Eastern Michigan Athletics
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EMU Hoops Leading the NCAA In Field Goal Percent Defense
2/19/2014 10:22:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles are holding teams to just a 36.8 field goal percentage, the best in NCAA Division I
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball has become one of the most feared defenses in the Mid-American Conference since Head Coach Rob Murphy took over the program prior to the 2011-12 campaign, and the 2013-14 season is no different. The Green and White lead the MAC in multiple defensive categories, however EMU now leads the entire country in field goal percentage defense, as of the Feb. 17 NCAA statistical report.
Eastern Michigan prides itself on its defense. With that being the case, it should come as no surprise that EMU holds teams to one of the lowest shooting percentages in the country. Actually, according to NCAA.com's Feb. 17 update, the Eagles have the best shooting percentage defense in the country. After holding Toledo to a sub-26 percent performance, EMU moved into first in the category at 36.8 percent. Southern University is the closest in the category at 37 percent. In addition to that number, the Eagles see themselves in the top-25 of multiple categories nationally. Eastern ranks 14th in blocks (6.1 bpg), 15th in steals (8.5 spg), 20th in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.9 percent) and 21st in scoring defense (62 ppg).
As far as ranking in the MAC, Eastern is currently in the top-three of seven different categories. EMU is third in the conference in defensive rebounds at 24.9 per game, while they rank second in three-point field goal percentage defense at 29.9 percent, just 0.9 percentage points behind the University at Buffalo. In addition to three-point field goal percentage defense, the Green and White comes in at second in steals with 8.5 per game, trailing only Miami University (Ohio), which averages 8.6 per contest. The Eagles lead the league in scoring defense (62 ppg), as well as field goal percentage defense (36.8 percent), blocked shots (6.1 bpg) and turnover margin (+3.3).
Eastern Michigan is back in action Thursday, Feb. 20, when it travels to DeKalb, Ill. for a MAC West Division contest with Northern Illinois University. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Chad Bush and Sean Hostetter will be on the call for the 89.1 FM (WEMU) broadcast, while the contest is scheduled to air on Time Warner Cable Sports, Comcast 900 and will stream live on ESPN3 as well as the WatchESPN app.
Eastern Michigan prides itself on its defense. With that being the case, it should come as no surprise that EMU holds teams to one of the lowest shooting percentages in the country. Actually, according to NCAA.com's Feb. 17 update, the Eagles have the best shooting percentage defense in the country. After holding Toledo to a sub-26 percent performance, EMU moved into first in the category at 36.8 percent. Southern University is the closest in the category at 37 percent. In addition to that number, the Eagles see themselves in the top-25 of multiple categories nationally. Eastern ranks 14th in blocks (6.1 bpg), 15th in steals (8.5 spg), 20th in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.9 percent) and 21st in scoring defense (62 ppg).
As far as ranking in the MAC, Eastern is currently in the top-three of seven different categories. EMU is third in the conference in defensive rebounds at 24.9 per game, while they rank second in three-point field goal percentage defense at 29.9 percent, just 0.9 percentage points behind the University at Buffalo. In addition to three-point field goal percentage defense, the Green and White comes in at second in steals with 8.5 per game, trailing only Miami University (Ohio), which averages 8.6 per contest. The Eagles lead the league in scoring defense (62 ppg), as well as field goal percentage defense (36.8 percent), blocked shots (6.1 bpg) and turnover margin (+3.3).
Eastern Michigan is back in action Thursday, Feb. 20, when it travels to DeKalb, Ill. for a MAC West Division contest with Northern Illinois University. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. Chad Bush and Sean Hostetter will be on the call for the 89.1 FM (WEMU) broadcast, while the contest is scheduled to air on Time Warner Cable Sports, Comcast 900 and will stream live on ESPN3 as well as the WatchESPN app.
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