GAME FACTS – After coming away with a pair of road wins at Chicago and Washington University last weekend, the Emory men's basketball begins a four-game homestand when its plays host to those two same teams. On Friday (Feb. 5), Emory will battle the Chicago before closing out the weekend with a Sunday afternoon test against Washington University.
The Woodruff PE Center will serve as the venue for the 59th meeting between Emory and Chicago with that contest slated for an 8:00 pm tip. On Sunday, the Bears from Wash U invade the Woodpec for the 58th match-up between the programs, with that affair starting at noon.
Live Stats (http://emoryathletics.com/information/LiveStats) and a video stream (http://emoryathletics.com/information/webcasts) will be available for both games. Handling the play-by-play duties will be Mark Harmon.
THE COACHES - Leading the Emory program is ninth-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, he ranks as the program's winningest coach, compiling a school and career record of 145-81. In games played at the Woodruff PE Center, Zimmerman posts an 83-24 ledger and a 62-57 mark in road/neutral settings.
He has guided Emory to seven straight winning seasons and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2015). After going 17-33 his first two years at Emory, Zimmerman has compiled a won-lost slate of 128-48 (.727) since the 2009-10 season.
Mike McGrath (DePauw, '92) is in his 17th year at the helm of the Chicago program. Heading into Friday's action, McGrath has compiled a school and career record of 251-174, which includes four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Now in his 35th season of patrolling the sidelines for Washington University is Mark Edwards (Washington Univ., '69). Heading into a Friday road test against Rochester, Edwards claims a school and career ledger of 637-281. He has directed the Bears to 31 consecutive winning seasons to go along with 19 berths to the NCAA Tournament.
2015-16 RECORDS – Emory owns an overall record of 13-5, with its 6-1 ledger in the University Athletic Association good for sole possession of first place. The Eagles have won their last four games and are coming off wins at No. 11 Chicago (69-63) and Wash U (82-73) this past weekend, just the second time in program history that an Emory team had swept the 'Midwest Trip.'
Senior Will Trawick averaged a team-high 24.5 points, shooting 60.7 percent (17 of 28) from the field and 85.7 percent (11 of 12) from the charity stripe over the two games. In the triumph over UC, Trawick led all scorers with 25 points, 19 coming in the first half, ending the contest sinking a career-high tying 10 field goals in 15 attempts, including three treys in six tries. He followed that performance with a game-leading 24 points vs. Washington U, converting seven-of-13 field goal attempts and draining a career-high 10 free throws in 12 tries.
Sophomore Adam Gigax and senior Davis Rao averaged 14.5 points and 12.5 points, respectively, while sophomore Whit Rapp totaled 16 assists in the two outings.
Emory is 7-0 in home games this year, 6-5 in away/neutral settings.
Chicago is 14-4 overall and is tied with Rochester for second place in the UAA with a mark of 5-2. After falling to the Eagles on Friday, the Maroons were defeated by Rochester on Sunday, 84-76. UC is 5-2 at home and 9-2 in road/neutral settings.
Wash U heads into a Friday road game at Rochester looking to snap a four-game losing streak that has dropped its overall record to 10-8, 2-5 in the league. The Bears will be looking to even the season series against UR after the Yellowjackets came away with a 75-73 decision at the WU Field House last Friday. WU is 4-6 at home, 6-2 in road/neutral contests.
SERIES RECORDS – In a series that began in January of 1987, Chicago holds an all-time record of 36-22 against Emory. Each team has won on 14 occasions on Emory's home floor with the Eagles capturing five of the last six meetings at the Woodruff PE Center.
In a series that has its origins in Jan. of 1988, Wash U stands 44-13 all-time against Emory. The Bears have captured 20 of the 28 meetings played in Atlanta, with the Eagles winning last year's battle at home, 93-87.
CRASH THE GLASS IS KEY FOR EMORY – Winning the battle of the boards has played a part in Emory's results this year, with the Eagles posting a 7-1 record when enjoying an edge in that category.
The Eagles have been outboarded on eight occasions this year and show a record of 5-3 in such contests (Emory is 1-1 when tied in rebounding).
In its 13 victories, Emory is outrebounding the opposition by a 39.2-37.2 per-game average while showing a 39.4-38.0 disadvantage in the losses.
TRAWICK PUTS UP BIG NUMBERS IN ROAD SWEEP OF CHICAGO & WASH U - Will Trawick came through with a pair of big performances in the victories over Chicago and Washington University.
Trawick notched game highs in the scoring category in both outings, totaling 25 points, his second-highest effort of the season, against Chicago. His 19 first-half points represented the high-water mark by an Emory player this season and marked the third time this year that he scored 15 or more points in a half. His final three points of the opening stanza came on his third trey with 11 seconds left that gave Emory a nine-point cushion, 38-29, at halftime. Trawick followed his UC game with a 24-point afternoon against Wash U, 15 of which came during the final 20 minutes of action. Included in his totals against the Bears were a career-high 10 free throws in 12 attempts
(9 of 10 in the second half).
Emory's leading scorer on six occasions this season, Trawick has produced 14 double-figure scoring games and five of 20 or more points. His team-leading 15.2 points-per-game average in overall play ties for the No. 8 position among UAA players while his 17.3 per-game showing in league tilts deadlocks him for second on the conference chart. He is pulling down a team-high 5.8 rebounds per outing in overall action, placing him 13th on the UAA list.
GIGAX PUTTING UP SOLID NUMBERS – Adam Gigax continued his steady and important play in the wins over Chicago and Wash U, ranking second on the team in scoring with a 14.5 per-game effort and shooting 50 percent (12 of 24) from the field, including 50 percent (5 of 10) from beyond arc.
His 14 points in the Wash U contest, upped his team-high streak to 12 games of double-digit scoring. During this stretch, he has averaged 14.4 points and shot 49.6 percent (71 of 143) from the field.
He did knock down a pair of treys against the Bears and will enter the upcoming weekend with triples to his credit in his last nine games. Through games played Jan. 31, Gigax is second on the club and third among UAA players in overall three-point shooting (.412, 35 of 85), and his 42.9 percent (18 of 42) performance in league contests ties for fifth on the conference chart.
A double-figure scorer on 14 occasions this season, Gigax occupies the No. 2 spot on the team's scoring ladder at 12.4 points per game, placing him 14th on the UAA list. After seven league contests, Gigax finds himself seventh on the conference scoring ladder with a 16.0 per-game mark. Over his last four games, he is averaging 15.5 points and shooting 50 percent (26 of 52) from the floor.
WINS vs. LOSSES – In Emory's 13 victories it is averaging 78.1 points while allowing 66.9 … In the Eagles' five setbacks they are scoring at a 71.8 per-game clip compared to the opposition's 82.2 … Emory is averaging 12.8 turnovers in its wins vs. 17.8 in losses … In the three-point shooting category, the Eagles have converted 37.1 percent (128 of 345) when they have won vs. 30.1 percent (37 of 123) when they have lost.
DID YOU KNOW?? – The over the past five-plus seasons (dating from 2010-11), that Emory has the No. 1 record among UAA teams in both overall (113-38) and league (54-23). Washington University has the conference's second-best overall ledger (108-42) and is right behind the Eagles in UAA outings at 53-24 … That entering Friday's home game vs. Chicago, Emory has at least one three-point field goal in its last 480 games -- The last time the Eagles failed to convert from beyond the arc came on Feb. 14, 1997, vs. Washington University (0-of-6) … Emory is 11-1 this season when shooting 70 percent or better from the foul line … During their current four-game winning streak, the Eagles are connecting at an 80.3 percent clip (53 of 66) from the charity stripe … That Emory is 9-0 this year when allowing 69 or fewer points … That Davis Rao (111) and Will Trawick (109) rank 16th and 17th, respectively, on the program's all-time three-point field goals list.
EMORY PICKED FOR THIRD IN UAA PRESEASON POLL – Emory was picked to finish third in a preseason poll conducted by the league's coaches. Chicago was tabbed as the favorite with New York University selected to finish runner-up. Washington University was chosen for fourth while Rochester was fifth. Case Western Reserve (6th), Brandeis (7th) and Carnegie Mellon (8th) rounded out the poll.
Top Scoring Halves By Emory Players In 2015-16
19 points – Will Trawick, vs. Chicago (1st half), Jan. 29
17 points – Jonathan Terry vs. Case Western Reserve (2nd half), Jan. 24
17 points – Adam Gigax vs. Brandeis (1st half), Jan. 17
15 points – Will Trawick vs. Wash U (2nd half), Jan. 31
15 points – Will Trawick vs. St. Thomas (1st half), Nov. 20
14 points – Davis Rao vs. Carnegie Mellon (2nd half), Jan. 22
14 points – Will Trawick vs. Stevenson (1st half), Nov. 21
14 points – Jonathan Terry vs. Maryville (2nd half), Nov. 28
13 points – Will Trawick vs. NYU (2nd half), Jan. 15
13 points – Adam Gigax vs. NYU (1st half), Jan. 15
13 points – Whit Rapp vs. Rochester (1st half), Jan. 9
13 points – Davis Rao vs. Guilford (1st half), Dec. 6
NOTES – Whit Rapp tied his career high 13 points in the Wash U game and dished out 10 assists, his fourth double-figure effort in that category this year … Rapp finished the weekend with 16 assists and three turnovers, leaving him with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.8, good for a second-place tie in the UAA … Through games played Jan. 31, Rapp's 5.8 per-game average in assists is second in the UAA and 16th among all D-III players … Rapp's 105 assists ties for 14th place on the school's seasonal ladder …Through seven league games, Emory is No. 1 in the UAA in scoring defense (70.6 ppg) and No. 2 in field goal percentage defense (.401) … The opposition has been successful on 29.8 percent of its three-point tries against the Eagles with that mark third in the UAA and 25th nationally … Davis Rao's 16 points against Wash U was second high on the squad and his 10th double-figure scoring effort of the season … Rao is third on the team and 20th in the league in overall scoring average (11.6 ppg) … Rao continues to lead the league in overall three-point shooting, draining 42.3 percent (33 of 78) of his opportunities … Entering Friday's action, Rao has been successful on his last 15 free throw attempts and his mark of 76.2 percent (48 of 63) from the stripe in ninth among UAA cagers … Emory has converted 10 or more treys on six occasions this year and shows a 5-1 slate in those contests … Through games played Jan. 31, the Eagles rank No. 2 in the UAA in three pointers per game (9.2 tpg) … Jonathan Terry grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the victory over Wash U, the eighth time this season he had either led or shared for squad honors in that department … Terry is second on the team and14th among UAA players in rebounding (5.7 rpg) … Terry has come through with 10 games of double-figure scoring and is fourth on the team and tied for 26th in the conference in scoring average (10.6 ppg) … Emory holds down the No. 1 spot in the conference in overall free throw shooting, connecting at a 72.6 percent clip (255 of 351) … In conference action, the Eagles are No. 1 in that category (76.2%, 96 of 126) … Emory is averaging a conference-best 10.7 turnovers in its opening seven league contests … Career-wise, Davis Rao has chalked up 25 efforts of 10 or more points while Will Trawick has 40 double-figure scoring games … Austin DaGue has blocked two or more shots in his last five and in a total of 12 games this year … DaGue has registered 95 career rejections, good for fourth place on the school's all-time ladder … DaGue is second in the UAA with an average of 2.2 blocks per game … Emory has attempted more free throws that the opposition on seven occasions this year (5-2) while seeing opponents attempt more in 10 (7-3) … The Eagles have held seven opponents to less than 40 percent from the floor (6-1) … Emory shows a 9-1 record this year when having the same number or fewer turnovers than its opponent … Emory is averaging 37.7 points in the first half and 37.9 points over the final 20 minutes … Opponents are scoring at a 31.7 per-game rate in the first half and 38.1 in the second stanza … Opponents have had 10 players score 20 or more points this season while Emory has had nine individuals accomplish that … Since the 2012-13 season, the Eagles are 63-3 when outshooting the opposition from the floor (9-2 in '15-16, 18-0 in '14-15) … The Eagles stand 12-2 when leading at the break this season, 118-17 during Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach … Emory is 65-8 (.890) over its last 73 home contests … The Eagles have recorded 100 or more points 45 times in program history and own a 40-5 won-lost record in those affairs … During Jason Zimmerman's tenure as head coach, Emory has 14 contests of 100 or more points and stands 13-1 in such games.