Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Atlantic Sun (20-13, 8-6)
Even though Florida Gulf Coast has not been back to the NCAA Tournament since their magical Sweet Sixteen run in 2013, the program has not disappeared under Coach Joe Dooley. The Eagles were in the NIT in 2014 and the CIT last season. This year though, they took the next step and got back to the NCAA Tournament and Dunk City will look for another improbable and exciting run this March.
Big Wins: 12/13 Massachusetts (77-76), 2/6 North Florida (81-65), 3/3 at North Florida (89-56)
Bad Losses: 1/24 at Lipscomb (75-91), 1/27 Jacksonville (69-78), 2/25 at Stetson (73-80)
Coach: Joe Dooley
Why They Can Surprise:
It may end with a dunk, but it starts with defense and that is where this team excels. This team goes after steals quite a bit, but it does not affect their overall defense. The Eagles rank tenth in the country, allowing the opposition to hit just 30.2 percent from beyond the arc. Guards Christian Terrell and Julian DeBose lead the steals out of the backcourt, but Marc-Eddy Norelia averages 1.2 steals per game too. Norelia is the big man who establishes FGCU in the paint. He averages 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and can block a few shots too, although it is fellow forward Demetris Morant who is the bigger shot blocking threat. Norelia gives the Eagles a player they can work through in the half court and that allows Florida Gulf Coast to be effective in the half court instead of relying heavily on going fast. Freshman Zach Johnson has done a great job taking over the offense and averages 3.2 assists and 11.2 points per game.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Turnovers are a problem though and as much as FGCU will create turnovers, they will give up just as many. Johnson has been getting better with experience and turnovers, especially coming from Johnson running the point, could be a key statistic in the NCAA Tournament. Norelia can collapse defenses and give the perimeter players open looks on the perimeter, but this is not a great three-point shooting team. Terrell is the team’s most prolific outside shooter and forward Filip Cvjeticanim can stretch the defense a bit, but as a team they rank 318th in the nation in three-point field-goal attempts. This team can create sparks off offense in other ways, but it can be tough to come from behind without making three-pointers. Shooting from the charity stripe is an issue as well and that is a team effort. Nobody on the squad shoots better than 71.1 percent from the free-throw line. That has come back to bite Florida Gulf Coast a couple times already this season and it could happen again in the NCAA Tournament.
Probable Starters:
Zach Johnson, Freshman, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 3.2 apg
Julian DeBose, Senior, Guard, 8.6 ppg, 1.2 apg
Christian Terrell, Sophomore, Guard, 12.6 ppg, 2.2 apg, 4.9 rpg
Demetris Morant, Junior, Forward, 5.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Marc-Eddy Norelia, Junior, Forward, 17.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Filip Cvjeticanin, Senior, Forward, 4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Reggie Reid, Freshman, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 3.2 apg
Antravious Simmons, Sophomore, Forward, 7.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Rayjon Tucker, Freshman, Guard, 6.3 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.0 (84th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.5 (138, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.7 (27, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.4 (79, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.3 (319, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.7 (129, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 64.7 (322, 7)
Rebound Margin: 5.0 (45, 1)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (161, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (134, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2015 CIT First Round loss to Texas A&M Corpus Christi
2014 NIT First Round loss to Florida State
2013 NCAA Second Round win over Georgetown
2013 NCAA Third Round win over South Dakota State
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Florida
*all team stats through 3/6
