2006-07

Q&A WITH JASON ZIMMERMAN

Jason Zimmerman was named the head coach of the Emory University men’s basketball program in April.  Recently, he took some time to answer some questions for www.go.emory.edu.

Q: From your experiences as a player as well as a coach, what would you say are the key ingredients in being a successful coach.

A:  Communication is key when you are leading a group of people, whether working in the business field, working as a teacher or any line of work.  You need to be able to communicate what you want done and present it in such a way that they understand and buy in. 

Possessing confidence and believing in what you do is crucial.   You have to be enthusiastic and have passion for what you do.  Then, a coach has to have energy – it takes a lot of energy to lead young men and help them to get better everyday. 

Q: What made you get into the coaching profession? Was it something that you wanted to do early on or did it develop as your playing career evolved?

A: I’ve always had tremendous coaches in my life, from elementary school to high school and then through college.  I say this in all honesty, I think that I had one of the best high school coaches in the county and one best college coaches in the country.  There is no question that I have been blessed to learn under two great coaches.  They helped mold my philosophies but they also showed me how you can affect people’s lives because mine has been affected by them.

I knew early on that I wanted to coach.  Growing up in Indiana and being around basketball and what it means to the state and then playing college basketball in North Carolina it was the same thing.   So, I guess that I always knew growing up that I wanted to coach.   And it’s nice when you know that because then you pay more attention. I always wanted to coach so I always paid more attention to my coaches.  Everyday was a learning experience for me.

Q: What are they key characteristics that you look for in a potential student-athlete?

A: Obviously, you have to look for talented and skilled individuals who can fit our system.  We like versatile players, guys who can do more than one thing  – not just a rebounder or a shooter. 

There are other characteristics that we look for that we think make you successful.  How coachable a young man is and how hard does he work. Most of the time, if you are  skilled, then you have worked to develop that skill.  Work ethic, your coachability and how much of a passion do you have for the game of basketball are all important characteristics

We want to see how a player treats other people.  How does he react to his coach, how does he react to his parents, how does he interact with his teammates. 

Recruiting is an interesting part of our business and it so much more than just looking at skill.  It’s about a right fit for our institution.

Q: What did you like most about Emory University and what made the head coaching job attractive for you to pursue?

A: As I’ve said on a number of occasions, the whole University strives for excellence.  Every academic program, whether it be the business, law, medical or theatre departments all look for excellence.  The same goes for the Emory athletic department.  You had baseball in the championship round of this year NCAAs, men’s tennis in the national championship match, volleyball is always nationally ranked, women’s tennis with a history of NCAA championships and both the men’s and women’s swimming programs that are renowned.  That made the job attractive to me.  When you are around excellence great things can happen.  It seems to be happening all around this campus.

We also have a lot of great coaches at Emory who have been here a long time.  Just knowing that, I knew it had to be a great place to work.  That was exciting for me.

The type of student-athletes we will be able to recruit to Emory are the type of kids that I want to coach and want my son and daughter to look up to and have as role models in their lives.

Q: From what you have been able to gather so far, what do you think Emory has to offer to somebody who wants to play in your program athletically, academically and socially?

A: Emory has one of the best reputations in the world when it comes to our academic programs.  You get a degree from Emory and the opportunities are endless.

Socially, there are so many opportunities to explore and take advantage of.  If you want the city life, you can be in downtown Atlanta in about 10 minutes.  Or, if you want a quiet place on campus, you can find that as well.  If you interested in fraternities and the Greek system, there are plenty to choose from.

As far as athletics goes, all our teams strive to win a national championship.  The University Athletic Association (UAA) is such a great league that if you can be a contender there, then you can be in a position to win a national championship. Teams here have done just that.  There are not many places where you can combine all those aspects into the package that we have. It is exciting to recruit kids and know that they are going to have that type of experience. 

Q: What do you like most about coaching?

A:  There are so many things that I enjoy.  From the recruiting and meeting people and getting them excited about Emory to teaching on the court, to seeing people grow through their four years and seeing how far they have come in that time.  I enjoy all those aspects but what I really look forward to is being on the practice court with the players and making them better.  The practice setting becomes our classroom where we teach and I’ve always enjoyed that.

Q: What are some of your hobbies or activities that you like to take part in when you are away from coaching?

A: By far, the activity I most enjoy when away from coaching is being with my wife and children.  Whatever they are doing that particular day, that’s what I like most when I’m not coaching. 

I also like to sneak a round of golf in every now and then.

Q: What are the areas of emphasis that you will focus upon for the 2007-08 basketball team?

A:  We are going to focus on defending. Stopping people - making it hard for them to score.  That is something that we will work on from day one of practice.  Team defense – five guys working together to stop somebody –  is something that has to be stressed. 

We will work on playing at a fast pace without turning the ball over.

We will value the basketball.  In a close game, having more possessions helps you win games.  Playing at a fast pace offensively while defending as hard as you have to win is challenging and needs to be broken down everyday

Q:  Coach, we are going to lighten it up a little bit.  Here are some quick hitters for you:

Favorite Food:  Steak

Best Advice You Have Ever Been Given And Who Gave It To You:  Smile – my grandmother

Most Influential People:  My family

Biggest Coaching Influences:  Bob McKillop from Davidson College and Al Rhodes who was my high school coach

Pre-Game Rituals:  Too many to name

Favorite Pro Athlete:  Really don’t have a favorite pro athlete.  I admire many professional athletes and enjoy watching and learning from all, both the good and the bad

Favorite Place on the Emory Campus:  At the Woodruff PE Center -- midcourt on the basketball floor.

Most Memorable Moment As A Coach: Winning the 1998 Southern Conference Tournament and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years at Davidson

Strongest Attribute:  Passion and energy

Most Memorable Moment As A Player:  I don’t think it was a moment but rather a process at the end of my senior year and looking back and realizing how much better the program had become

My Advice To People Who Aspire To The Coaching Profession:  Learn how to teach

If you could have dinner with three people in history, they would be:  Jesus, my grandparents, Abraham Lincoln

Favorite Movies:  No Way Out – just enjoyed it; Braveheart – full of passion; The Godfather – incredible presentation; Rocky I-IV; Hoosiers; Top Gun

2006-07 EMORY MEN’S BASKETBALL RECAP

The 2006-07 Emory men’s basketball season may not have experienced the success that many of its fans hoped for, however the Eagles battled adversity throughout the campaign and played with a resolve till the very end.

The team finished with an overall record of 8-17 and closed out the UAA portion its schedule with a ledger of 2-14.  The Eagles were hampered by the injury bug at inopportune times, forcing lineup changes as well keeping players from important practice sessions.

The year started out on a high note as Emory rode a wave of hot shooting en route to a 5-2 mark after seven contests with one of those setbacks coming at the hands of Division I foe Mercer University.  The Eagles’ offense was in high gear during that stretch as they recorded 90 or more points on three occasions while posting 75 or more points in six.  One of the highlights of the impressive start was a 93-82 triumph at home over No. 23-ranked Maryville College, one of five teams that Emory would play who advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

A 76-67 triumph at Case Western in the UAA opener boosted the Eagles’ overall record to 7-4 but the team could not sustain the momentum as a tough seven-game losing streak ensued that included a five-point loss to No. 16-ranked Washington University and an overtime setback on the road against Carnegie Mellon.  Emory snapped the skid as it posted its second-highest point total of the season in a 94-83 decision against Carnegie, however the Eagles fell victim to another tough stretch and closed out the year with six straight defeats.

Individually, junior Spiros Ferderigos once again stood out and claimed Second Team All-UAA honors.  The 6-foot-1 workhorse battled a shoulder injury for most of the year but still produced a team-high 17.6 points per game average, good for the No. 2 position among UAA players.  Ferderigos, the team’s leading scorer in 10 games, scored in double figures in 20 of his 23 appearances and registered nine games of 20 or more points. His 35-point explosion against Case Western in the final game of the year represented the high-water mark by any UAA player in ’06-07 and tied for the fifth most in Emory single-game history.  Ferderigos sank 85.3 percent of his free throw attempts (128-of-150), good for second place among UAA players and 41st nationally.  While his scoring exploits were well documented, Ferderigos continued to cement himself as one of the UAA’s most effective all-around players ranking in a number of statistical categories including rebounding (10th, 5.9 rpg), assists (5th, 4.52 apg), steals (1st, 2.17 spg) and minutes played (5th, 32.0 mpg).  In a road game against Carnegie Mellon (Jan. 26), he became the ninth player in school history to record 1,000 points in a career.  He finished the season with 1,177 points, sixth all-time at Emory. 

Adrian Sosa was one of six Emory seniors who closed out their collegiate careers in 2006-07.  The 6-foot backcourt ace, a two-year player with the Eagles, tossed in 15.6 points per outing, good for the No. 2 slot on the team and fourth in the UAA.  A starter in 24 of 25 games, he scored in double figures in 20 outings and totaled 20 or more points on six occasions including a career-high 29 points against Maryville (Nov. 26) that saw him drain seven three-point field goals, tying for the top spot by a UAA player during the year and good for a second-place tie on the school’s all-time game list.  Adrian recorded a team-best 59 treys during the year, good for a sixth-place deadlock on Emory’s seasonal chart, and his 2.39 three-pointers per game ranked No. 3 in the UAA.  Sosa was the team’s high scorer in nine affairs.  Career-wise at Emory, he finished 10th in three-point field goals (99), tied for 11th in scoring average (12.0 ppg), 13th in three-point field goal percentage (.345) and 14th in free throw percentage (.765, 124-of-162).

Shawn Bailey turned in a steady senior season, earning the starting nod in 24 of 25 contests and averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing.  The 6-foot-2 Bailey, third on the club with a 25.8 minutes per-game mark, finished as the team’s top scorer in five games while pacing the club in boards on four occasions.  A double-figure scorer in seven outings, with five of those coming in UAA play, he tallied a season-high 19 points against LaGrange College (Nov. 25).  Shawn finished 15th among UAA players with a 46.1 field goal percentage mark.  Bailey started 51 (19th most in school history) of 78 games during his Emory career and posted 21 double-figure scoring games while registering three double-doubles.

Eric Barvin saw his four-year career come to a close by starting 13 of 21 games and ranking third on the team in points (8.1 ppg) and second in rebounding with his 5.8 per-game mark tying for 11th in the UAA. The 6-foot-8 Barvin posted eight double-figure scoring games including a season-high 17 points vs. Chicago (Feb. 11) and he led the Eagles in scoring in three contests. He was the team’s top board man in nine affairs and finished with three performances of double-digit caroms. Eric finished 17th on the school’s career list in both games played (88) and starts (56) and his 412 rebounds placed 12th among the Eagles’ all-time performers.  In addition, he fourth in career blocked shots with 74 rejections and stood as Emory’s high man in rebounding in 23 games. He finished with four double-doubles in his career.

Alex Ford-Carther was another member of the senior class who bid the program farewell following 2006-07.  Ford-Carther saw action in all 25 games, 19 as a starter, and averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 caroms per contest.  A savvy backcourt performer, he turned in a pair of double-figure scoring efforts and registered eight multi-steal games.  During his four years as an Eagle, Alex appeared in 80 games, 43 as a starter, and concluded his tenure ranked 10th on the school’s career ladder in assists (125) 13th in steals (100).  

Bolstering the late-season fortunes of the Eagles was 6-foot-7 senior Barry Corrado.  After missing the first six games of the year, Corrado became a force to be reckoned with as the year progressed.  He ended ’06-07 starting 15 of the 18 games he played and averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 boards per outing.  He posted double figure scoring on seven occasions including five of the squad’s last eight contests.  Included in his scoring production were a pair of career-high tying 18-point explosions (vs. Carnegie Mellon on Jan. 26 & Case Western on Feb. 24).  He ranked as Emory’s top rebounder in six games and pulled down a career-best 13 caroms against No. 20 NYU (Feb. 18). Career-wise, he played in 55 contests and compiled eight efforts of double-digit scoring.

Forward Brandon Rowlett closed out his two-year stint with the program by starting six of 24 games and averaging 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.  The 6-foot-6 Rowlett notched a career-high 12 points in the season opener at Mercer and found his way into the scoring column in 17 contests. He logged 20 or more minutes of action on six occasions and snared rebounds in 22 of his 24 appearances.

In February, 2007, Head Coach Brett Zuver announced her resignation following nine years in the position.  During his tenure at Emory, he finished with a school record of 103-122.

Jason Zimmerman was named head coach in April.

All-University Athletic Association
Spiros Ferderigos                     Second Team               Oldsmar, FL (Berkeley Prep)

UAA Player of the Week
Spiros Ferderigos                     Feb. 27                        Oldsmar, GL (Berkeley Prep)
Adrian Sosa                             Dec. 5                          Pembroke Pines, FL (Cooper City)
Dan Smith                                Nov. 28                       Weston, FL (Cypress Bay)

d3hoops.com Team of The Week
Dan Smth                                 Nov. 20-26                  Weston, FL (Cypress Bay)

May 26

EMORY NAMES MATT McKILLOP ASSISTANT BASKETBALL COACH

Emory University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jason Zimmerman has announced the hiring of Matt McKillop as assistant coach.  

McKillop enjoyed a standout career as a member of the Davidson College basketball program, earning four varsity letters (2003-2006) and starting 98 of 117 career contests.  McKillop helped the Wildcats to three Southern Conference South Division crowns and a SoCon Tournament championship in 2005-06.  McKillop, who served as team captain as a senior, was a member of the Davidson team that competed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and 2005 NIT.  Career-wise, he averaged 8.1 points per game and knocked down a total of 223 three-point field goal, connecting on 39.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Following his Davidson career, McKillop traveled overseas where he played for the USK Praha Basketball Club in the Czech Republic.

“Matt’s experience and success as a student-athlete at an elite academic institution will be a great asset for Emory basketball,” said Zimmerman.  “The work ethic and determination that has made Matt successful will make him a great teacher. He is a great addition to the Emory community.” 

McKillop, the son of Davidson Head Basketball Coach Bob McKillop, earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 2006.

Apr. 9

EMORY NAMES JASON ZIMMERMAN HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

Emory University Athletics Director Betsy Stephenson has announced Jason Zimmerman’s appointment as head men’s basketball coach. Zimmerman will start his duties immediately.

“I want to thank Betsy Stephenson and all those involved in the search process for selecting me to lead the Emory men’s basketball program,” Zimmerman said.  “Emory University strives for excellence in all areas and we look forward to having the basketball program reach that level of excellence.

“The reputation of Emory, its fine facilities, and the high regard that the University Athletic Association is held in made the job appealing,” Zimmerman stated.  “Emory is about success and when you are around successful people, good things can happen.  My family and I are honored and excited about joining the Emory family.”

Zimmerman, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, brings a wealth of experience to the Emory program having spent the last 11 seasons as an assistant coach at the Division I level. 

Zimmerman spent seven seasons on the Davidson staff, where he worked for Bob McKillop, from 1996-97 through 2002-03.  During his tenure, the Wildcats compiled an impressive 122-81 record and competed in the 1998 and 2002 NCAA Tournaments.  Davidson won North Division championships in the Southern Conference in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2003, and won the Southern Conference Tournament in 1998 and 2002.

“Jason Zimmerman is the type of person that you want your son to play for,” said McKillop, a six-time SoCon Coach of the Year.  “He is a superb coach and caring individual.  He will maximize the talents of those who play for him.

“He has the ability to get on the court and show what has to be done and how to do it,” McKillop continued.  “Jason has the unique capacity to get players to blend and play roles.  He is adept at getting players to grasp the team concept nature of the game while highlighting their individual strengths.”

Most recently, Zimmerman spent the 2003-04 through 2006-07 seasons as an assistant at the University of Evansville under Steve Merfeld..  While with the Purple Aces, he coached Matt Webster and Clint Cuffle to All-Missouri Valley Conference honors while recruiting and coaching Jason Holsinger to the MVC 2005-06 All-Freshman Team.

“Jason is the kind of person who fits in well with the people he comes in contact with,” said Merfeld, now with Bradley University. He will have a positive impact on the student-athletes he will work with.

“He is extremely talented when it comes to skill development and he is an exceptional recruiter because of his ability to relate well to people.  He has a true passion for the game of basketball and for coaching.”

Zimmerman was a four-year letterwinner at Davidson where he concluded his career as the school’s No. 18 all-time leading scorer with 1,260 points.  One of the top players in the Southern Conference, he  finished fourth in career free throw percentage and seventh in career assists, and was a member of Davidson’s 1994 NIT team.  Jason also earned Davidson’s Thomas A. Sparrow Award for commitment to collegiate athletics.  He graduated from Davidson in 1994 and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics. 

“We are thrilled to have Coach Zimmerman lead our men’s basketball program,” Stephenson said.  “His Division I background as both a student-athlete and coach has provided him the blueprint on how to be successful and prepared him for his role as Emory’s head coach.

Jason and his wife, Traci, have a son, Trevor, and daughter, Taylor.

In league games, Ferderigos tossed in 19.0 points per contest, placing him second on the conference ladder.  His 88.3 percent mark from the foul line (83-of-94) was good for the No. 4 position while his 2.64 steals per game was good for the top spot. 

During the year, Ferderigos cracked the 1,000 career-point plateau and finished the campaign with 1,177 points, good for the No. 6 position on Emory’s all-time chart.  In addition, he became the school’s all-time leader in free throws and closed out the campaign with 349 charity tosses. 

Corrado finished the game with 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Sosa rounded out the team’s double-figure scorers with 13 points.  Barvin tied for game-high honors with 10 rebounds.

Emory ended game shooting 39.7 percent from the floor (25-of-63) while Case posted a 51.7 percent showing (30-of-58).  The Spartans also ended the game with a 42-37 edge on the glass.

NOTES – Ferderigos’ 35 points represented the high-water mark by an Emory player this season and enabled him to move into sole possession of sixth place on the school’s all-time scoring list.  Ferderigos now has 1,177 points to his credit …  Adrian Sosa closed out the season with a team-high 59 three-point field goals, good for a sixth-place tie on the school’s seasonal chart … Career-wise, Sosa’s 99 treys rank him ninth on the Eagles’ all-time chart.

Feb. 22

EMORY MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM CLOSES OUT SEASON

PROBABLE EMORY STARTERS -- subject to change

GAME FACTS – The Emory University men’s basketball team will close out the 2006-07 season on Saturday (Feb. 24) when it hosts Case Western Reserve University.  The Woodruff PE Center on the Emory campus will serve as the site of the 30th meeting between the Eagles and Spartans and tip is slated for noon.

THE COACHES – Emory is led by ninth-year Head Coach Brett Zuver (Lake Superior State, ’91).  Heading into the weekend action, Zuver has a school record 103-121. He is 66-43 in home games.  

Sean McDonnell (Boston College ’96) is in his fourth season as head coach at Case.  Prior to his current post, McDonnell had served as head coach at Hiram College for three seasons.   

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Zuver

2006-07 RECORDS – Emory stands 8-16 in overall play, including a 2-11 showing in University Athletic Association action.  The Eagles came out on the short end of a pair of home games last weekend, 76-67 to Brandeis and 69-66 to No. 20 New York University.

Case comes to town with an overall slate of 4-20 and is 0-12 in league contests.  The Spartans lost to NYU, 65-47, last Friday before dropping a 56-51 decision to Brandeis.

SERIES RECORDS –  In a series that started on Jan. 16, 1987, Emory holds a 15-14 record against Case.  The teams met earlier this season (Jan. 6) at Horsburgh Gym on the Case campus and the Eagles prevailed by a 76-67 margin.  Junior Spiros Ferderigos led Emory’s scoring attack with 25 points while senior Barry Corrado pulled down nine rebounds.  Emory sports an 8-5 mark against Case in games played on its home court.

SENIORS BID FAREWELL – A total of six Emory seniors will be playing in their final college game on Saturday.  The group will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.  This year’s senior class includes Alex Ford-Carther (Evanston, IL), Brandon Rowlett (Smyrna, GA), Eric Barvin (Houston, TX), Barry Corrado (Naples, FL), Shawn Bailey (Irvine, CA) and Adrian Sosa (Pembroke Pines, FL).

FERDERIGOS CONTINUES SCORING CLIMB  --  Junior Spiros Ferderigos (Oldsmar, FL) totaled 46 points in last weekend’s contests against Brandeis and NYU, boosting his career total to 1,142, good for seventh place on the school’s all-time scoring list.  He is just five points from moving past Kevin Felner (1989-93) and into sole possession of sixth place.  He has scored in double figures in 60 of his 72 career contests

CORRADO MAKING LATE-SEASON CHARGE – Barry Corrado, who was slowed during the first half of the season with injuries, has made his presence felt during the conference portion of the schedule. The 6-foot-7 Corrado led the squad in rebounding in both games last weekend and grabbed a career high of 13 boards against NYU, his second double-figure effort in that category this year.  In addition, he totaled 10 points against Brandeis and 14 against NYU, his fifth and sixth outings of double-digit point production, all of which have come during league play.  Corrado’s 6.6 rebounds per game in conference play tops the team and is good for sixth place among UAA performers. In addition, his 8.5 per-game scoring average in conference affairs is good for the No. 3 position on the team.

Top Scoring Efforts Under Zuver

SOSA SAMPLINGS – Senior guard Adrian Sosa (Pembroke Pines, FL) holds down the No. 2 spot on the team and is tied for the No. 4 position among UAA players with a 15.7 points per game scoring average.  Sosa also ranks No. 6 among UAA players with a 76.0 percent mark from the foul line (73-of-96).  Among his 19 double-figure scoring games this year are six of 20 or more points.  His 2.29 three-point field goals per-game average stands No. 3 in the UAA. Career-wise, Sosa has registered double digits in scoring in 30 of 49 games.  In addition, Sosa holds down the No. 9 spot on Emory’s all-chart with 95 three-point field goals

EMORY NOTES – The Eagles have outrebounded 11 opponents this year … Emory has attempted more free throws than the opposition in 14 games this season and stands 8-6 in those decisions … Emory has outshot 10 opponents from the floor this year and owns a 6-4 ledger in those affairs, 13-5 since the 2005-06 campaign … The Eagles’ nine turnovers in the NYU game tied a season low … In its last five games, Emory is shooting just 26.8 percent (22-of-82) from three-point range vs. the opposition’s 44.7 percent (42-of-94) … Shawn Bailey will enter the Case contest with 21 career double-figure scoring contests … Eric Barvin  has eight double-figure scoring performances this year and 22 during his career … In addition, Barvin stands fourth on the  school’s all-time blocked shot list with 73 career rejections … Barvin has also worked his way up the school’s career rebounding chart with his 402 boards placing him 12th …. Heading into Saturday’s game, Adrian Sosa’s 55 three-point field goals are good for ninth place on Emory’s seasonal chart.

FERDERIGOS EMORY CAREER LEADER IN FREE THROWS – Over the weekend Spiros Ferderigos became Emory’s all-time leader in free throws with his 13 conversions boosting his career total to 337.  He passed the previous No. 1 mark of 325 held by Paul Damm (1986-90).  Ferderigos holds down the No. 4 spot at Emory in both career free throw attempts (404) free throw percentage (83.4%). His team-leading 116 free throws this season rank fifth place on the school’s seasonal list while his 85.3 percentage is seventh.

Emory's Top Field Goal Percentage Marks Under Zuver

MORE ON THE TREY – Heading Saturday’s finale against Case, Emory has made at least one three-point field goal in its last 253 straight games.  The last time Emory failed to knock down a three-pointer came on Feb. 14, 1997, in a 96-71 loss at Washington University.

FERDERIGOS RANKED AMONG UAA LEADERS IN NUMEROUS CATEGORIES --  Spiros Ferderigos continues to rank among the top 10 UAA players in seven categories.   Through games played Feb. 18, Ferderigos is No. 2 in the conference in scoring (16.8 ppg), tied for No. 9 in rebounding (5.9 rpg), No. 5 in assists (4.59 apg), No. 2 in free throw percentage (85.3%), No. 1 in steals (2.09 spg), No. 7 in assists/turnover ratio (1.42) and No. 5 in minutes (31.64 mpg). 

WEB CASTING OF EMORY BASKETBALL AVAILABLE -- Highlight Reel Productions will be offering live web casting with announcing of Emory Men's and Women's Basketball home games this season.  Games will be available to watch live and on-demand online, and DVDs can be ordered.  Please visit HRPTV.com to gain access to the games.

Emory All-Time Leading Scorers

Feb. 18

EMORY MEN’S BASKETBALL SEES RALLY FALL SHORT AGAINST NO.20 NYU

The Emory University men’s basketball team waged a furious second-half rally but fell short in its bid to topple No. 20 New York University Sunday afternoon.  NYU escaped the Woodruff PE Center with a 69-66 win that raised its overall record to 19-5, 8-5 in the University Athletic Association.  The loss dropped Emory’s mark to 8-16 in overall play, 2-11 in UAA contests.

Thanks in part to 51 percent shooting from the floor and a 20-15 edge in rebounding, NYU posted a 38-29 lead at halftime.  The Violets kept control of the game and when senior Jason Boone hit a pair a free throws with 11:27 remaining in the contest, NYU held a 52-37 advantage.

The Eagles then responded with their most impressive stretch of the conference portion of the season, rattling off an 18-3 scoring barrage over the next five minutes and fourty-three seconds that tied the game at 55-55 with 5:44 on the clock.  The run was keyed by stellar defensive play by sophomore Greg Lockett, who came up with a pair of steals, as well as 10 points from junior Spiros Ferderigos and a pair of highlight-reel dunks by senior Barry Corrado.

A jumper by senior Adrian Sosa gave Emory a 59-57 lead with 3:55 left on the clock and the Eagles still held a slim 63-61 advantage with 1:52 remaining. However, a huge three-pointer by NYU senior Michael DeCorso with 1:30 on the clock enabled NYU to take the lead for good, 64-63. From there, Emory missed a pair of shots and turned the ball over on two occasions while NYU hit five foul shots to stretch the lead.

Ferderigos lead all scorers with 27 points, 19 of those coming in the second half.  He hit seven-of-14 from the floor, including four-of-seven from three-point range, and converted all nine of his free throw attempts.  Sosa and Corrado rounded out Emory’s double-figure scorers with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Boone finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds to pace the NYU effort while DeCorso totaled 21 points.

Emory closes out its season next Saturday (Feb. 24) when it hosts Case Western Reserve University starting at noon.

Feb. 13

EMORY MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM RETURNS HOME FOR UAA ACTION

PROBABLE EMORY STARTERS -- subject to change

GAME FACTS – The Emory University men’s basketball team looks forward to returning home this weekend to play host to a pair of University Athletic Association opponents.  On Friday (Feb. 16), the Eagles welcome Brandeis University to town in an 8:00 p.m. start before entertaining New York University on Sunday (Feb. 18) in a noon tip. Both games will be played at the Woodruff PE Center on the Emory campus.

THE COACHES – Emory is led by ninth-year Head Coach Brett Zuver (Lake Superior State, ’91).  Heading into the weekend action, Zuver has a school record 103-119.  In 13 seasons as a college head coach, which includes a four-year stint at Colorado College (1994-95 through 1997-98), Zuver has a career won-lost ledger of 151-170.  He is 66-41 in home games.  

Brian Meehan (Clark University ’86) is in his fourth season as head coach at Brandeis and owns a school record of 51-46.  In 11 seasons as a head coach, which includes a seven-year stint at Salem State (1996-97 through 2002-03), Meehan has compiled a career mark of 211-85.

Now in is 19th year as head coach at New York University, Joe Nesci (Brooklyn College, ’79) will take a school and career ledger of 332-152 into a Friday contest at Case Western Reserve University.   

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Zuver

2006-07 RECORDS – Emory stands 8-14 in overall play, including a 2-9 slate in UAA action.  The Eagles wound up the road portion of their schedule last weekend, dropping a 74-62 decision to No. 11 Washington University and an 89-71 outcome to No. 23 Chicago.

Brandeis has won its last three games and will meet Emory with an overall effort of 16-6, 6-5 in UAA action.  The Judges are coming off a productive weekend that saw them defeat Carnegie Mellon, 75-52, and the University of Rochester, 73-66, at home.  Brandeis has a 2-5 record in away games this season.

NYU holds down the No. 20 position in the d3hoops.com rankings, and will meet Case with a 17-5 overall record, 6-5 in the UAA.  The Violets split a pair of home games last weekend, dropping a 58-53 verdict to Rochester before bouncing back to claim a 78-57 win over Carnegie Mellon.

SERIES RECORDS –  In a series that started on Jan. 23, 1988, Brandeis holds a 20-19 record against Emory.  The teams met earlier this season (Jan. 21) at Auerbach Arena on the Brandeis campus and the Judges posted a 74-50 victory.  Emory shows a 12-7 record against Brandeis in games played on its home court, though the Judges have captured the last three encounters played at the Woodruff PE Center.

NYU enjoys a 26-14 advantage in the series with Emory that saw the first game played on Dec. 5, 1986.  The Violets notched a win in the initial meeting between the clubs earlier this season (Jan. 19) with a 69-50 decision.  NYU has won 11 of the 19 games played on Emory’s home court.

EMORY NOTES – The Eagles have outrebounded 10 opponents this year and stand 5-5 in those contests … Emory has attempted more free throws than the opposition in 14 games this season and stands 8-6 in those decisions … Emory has outshot nine opponents from the floor this year and owns a 6-3 ledger in those affairs, 13-4 since the 2005-06 campaign … Emory has shot 70 percent or better from the charity stripe in eight of its last 11 contests … In its last five games, Emory is shooting just 25.9 percent (22-of-85) from three-point range vs. the opposition’s 45.6 percent (42-of-92) …  Shawn Bailey’s 12 points in the Chicago game was his seventh double-figure scoring performance of the season and 21st in his career … Bailey is shooting 50 percent (26-of-52) from the floor in his last six contests … Senior Eric Barvin came through with a big game against Chicago, registering a team and season-high 17 points while pulling down nine rebounds … Barvin’s point total in that game tied his second-highest mark during his Emory tenure and represented his eighth double-figure scoring performance of the year and 22nd of his career … In addition, Barvin moved into fourth place on the  school’s all-time blocked shot list over the weekend and now has 72 career rejections … Senior Alex Ford-Carther totaled 10 points against Chicago, tying his season high … Senior Adrian Sosa totaled 18 points against Washington University  and 15 points against Chicago, running his streak of scoring in double figures to seven games … Sosa has notched double digits on 18 occasions this season and in 29 of 47 career outings … Career-wise, Sosa holds down the No. 9 spot on Emory’s all-chart with 94 three-point field goals …  Spiros Ferderigos ranks second all-time at Emory in free throws made with 324, just one shy of tying the first-place mark of 325 held by Paul Damm (1986-90) … In addition, he stands fourth in career free throw attempts (391) and fourth in free throw percentage (83.1%) … He has scored in double figures in 58 of his 70 career contests.

Top Scoring Efforts Under Zuver

FERDERIGOS CONTINUES SCORING CLIMB  --  Junior Spiros Ferderigos (Oldsmar, FL) enters play this weekend with 1,096 career points, good for eighth place on the school’s all-time scoring list.  He is 32 points from passing Rashawn Allen (2001-05) and moving into seventh place.  

MORE ON THE TREY – Heading Friday’s action against Brandeis, Emory has made at least one three-point field goal in its last 251 straight games.  The last time Emory failed to knock down a three-pointer came on Feb. 14, 1997, in a 96-71 loss at Washington University.

SOSA SAMPLINGS – Senior guard Adrian Sosa (Pembroke Pines, FL) holds down the No. 2 spot on the team and is No. 3 among UAA players with a 16.0 points per game scoring average.  Sosa also ranks No. 6 among UAA players with a 76.1 percent mark from the foul line (67-of-88).  Among his 16 double-figure scoring games this year are six of 20 or more points.  His 2.45 three-point field goals per-game average stands No. 3 in the UAA.

Emory's Top Field Goal Percentage Marks Under Zuver

FERDERIGOS RANKED AMONG UAA LEADERS IN NUMEROUS CATEGORIES --  Spiros Ferderigos continues to rank among the top 10 UAA players in seven categories.   Through games played Feb. 12, Ferderigos is No. 2 in the conference in scoring (16.2 ppg), tied for No. 7 in rebounding (6.0 rpg), No. 5 in assists (4.55 apg), No. 4 in free throw percentage (83.7%), No. 1 in steals (2.05 spg), No. 7 in assists/turnover ratio (1.39) and No. 5 in minutes (31.5 mpg). 

WEB CASTING OF EMORY BASKETBALL AVAILABLE -- Highlight Reel Productions will be offering live web casting with announcing of Emory Men's and Women's Basketball home games this season.  Games will be available to watch live and on-demand online, and DVDs can be ordered.  Please visit HRPTV.com to gain access to the games.

Emory All-Time Leading Scorers

Feb. 11

EMORY MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM FALLS ON THE ROAD TO NO. 23 CHICAGO

The Emory University men’s basketball team battled the No. 23-ranked University of Chicago Maroons Sunday afternoon on the road and came out on the short end of an 89-71 outcome.  The loss dropped Emory’s overall record to 8-14, 2-9 in the University Athletic Association.  The Maroons upped their record to 18-4 in overall action, 9-2 in conference contests.

Chicago led from start to finish in securing its 10th win in 12 decisions this season at the Ratner Athletics Center.  The Maroons entered the game as the UAA leader in three-point field goals per game and used that weapon against Emory, knocking down 10 from beyond the arc compared to the Eagles’ four.  Chicago also enjoyed big edge from the foul line, converting 23-of-31 opportunities while the Eagles struggled in that category, hitting just four-of-14.

A basket by senior Eric Barvin cut a Chicago lead to 24-22 with 7:49 in the first half but the Maroons outscored the Eagles by a 19-11 margin that helped them claim a 43-33 lead with 1:48 left in the stanza. Chicago would take a 48-37 lead into halftime.

The Eagles faced a 12-point gap, 51-39 with 17:18 left in the game before a 14-3 scoring flurry, keyed by senior Adrian Sosa’s seven points, drew the visitors to within one point, 54-53, with 13:52 remaining.  However, Emory could not get control of the lead and the Maroons used a late scoring blitz in sealing the game’s final score.

Emory hit 52.5 percent from the field (31-of-59) compared to Chicago’s mark of 44.4 percent (28-of-63).  The Maroons finished the contest with a 39-32 edge in rebounding. 

Barvin came off the bench to lead the Emory scoring attack with a season-high 17 points while also posting a team-best nine rebounds.  Sosa totaled 15 points, hitting six-of-12 from the floor, including three-of-five from three-point range.  Senior Shawn Bailey posted 12 points, his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year, while junior Spiros Ferderigos and senior Alex Ford-Carther each chipped in 10 points.

Sosa led the Eagles with 18 points knocking down seven-of-14 from the floor including three-of-six from beyond the arc.  Junior Spiros Ferderigos posted 12 points and tied Bailey for the team lead with seven rebounds.

Feb. 8

EMORY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FACES NATIONALLY RANKED UAA FOES ON THE ROAD

PROBABLE EMORY STARTERS -- subject to change

GAME FACTS – The Emory University men’s basketball team resumes University Athletic Association play this weekend when it plays the league’s top two teams on the road.  On Friday (Feb. 9) the Eagles meet Washington University in an 8:00 p.m. (CST) tip before battling the University of Chicago on Sunday in a noon (CDT) start.

THE COACHES – Emory is led by ninth-year Head Coach Brett Zuver (Lake Superior State, ’91).  Heading into the weekend action, Zuver has a school record 103-117.  In 13 seasons as a college head coach, which includes a four-year stint at Colorado College (1994-95 through 1997-98), Zuver has a career won-lost ledger of 151-168.  He is 66-41 in home games.  

Mark Edwards (Washington Univ., ’69) is in his 26th season as head coach at Washington University and posts a school and career record of 442-226.  During his tenure, Edwards has guided the program to 11 NCAA Tournaments.

Now in is ninth year as head coach at the University of Chicago, Mike McGrath
(DePauw, 1992) will take a school and career mark of 130-70 into a Friday affair vs. Case Western Reserve University.   

Emory's Top Defensive Scoring Efforts Under Zuver