Despite an 11-14 record, the Emory Men's Basketball Team proved to everyone that they could play with - and beat - the best teams in the nation. Furthermore, Brett Zuver's squad played with passion and pride which electrified the Woodruff P.E. Center, and turned games into stirring events not to be missed by a student body ready for excitement.

In one early-season stretch, the team won seven of 10 games. However, the grind of the University Athletic Association (UAA) schedule, coupled with ill-timed injuries to key players, provided an uphill battle for the team. Two excruciating losses to crosstown rival Oglethorpe were by a combined deficit of eight points. Once the Eagles regrouped, though, they put together astonishing victories against nationally ranked Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) and longtime nemesis Washington University (Mo.), as well as decisive upsets over the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and New York University.

Guard Spiros Federigos turned his sophomore season into a canvas for his blossoming all-around game. He became the first player in Emory history to lead the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals in the same season. Along the way, he lit up the scoreboard for 45 points in a double-overtime game against UAA rival Washington University, breaking Emory's 17-year-old record for points in a single game. In all, Federigos scored in double figures in 23 of the 25 games during the season, while sinking a team high 54 three pointers. Federigos, the conference leader in points and steals, was named to the All-UAA team for the first time.

Like Federigos, junior guard Shawn Bailey also had a breakout season, lifting his game to a higher level and etching his name into the starting lineup. Bailey scored in double figures 10 times, including a career high 22 points in a victory over LaGrange (Ga.). Against the University of the South, Bailey registered 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and four assists. He was third on the team in scoring averaging 10.6 points per game, while second in steals and third in assists.

Although limited to just 16 games due to a foot injury, senior co-captain Jeff Hall led the team with 19.3 points per game. He ended his college career second among Emory's all-time leaders in three-pointers made (182), second in three-point field goal percentage (41.6%), sixth in free throw percentage (79.7%) and ninth in points (984). In the season's final full weekend, Hall went out in style, sparking Emory to two conference victories, including 27 points against UAA champion Carnegie Mellon (Pa.).

When the task at hand was to shut down the opposition, Emory benefited from the selfless play of their defensive catalysts. Often faced with the task of guarding the opponents' best players, junior guard Alex Ford-Carther started 23 games and logged the second most minutes on the team. A relentless worker, he forced opposing players into important turnovers and difficult shots. He finished the season second among Eagles in steals, third in assists, and fourth in rebounds. In one road game against conference foe Rochester (N.Y.), he scored a career high 19 points and had three steals. Also establishing himself as a defensive force was junior forward Eric Barvin, who led the team in blocked shots and pulled down 5.7 rebounds per game.  In addition, Barvin led all regulars in shooting percentage and scored a career high 24 points in a conference game against Brandeis (Mass.).

The team's injuries were certainly a setback; however, the situation allowed newer players to emerge as playmakers and gain valuable experience.  Freshman Johnny Pinto provided a spark with 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, and by the end of the season, he was a regular in the starting lineup.  He achieved his season high of 16 points three times, and in one game against NYU, he recorded 14 points and four steals. Junior guard Adrian Sosa made an immediate impact in his first season with Emory. He came off the bench for 18 points, four assists, and two steals in a festive win over UAA rival Washington University. Against the University of the South (Tenn.), Sosa scored 11 of his 14 points in overtime, while dishing out four assists, to seal a wild 111-105 win for Emory.

All-University Athletic Association
Spiros Federigos                Second Team         Oldsmar, FL (Berkeley Preparatory)