Ian Miller (13.7 ppg), and forward Okaro White (13.2 ppg). White is a dynamic big man who is strong inside but isn't afraid to extend his range. The 'Noles are an efficient team, leading the ACC in team field goal percentage at 46.5%, but sometimes struggle on the boards.

“The guys are excited to play and obviously we have great respect for Florida State and coach Leonard Hamilton,” Dooley said in the same Naples Daily article. “They have an ACC team that was 9-9 in the league, and right there on the bubble for getting in the NCAA tournament. So our guys have a great respect for their program and for the job Coach Hamilton’s done.”

The two teams will face off at the Donald L. Tucker center on Tuesday night, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. With West Virginia and Georgetown facing off in the 4/5 matchup below, a possible Eagles-Hoyas 2nd round matchup looms.

For more on FGCU make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Florida Gulf Coast vs. Mercer: Expert Predictions

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

After FGCU's run last year in the NCAA Tournament, the Atlantic Sun has received extra attention this season. With the Eagles facing off against Mercer in a much anticipated Championship contest, the FGCU Eagles Nest set out to get predictions from the best minds around college basketball that have taken notice of the A-Sun.

Rob Dauster (College Basketball Talk)
Prediction: Mercer
Explanation: I know the game is at FGCU, but I'm picking Mercer. Maybe I'm crazy for picking a team on the road in a tournament final, but I just think the Bears are the better team this season. Langston Hall is the truth. I will say this, however: watching Hall go up against Brett Comer will be a lot of fun.


Nicole Auerbach (USA TODAY Sports)
Prediction: Florida Gulf Coast
Explanation: I'm expecting a great game, particularly because these two teams met in this championship game last year, split their games during the regular season and meet again. Grudge matches are always fun. (Plus both teams had minor scares last round.) I'll take FGCU at home, sending the Eagles to the NCAA tournament for a second straight year. And you can just predict how many people will pick this team -- led by some familiar names in Chase Fieler, Brett Comer and Bernard Thompson -- to pull off an early-round upset once again.

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Atlantic Sun Championship Gameday Info: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. Mercer Bears

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Location: Alico Arena - Fort Myers, FL (Capacity 4,633)
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2 (Jason Benetti, Cory Alexander)
Radio: 99.3 ESPN | Online Audio: 99.3 Stream
Online Video: ESPN3 | Mobile Video: WatchESPN app
Live Updates: @FGCUEaglesNest on Twitter

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Coach: Joe Dooley
Record: 22-11 (14-4)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

Mercer Bears
Coach: Bob Hoffman
Record: 25-8 (14-14)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

Odds: FGCU -2 | O/U: 137

Must Read Pre-Game Stories
Florida Gulf Coast Primed For Hard-Nosed Championship Battle With Mercer
Expert Predictions: Rob Dauster & Nicole Auerbach Pick An A-Sun Winnner

Stats / Streaks / History
•Chase Fieler has an average of 17.4 points (57 FG%), 8.2 rebounds, and 1 block in the Atlantic Sun Tournament over the past two seasons.
•FGCU is 5-11 all time against Mercer, but are 2-0 in the postseason against the Bears.
•The Eagles are 17-0 this season when leading at halftime.
•When these two teams met in Fort Myers on Feb. 21, Florida Gulf Coast shot 37 free throws, tied for 10th most in school history.
•FGCU has yet to lose a conference home game this season (11-0)

Eagles Chasing History

Points
1. Ryan Hopkins - 1367
2. Bernard Thompson - 1351

Assists
1. Bryan Crislip - 606
2. Brett Comer - 597

Field Goal Percentage
1. Andy French - 62.9%
2. Eric McKnight - 62.6%

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FGCU Women Capture Fourth Straight Conference Title

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Although it was a little to close for comfort, the FGCU women's basketball team took home their fourth straight Atlantic Sun regular season championship after Stephanie Haas sunk two free throws with .2 seconds left to give the Eagles a 74-73 win over Stetson.

Even with the Eagles shooting just 33% from the field, they had five double digit scorers: DyTiesha Dunson 10, Sarah Hansen 15, Whitney Knight 14, Jenna Cobb 14, and Stephanie Haas 16. Knight also recorded ten rebounds for a double-double.

The Hatters dominated the glass 48-37, but the Blue and Green countered through forcing 21 Stetson turnovers on 11 steals.

Now with the No. 1 seed in the A-Sun tournament, Florida Gulf Coast holds home court advantage throughout. They will open with No. 8 Lipscomb on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2.

For more on FGCU, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Florida Gulf Coast Primed For Hard-Nosed Championship Battle With Mercer

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

SB Nation tabbed Florida Gulf Coast vs. Mercer as a "Title Game You Want To Happen." Well now the stage is set for what has become one of the best, budding rivalries in mid-major basketball. One that hopefully won't end after this Sunday.

"I think it's fun anytime to play Mercer," said Brett Comer.

The Eagles are looking to prove they aren't a one hit wonder and Bob Hoffman's Bears want to leave the Atlantic Sun with a bang. Just to get into this position however, Mercer had to edge out USC Upstate in double overtime on Thursday.

"I don't think that will be a factor. Nobody is going to be hurt or tired for a championship game," Comer said.

Landing themselves in their third straight Atlantic Sun Championship hours earlier, the Eagles relied on their tenacious pressure to top ETSU on a night when their offensive sputtered. They shot just 37% from the field and 17% (4/23) from beyond the arc.

"The biggest thing is to just give yourself a chance. We didn't shoot the ball well but our defense helped us," said Joe Dooley.

Sunday afternoon will feature the two top scoring defense teams in the Atlantic Sun; Mercer is giving up 66.5 ppg while Florida Gulf Coast is allowing slightly more at 67.1.

"We pride ourselves on our defense," said Chase Fieler. "I think right now we're [FGCU and Mercer] one and two in conference in defensive field goal percentage."

Joe Dooley's team will have a specific point of emphasis on the defensive end - something that not only caused them trouble in Macon earlier this season, but also something that Mercer took advantage of in the semifinals on Thursday.

"We have to stop their pick and roll offense. That is something we really struggled with at their place but did a great job with that here," Comer said. "Rebounding obviously is another key; they're a bigger team but last game Eric [McKnight] and Chase [Fieler] really dominated the glass."

When it has come to facing the Bears this season, it has been a tale of two different teams, especially in terms of rebounding. In a 68-55 Macon, the Eagles were out-rebounded 40-38, but in Dunk City, Florida Gulf Coast dominated the glass 48-29 en route to a 75-61 win.

Whoever wins the rebounding battle, it will be in front of a sold out crowd. Following the semifinal win over ETSU, tickets for the championship sold out within four minutes.

"We're appreciate what all the fans have done for us. The atmosphere has been great," Dooley said. "It's spring break this week and we've still had a great student turn out. They make a difference."

For more on FGCU, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Atlantic Sun Tournament Preview: FGCU Eagles vs. ETSU Buccaneers

(Courtesy of Tessa Mortensen)

Location: Alico Arena - Fort Myers, FL (Capacity 4,633)
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

TV: CSS Sports
Online Stream: ESPN3 | Mobile Video: WatchESPN app
Radio: 99.3 FM (ESPN) | Online Audio: ESPN 99.3 Stream

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Coach: Joe Dooley
Record: 21-11 (14-4)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

East Tennessee State Buccaneers
Coach: Murry Bartow
Record: 18-14 (10-8)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

Odds: FGCU -10 | O/U: 150.5

Stats / Streaks / History
•FGCU is 4-9 all time against ETSU, but the two teams have never met in the post season.
•The Eagles split this season's series against the Bucs, winning 90-62 at home and losing 89-81 on the road.
•Florida Gulf Coast has yet to lose a conference home game this season (10-0).

Chasing History

Points
1. Ryan Hopkins - 1367
2. Bernard Thompson - 1351

Assists
1. Bryan Crislip - 606
2. Brett Comer - 597

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Defense Leads FGCU To Dominant Quarterfinal Win Over Stetson

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Florida Gulf Coast (21-11) opened up the postseason with a bang on Tuesday night, as their high energy defense led them to an eventual 77-55 win over Stetson.

It all started on the defensive end for the Eagles, where their tenacious pressure lead to turnovers and stops - making their transition game a lot easier.

"It's a lot easier to push it when you're not inbounding the ball," said Joe Dooley. "Getting stops was a big factor in us getting out and running in transition."

To start the contest, FGCU opened up a quick 11 point lead but a mini Hatters run cut it to just eight. While the Eagles defense held Stetson to just 21 points in the first half, 34 points allowed after the break was something to improve upon.

"We shut them out kind of early and every team will make a little run. The 1st half we did well," said Brett Comer. "The 2nd half we lacked a little bit - we got to do better in the 2nd half."

Even when the pace lessened, FGCU was still able to run their half court sets with efficiency. Chase Fieler (17 points) and Eric McKnight (15 points) made a living down low.

Just a little ways North of Dunk City, ETSU barely edge out Lipsomb, 89-88 in 2-OT, and the Bucs will now head to the Fort to face off against FGCU on Thursday.

In the two prior meetings this season, Florida Gulf Coast looked like two completely different teams. At home the Blue and Green blew out ETSU 90-62, but on the road the hot shooting Bucs dominated, 89-81.

This tournament is win or walk back to your dorms, so FGCU is staying focused on one game at a time - trying to create another legacy this year.

"We're trying to make new memories, we don't want to think about last year's," said Chase Fieler.

For more on FGCU, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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Atlantic Sun Tournament Preview: FGCU Eagles vs. Stetson Hatters

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Location: Alico Arena - Fort Myers, FL (Capacity - 4,633)
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Online Stream: ESPN3 | Mobile Video: WatchESPN app
Radio: 99.3 FM (ESPN) | Online Audio: ESPN 99.3 Stream
Live Stats: StatsBroadcast

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Coach: Joe Dooley
Record: 20-11 (14-4)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

Stetson Hatters
Coach: Corey Williams
Record: 7-23 (5-13)
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Roster | Schedule

Line: FGCU -14.5 | O/U: 134.5

Stats / Streaks / History
• Previous meetings this season - away: FGCU 68 - 55 Stetson (1.5.14) - home: FGCU 71- 68 Stetson (1.31.14).
• Florida Gulf Coast is 9-6 all time against Stetson, including 1-0 in the A-Sun Tournament.

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FGCU Basketball Bracketology, Rankings, & More

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Updated on March 9, 10 a.m.

Bracketology
CBS Sports: No. 16 vs. No. 1 Villanova (in Buffalo)
ESPN: No. 16 vs. No. 16 High Point (play in game) - vs. No. 1 Florida (in Orlando)
SB Nation: No. 15 vs. No 2 Virginia (in Raleigh)
USA Today: No. 15 vs. No. 2 Wisconsin (in Milwaukee)
Yahoo: No. 16

Rankings
College Insider Mid-Major Top 25: NR (7 votes)
RPI: 144
KenPom: 173

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FGCU Basketball Recruiting Wrap: Playoff Edition

Florida Gulf Coast basketball commits Christian Terrell (Providence) and Zach Johnson (Norland) both put up big numbers throughout the playoffs. Check out the full stats below.

Christian Terrell (Providence-Jacksonville)

79-36 win vs. University Christian (Feb. 7)
Stats: 25 points

77-29 win vs. Oak Hall (Feb. 13)
Stats: 18 points

79-24 win vs. University Christian (Feb. 18)
Stats: 14 points, 9 assists

88-43 win vs. North Florida Christian (Feb. 21)
Stats: 16 points

78-59 loss vs. Sagemont (Feb. 25)
Stats: 16 points, 7 rebounds.




Zach Johnson (Norland-Miami)

(via SFHS Sports)

74-40 win vs. Carol City (Feb. 7)
Stats: 9 points, 3 assists

63-45 win vs. Northwestern (Feb. 13)
Stats: 21 points, 6 assists, 4 steals

64-64 win vs. Mater (Feb. 18)
Stats: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

55-43 win vs. Pines Charter (Feb. 22)
Stats: 19 points, 6 assists

68-40 win vs. White (Feb. 28)
Stats: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
+ Monster Dunk

60-44 win vs. Lake Minneola (March 1)
Stats: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
*Norland's 3rd straight 6A State Title

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FGCU Basketball Wins First Ever Atlantic Sun Regular Season Crown

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

With a 92-72 win over Northern Kentucky on Saturday, the FGCU men's basketball team took home their first ever Atlantic Sun regular season crown.

"It's exciting for our guys and our fans, and the program is so young but it's exciting these guys are being rewarded," said Joe Dooley. "They've worked so hard and they should be proud of themselves."

In front of approximately 300 family, friends, and players from Parkersburg South, senior Chase Fieler scored 22 points in the final regular season game of his fantastic career as an Eagle.

"We need to make sure he's [Fieler's] involved offensively a lot more than he has been," Dooley said. "He needs to make sure that when he is in the game, he is as aggressive as he was today."

Now with the No. 1 seed, Florida Gulf Coast has ensured home court advantage throughout the A-Sun postseason tournament. First up is No. 8 Stetson on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

In the two prior meeting this season, the Eagles took home wins on both occasions. On the road, FGCU defeated the Hatters 68-55 and then reigned victorious at home, 71-68.

You can check out the full bracket with times, schedules, and TV info here.

For more on FGCU make sure to follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEaglesNest)

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