Nov 13, 2008

AU Men's Basketball Opens 83rd Season Friday at No. 12 Oklahoma


Nov. 13, 2008

Game Notes

 

TV: ESPN360 & ESPN Full Court - Bob Carpenter (play-by-play) and Charlie Spoonhour (analyst)

WASHINGTON - The defending Patriot League Champion American University men's basketball team opens its 83rd season of play on Friday at No. 12 Oklahoma at 8 p.m. ET. The Eagles senior back-court duo of Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer lead a group of nine returning letterwinners, including three starters, from last season's squad.

AU Quick Hits

  • The Eagles hold an all-time record of 1,016-956 (.515) and are 44-38 (.537) all-time in season openers.
  • American made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Div. I Tournament in 2008. The Eagles earned a No. 15 seed in the tournament and were defeated in the first round by No. 2 seed Tennessee, 72-57. Prior to its trip to the `Big Dance,' AU was one of 33 Div. I team's to have never reached the NCAA Tournament.
  • The Eagles finished last season with an overall record of 21-12, marking the team's first 20-win season since 1989-90 (20-9). AU's 21 wins represented the team's highest win total since 1981-82 (21-9).
  • American returns nine letterwinners, including three starters, from last season's PL Championship squad. Guards Garrison Carr (18.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Derrick Mercer (12.4 ppg, 4.03 apg) return to anchor the back-court and will be joined by Bryce Simon (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Brian Gilmore (8.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Jordan Nichols (4.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) in the front-court. Starting forwards Cornelio Guibunda and Travis Lay were both lost to graduation.
  • Under Head Coach Jeff Jones, AU has an overall record of 125-113 (.525) and a PL record of 62-36 (.633). The Eagles have appeared in four PL Championship Games, won three PL Regular Season Championships and have never finished below .500 in the PL.

Preseason Honors

  • AU was picked first in the 2008-09 PL Preseason Poll. The Eagles received 14 of 16 first-place votes from conference coaches and Sports Information Directors. American was also ranked No. 23 in the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major Top 25 and No. 65 in Rivals.com's Top 65 Countdown.
  • Derrick Mercer was named to the CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major All-America Team and to the Preseason All-PL Team. Last year, Mercer was chosen as CollegeInsider.com's PL MVP and was an All-PL Second Team selection.
  • Garrison Carr was named the PL Preseason Player of the Year and selected to the Preseason All-PL Team. The senior was also named the eighth best three-point shooter in college basketball by ESPN.com. Last year, Carr was named the PL Tournament MVP and was an All-PL First Team selection.

Milestone Watch

  • Garrison Carr (839 pts.) and Derrick Mercer (910 pts.) are on pace to become just the 27th and 28th players in AU history to record 1,000 career points this season.
  • Garrison Carr set new AU and PL records last season with 135 made three-point baskets and scored 606 total points, the seventh highest total in school history. Carr enters this season ranked second in the PL in career three-point percentage (42.2%, 188-446), third at AU in career three-pointers (188), and tied for first at AU in career free-throw percentage (87.3%, 117-134).
  • With 384 career assists, Derrick Mercer ranks fifth all-time at AU and ninth all-time in the PL. Mercer also enters this season having played in 92 career games, including 90 starts, and is on pace to set a new AU record in both categories.