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Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball

NCAA Division I men's basketball program


Summary

NCAA Division I men's basketball program

FieldValue
current2025–26 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball team
nameFlorida Gulf Coast Eagles
men's basketball
logoFgcu athletics wmark.png
logo_size200
universityFlorida Gulf Coast University
conferenceAtlantic Sun Conference
firstseason2002–03;
locationFort Myers, Florida
coachPat Chambers
tenure4th
arenaAlico Arena
capacity4,633
nicknameEagles
NCAAsweetsixteen2013
NCAAroundof322013
NCAAtourneys2005*, 2013, 2016, 2017
conference_tournament2013, 2016, 2017
conference_season2014, 2017, 2018
h_pattern_b_thinsidesonwhiteh_body=004785h_shorts=004785h_pattern_s=_blanksides2
a_pattern_b_thingreensidesa_body=004785a_shorts=004785a_pattern_s=_greensides
below'* at Division II level'''''

men's basketball The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, United States. The school's team currently competes in the ASUN Conference. The Eagles are currently coached by Pat Chambers.

In 2002, Florida Gulf Coast became an independent member of NCAA Division II. Florida Gulf Coast also started its men's basketball team, with Dave Balza as head coach from the inaugural 2002–03 to the 2010–11 season. He was succeeded by Andy Enfield from 2011–13, who took the Eagles to the Sweet Sixteen as the first ever 15-seed to do such. After putting FGCU on the map with their new "Dunk City" moniker, Enfield accepted the men's basketball position at USC.

In 2006, Florida Gulf Coast applied for NCAA Division I status and became a transitory Division I effective in the 2007–08 season. Florida Gulf Coast became a full Division I member on August 11, 2011.

In total, the Eagles have appeared in three NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2017. The Eagles men's basketball team is best known for their run in the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, their first since moving up to Division I. In the Round of 64 at the 2013 NCAA tournament, the Eagles defeated the #2 seed Georgetown 78–68. It was only the seventh time that a 15th seed had defeated a 2nd seed, and the second-highest margin of victory for one. Two days later in the Round of 32, the Eagles defeated the #7 seed San Diego State 81–71, becoming the first 15th seed to ever advance to the Sweet 16. The school was referred to as "Dunk City" or "Florida Dunk Coast" on many media outlets such as ESPN and CBS due to their high-flying athletic finishing style.

Season results

Main article: List of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball seasons

The Eagles participated in their first Division I postseason tournament in 2013, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament by winning the ASUN Conference Championship, beating top-seeded Mercer in the conference tournament final. On March 22, 2013, the Eagles, the 15th seed in the South Region, scored one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, defeating second-seeded Georgetown 78–68. They were only the seventh #15 seed to defeat a #2 seed, the first being Richmond in its 1991 victory over Syracuse. Two days later, they defeated seventh seeded San Diego State to become the first #15 seed ever to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Their run ended there in a 62–50 loss to third seeded Florida. This is "officially" the fourth-deepest run by a first-time tournament participant in NCAA history, behind only Indiana State advancing all the way to the national championship game in 1979 and Charlotte and Georgia reaching the Final Four in 1977 and 1983, respectively. Southwestern Louisiana, now known as Louisiana–Lafayette, advanced to the Sweet 16 in its first appearance as well, in 1972, but that appearance was vacated due to NCAA sanctions. Coach Andy Enfield was hired by USC on April 1. To replace him, the Eagles hired Joe Dooley, an assistant from Kansas.

Postseason

NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Eagles have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament three times. Their combined record is 3–3. Their highest seed was #14 in 2017.

2017#14First Round#3 Florida StateL 80–86

NIT results

The Eagles have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times. Their combined record is 0–2.

2018First RoundOklahoma StateL 68–80

CBI results

The Eagles have participated in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament. Their record is 1–1.

CIT results

The Eagles have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 0–1.

2015First RoundTexas A&M–Corpus ChristiL 69–75

The Basketball Classic results

The Eagles have appeared in The Basketball Classic one time. Their record is 1–1.

2022First Round
Second RoundDetroit Mercy
Coastal CarolinaW 95-79
L 68-84

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Eagles have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

2005Regional QuarterfinalsEckerdL 79–81

Notable international players

  • Eli Abaev (born 1998), American-Israeli basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League

References

References

  1. "Florida Gulf Coast Eagles". ESPN.com.
  2. "FGCU Terminates Membership in NAIA". Florida Gulf Coast University.
  3. "Introduction". Florida Gulf Coast University.
  4. Caldwell, Dana. (August 12, 2011}}{{Dead link). "FGCU officially becomes member of NCAA Division I". Naples Daily News.
  5. [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330810046] ESPN
  6. [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=330830021] ESPN
  7. "BracketRacket: Craft's shot, Sadler and Dunk City". AP.
  8. Norlander, Matt. "Florida GIF Coast Vol. II: The most enjoyable team wins another". CBSSports.com.
  9. "Dancing! @FGCU_MBB Defeats Mercer, 88–75, to Win Atlantic Sun Championship!".
  10. (March 22, 2013). "Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. Georgetown Hoyas - NCAA Tournament Game - Recap - March 22, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.
  11. (March 24, 2013). "Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. San Diego State Aztecs - NCAA Tournament Game - Recap - March 24, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.
Wikipedia Source

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