GAME FACTS - The Emory University men's basketball team looks to continues its stay in the NCAA Division III Tournament this weekend when it ventures to Spokane, Washington, for a second-round matchup against Whitworth University. The Eagles and Pirates will square off on Saturday (Mar. 9) evening at the Whitworth Fieldhouse with tip scheduled for 10:00 pm (EST).
Live Stats and a video stream provided for the game. To access the Live Stats, go to the following link: http://www.whitworth.edu/Athletics/Teams/basketball/livestats/xlive.htm. http://www.whitworthpirates.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/releases/20130304o3mlog.
THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is sixth-year Head Coach Jason Zimmerman (Davidson, 1994). Named head coach in April of 2007, Zimmerman came to Emory after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville (2003-04 through 2006-07). Prior to his stint with the Aces, Zimmerman was an assistant at Davidson College for seven years (1996-97 through 2002-03). During his tenure with the Eagles' program, he has compiled a school and career record of 91-60.
Zimmerman has directed the Eagles four straight winning seasons, the first time in school history that has happened. This year's 20 wins represents the third time that the program has reached that figure and ties the second-highest season victory total in school annals. After going 17-33 his first two years with the Eagles, Zimmerman has guided Emory to a ledger of 74-27 since the 2009-10 season. Recently, Zimmerman and his staff of assistants Chris Murphy and Pete Zaharis were named the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. It was the second time during Zimmerman's tenure at Emory that he had been tabbed for that honor (2009-10).
In his second year on the sidelines at Whitworth is Matt Logie (Lehigh, '03). He enters this Saturday's contest with a school and career mark of 51-7. This is the second straight season that he has led Whitworth into the NCAA Tournament.
2012-13 RECORDS – Emory heads into the second round of the NCAAs with an overall record of 20-6. The Eagles captured their sixth straight game when they opened the postseason at home with a 77-56 triumph over Randolph College on Saturday. Junior Jake Davis led the team's scoring attack with 25 points, tying his second-highest total of the year, while senior Michael Friedberg and sophomore Michael Florin each chipped in 10 points. Emory turned in a sterling defensive effort, coming up with 15 steals, tying its second-highest mark of the year, and holding the WildCats to just 37.3 percent from the floor.
Emory earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and is one of three University Athletic Association teams still alive in the postseason. The Eagles shared the league title with Washington University and the University of Rochester, both of whom are hosting second-round games on Saturday.
During its six-game winning streak, Emory has outscored the opposition by an 82.7-61.2 per-game margin. The Eagles have shot 50.3 percent (181-360) from the floor over the last six games while limiting the opposition to 38.8 percent (131-338).
This is the program's second-ever trip to the national tournament and first since 1990 when that team earned a first-round bye before defeating Emory and Henry in the second round.
Whitworth University, a member of the Northwest Conference, hosts Emory with an overall record of 25-3. The Pirates, ranked 6th nationally in the final regular season D3hoops.com Poll, hosted Redlands last weekend in their NCAA first-round game and came away with a 75-69 triumph. Whitworth captured an automatic bid to the tournament by virtue of its championship performance in the NWC Tournament.
SERIES RECORDS – Saturday's affair between Emory and Whitworth will be the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between the schools.
TIDBITS AND NUGGETS – Alex Greven saw a 39-game streak of sinking three-point field goals come to an end in the Randolph game. Greven's effort was the second-longest in school history, just one game shy of tying Jeff Hall (Jan. 25, 2004 through Feb. 25, 2006 ) for the top mark … Michael Friedberg has blocked shots to his credit in 39 of his last 44 contests with 32 performances of two or more rejections in that stretch … Emory has held nine opponents to fewer than 60 points this year and has won its last 13 games when accomplishing that feat … Emory stands 6-6 in overtime games during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach … Emory has had players register 20 or more points on 19 occasions this season while opponents have had 17 cagers reach or surpass that mark … Emory has had five or more players score in double figures in six games this season vs. zero for the opposition … In their 20 victories, the Eagles are averaging 84.2 points vs. 63.0 for the opposition and shooting 48.7 percent (622-of-1278) from the floor compared to their foes 38.3 percent (444-of-1159) … In its six setbacks, Emory is being outscored by an 79.0-74.8 margin and hitting 42.6 percent of its field goal tries compared to 49.3 percent for opponents … Emory's 12.3 turnovers per game is the third-lowest mark in the UAA, and the team tops the conference while ranking 21st in turnover margin (+4.19) … The Eagles are 23-9 during the Zimmerman era when finishing with less than 10 turnovers, 18-3 since the 2010-11 season.
EMORY DEFENSE PICKING UP THE PACE – While the Emory offense and its variety of weapons presents a challenge to the opposition, the team's effort on the defensive end of the floor has stepped up recently, holding opponents to less than 60 points in the last three and in four of the past six contests. Over the last four outings, the Eagles are surrendering an average of just 55.2 points and allowing the opposition just 36.4 percent (80-of-220) from the floor.
Emory has been opportunistic as well, recording double figures in steals in its last five contests and averaging 13.4 thefts in that stretch. The Eagles' 15 steals against Randolph represented the 11th outing of double digits in that category, and their 9.7 per-game effort in steals tops the UAA and ranks 46th nationally.
FLORIN HANDLING THE ROCK – Michael Florin turned in a solid all-around game against Randolph, recording his seventh double-figure scoring performance of the year with 10 points while dishing out seven assists with just one turnover in 35 minutes of action. Florin also came up with three steals, his 11th performance of the year with two or more thefts.
Entering Saturday's game against Whitworth, Florin stands as the league leader in assists in overall contests with a 5.8 per-game average with that effort ranking 15th among D-III players. He closed out the conference portion of the schedule in the top spot (5.9 apg). Florin still maintains his No. 1 status in the UAA with a 2.9 assist/turnover ratio, with that effort ranking seventh nationally.
Over the last eight contests, Florin has totaled 58 assists (7.3 apg) with 18 turnovers while averaging 32 minutes per stint. Florin, who ranks 9th all-time at Emory with 186 assists, has 16 outings of six or more assists this season. His 150 assists in 2012-13 ranks fourth on Emory's seasonal list.
After scoring in double figures twice in the team's opening 20 games, Florin has produced 10 or more points in five of the last six contests including a career-high 16 points in a 106-87 decision over Case Western (Feb. 15). Over the last five games, he is scoring at a 10.0 per-game clip and is shooting 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the field.
DAVIS FUELS WIN OVER RANDOLPH – Jake Davis came through with a dominating offensive performance in the win over Randolph on Saturday, torching the WildCats for a game-high 25 points, hitting nine-of-19 from the floor, including two-of-five from three-point range, and all five of his free throw attempts. His performance represented the 13th time this year that he had either led or shared for the team's scoring lead and the 11th occasion of tallying 20 or more points.
Named to the All-UAA First Team for the second straight year, Davis has scored in double-figures in 47 of his past 49 games. In the Washington University game on Feb. 8, he had a 42-game double-figure scoring streak snapped.
Entering Saturday's game, Davis holds down the No. 2 spot in scoring among UAA players in overall (18.0 ppg) action and finished third in conference (16.7 ppg) outings. Davis owns a 13-game streak of three-point field goals and is hitting at a 47.7 percent clip (21-of-44) from beyond the arc in that stretch. Over his last five games, he is averaging a team-high 18.8 points and shooting 53.8 percent (35-of-65) from the floor. On the year, his 50.3 percent (170-of-338) showing is second on the squad and 12th among UAA cagers.
In addition to his scoring average, Davis figures prominently in the league with an 11th-place ranking in rebounding (5.3 rpg), a fourth-place showing in free throw percentage (.879, 58-of-66) and a 10th-place standing in three-point percentage (.415, 34-of-82).
He has connected on 50 percent or better of his field goal opportunities on 13 occasions this year and has either led or tied for the team high in caroms in five games. In 12 road/neutral appearances this season, Davis has averaged 17.5 points compared to his team-high 18.4 per-game showing in 14 home dates.
He ranks as the school's seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,239 points and is sixth with 465 career field goals. He also stands 15th on Emory's career chart with 464 rebounds and is ninth in free throws (237) and 20th in three-point field goals (72).
GREVEN ON A ROLL – Alex Greven saw a five-game double-figure scoring streak end in the Randolph game as he finished that contest with seven points. Though he didn't register double-digit points in that outing, he did pull down a team-high seven boards, the seventh time this season he ranked as the squad's top rebounder.
During the team's current six-game winning streak, Greven is averaging a team-high 18.2 points per contest and shooting a keen 53.6 percent (37-of-69) from the floor. He has been deadly from three-point range, knocking down 57.1 percent (20-of-35) from beyond the arc in that stretch, and has converted 15-of-18 from the charity stripe.
A 2012-13 First Team All-UAA honoree, Greven has led the squad's scoring efforts in four of the past six outings including back-to-back 26 point efforts against Case (Feb. 17) and Carnegie Mellon (Feb. 19) that enabled him to capture UAA Player of the Week honors as well as a berth on the D3oops.com Team of the Week. A double-figure scorer in 23 contests this season, he has produced eight outings of 20 or more points this season (17 during his career).
No. 2 on the team and No. 3 in the UAA in scoring with a 16.5 per-game average, Greven tossed in a team-leading 17.4 points per game in league action with that mark good for the No. 2 slot. Greven's recent hot streak from beyond the arc has enabled him to move into the No. 8 position on the UAA ladder for three-point percentage (.419) while his .500 effort in conference tilts was good for second place. He is also one the conference's most dependable free throw shooters with his .806 performance (79-of-98) placing sixth on the league ladder.
Career-wise, Greven ranks as the school's No. 6 all-time leading scorer with 1,252 points. Other Emory career categories that he figures in include field goals (8th, 414), three-point field goals (6th, 160), free throws (8th, 264) and assists (t-20th, 129).
FRIEDBERG GETS IT DONE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR – Senior Michael Friedberg, a Second Team All-UAA pick, has been a stalwart in the rebounding department for Emory, pacing the club in that department in seven of the last eight games, averaging 8.5 caroms per outing during that stretch. The 6-foot-6 Friedberg, who has either led or shared for Eagle rebounding honors on 12 occasions this year, has produced five games of double-digit caroms and will enter the Whitworth affair first on the team while holding down the No. 5 slot on the UAA chart for rebounding in overall contests with a 6.9 per-game effort. His 6.9 per-game average in league play was sixth.
The owner of four double-doubles this year and eight during his career, Friedberg has emerged as one of Division III's premier shot blockers with his 2.3 per-game average in rejections topping the league and ranking 24th nationally. Freidberg swatted away three Randolph shot attempts last Saturday, his 19th performance this year of two or more blocks and ninth of three or more rejections. Over the past four games, he is averaging 3.5 blocks and 3.0 steals.
Earlier in the season, he became Emory's all-time leader in blocked shots in the LaGrange (Nov. 24) outing when his rejection of a shot attempt by Denzel Robinson early in the second half put him atop that list. Currently, Friedberg has 189 blocked shots to his credit, bettering the previous standard of 138 held by Tim Garrett (1986-90). His 59 blocks in 2012-13 are third on Emory's seasonal ladder, just one shy of tying his second-place standing of 60.
Offensively, Friedberg's 11.7 per-game scoring average places him fourth on the club and 15th among UAA players. He has notched double-figure scoring on 17 occasions this year and has hit 50 percent or better of his field goal attempts in 13 outings.
Career-wise, Friedberg stands fifth on the school's all-time rebounding list with 554 caroms, seven from moving past Spiros Ferderigos (2004-08) and into 4th place. He also ranks 17th on the school's career field goals list with 328 and is the school's 18th all-time scorer with 905 points.
EMORY SOLID AT THE STRIPE – After seeing a 15-game streak of shooting 70 percent or better from the charity stripe come to an end in the regular-season finale against Rochester, the Eagles regained their shooting eye in the Randolph contest, converting 14 of their 18 opportunities (.778).
Entering this weekend's action, Emory holds down the No. 3 position in the league and 19th nationally with an effort of .747 from the foul line with that mark ranking as the program's third-best mark in school history.
In league contests, the Eagles connected at a 75.0 percent clip, good for third place. In its 14 home games, Emory shows a 75.5 percent success rate (194-of-257) in free throw shooting while posting a 73.8 percent mark (149-of-202) in road/neutral affairs.
MOORE ADDS PUNCH TO EMORY OFFENSE – McPherson Moore has given the Emory offense a boost this season with his 12.0 per-game scoring average in overall play good for third place on the team and 14th among UAA players. In league games, Moore is scored at 12.1 per-game clip with that mark ranking 13th. In addition, he enters the upcoming weekend in the No. 7 position among UAA players in field goal percentage (.518).
A double-figure scorer on 16 occasions this year, he has been shot 50 percent or higher from the floor in 18 games. He has produced a season-high 19 points on three occasions (vs. Piedmont, 12/8; at Case Western, 1/18, & at Carnegie Mellon, 1/20) and has either led or shared for team scoring honors in four games.
His 4.8 per-game effort in the rebounding department is third on the squad and 18th among league players. He has compiled 14 outings of five or more caroms, 13 of which have come over the past 19 games.
The 6-foot-2 Moore has demonstrated a deft touch when it comes to three-point shooting with his 45.5 percent conversion rate (35-of-77) from beyond the arc pacing the squad and good for fifth place on the league ladder. He has at least one trey in 16 of his last 18 games.
Moore has been efficient at the foul line, hitting 91.1 percent (51-o-56) of his attempts from the stripe. He established a school record with 44 straight makes from the stripe, bettering the previous standard of 38 held by Austin Claunch, that started during the University of the Ozarks game (Nov. 17) and ended at Chicago (Feb. 10).
TRIO OF FOSTER, SCHATTIE & TRAWICK FIGURE IN WIN OVER RANDOLPH – The reserve trio of sophomores Alex Foster and Josh Schattie, along with freshman Will Trawick, played a key role in Emory's win over Randolph last weekend.
The three combined for 19 points and 14 rebounds in helping the Eagles advance to the second of the NCAA Tournament. Schattie was the game's top-scoring sub with eight points, hitting a pair of field goals and all four of his free throw opportunities. Foster and Trawick totaled seven and four points, respectively with each player grabbing six rebounds.
During the Eagles' current six-game winning streak, the three are averaging a combined 12.8 points and 9.7 rebounds with Schattie tossing in 5.3 points and averaging 2.2 steals in that stretch.
NOTES – Greven's 65 three-point field goals tie for fourth on Emory's seasonal ladder … Emory's 106 points vs. Case (Feb. 15) represented the second time this year and the 10th time during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach that an Emory team had reached or surpassed the 100-point mark … Emory has turned the ball over less than its opposition in 20 of 26 games this year and stands 15-5 in those contests … In their 20 victories, the Eagles are averaging 12.1 miscues per game compared to 13.2 in their six setbacks … Since the 2010-11 season, the Eagles stand 46-14 in contests when they have finished with fewer turnovers than their foes … Emory has outshot 20 opponents from the floor this year and posts an 19-1 record in those affairs … The Eagles have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in four games of their last six games and are connecting at a 50.3 rate (181-of-360) over that stretch vs. 38.8 percent (131-of-338) for the opposition … Emory has connected on 50 percent or better from the floor in nine contests this season, posting an 8-1 ledger in those affairs … Sophomore Alex Foster has scored in double figures on 10 occasions during his career, six times during the '12-13 campaign … Foster has three pointers to his credit in 14 games including five performances of two or more treys … Emory has attempted more free throws than the opposition in 12 contests this year (10-2) … Emory has enjoyed an advantage in the points-off-turnover category in the last 15 and in 23 games this season … The Eagles stand 18-3 when leading at the break this season, 73-12 during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach … Over the past three seasons, Emory is 35-4 in its last 39 home games … During Zimmerman's tenure, the Eagles have scored 90 or more points on 32 occasions and own a 29-3 slate in those games … Emory has scored 50 or more points in six halves this year … Emory has outpointed its opposition in 38 of 52 halves of play while being outscored 11 times … Emory is averaging 39.6 points during the first of play compared to the opposition's mark of 30.3 points … Over the final 20 minutes of play, the Eagles are scoring at a 41.8-point clip vs. 36.1 for their foes … Emory is averaging a UAA-leading 82.2 points per game, good for 16th place nationally and stands No. 1 in the conference and fifth on the national scene in scoring margin (+15.3) … Emory's 204 three-point field goals are the third-highest showing in school history.