Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eastern Ranked in CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25
11/25/2013 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EMU earns 25th spot after 5-0 start
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - After its first 5-0 start since the 1996-97 season, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team earned a spot in the CollegeInsider.com Men's Mid-Major Top 25 rankings for the first time in program history. Head Coach Rob Murphy's Eagles own the 25th spot CollegeInsider.com announced Monday, Nov. 25, as voted on by a 31-member panel of head coaches from different mid-major universities across the nation. It is the 15th season CollegeInsider.com has provided the nation with a mid-major top 25 ranking.
Eastern Michigan is off to its best start since the 1996-97 campaign when it won six-straight to open the season. The Green and White can credit its hot start to a high-powered offense and stingy defense. EMU is averaging 79.2 points per game through its first five contests, while holding the opposition to just 59.4 points per game. A lot to do with the Eagles' defense is the fact that they post 10 blocks per contest, good for the third most in the NCAA Division I ranks.
Individually for the Green and White, Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine Valley C.C.)) and Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) have been the offensive catalysts posting 18.2 and 18 points per contest, respectively. Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas)) has posted 12.3 points per game coming off of the bench this season, while Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day (Syracuse)) has anchored the EMU defense after averaging 5.2 rejections per contest, good for the fourth most nationally.
"It's exciting to see our program being recognized by coaches and media around the country," mentioned Murphy. "Our staff and players have worked extremely hard the past two seasons to put us in position for success."
The Eagles look to continue its strong start Wednesday, Nov. 27, when they travel to Lexington, Ky. to take the No. 3/4-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats. EMU looks to avenge last season's loss at Rupp Arena with the tip scheduled for 4 p.m. on Cawood's Court. Audio coverage of the action can be found on 89.1 FM (WEMU) or WEMU.org, while fans can also tune into Fox Sports South or ESPN3 for all of the action live in Lexington.
CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid Major Top 25
Eastern Michigan is off to its best start since the 1996-97 campaign when it won six-straight to open the season. The Green and White can credit its hot start to a high-powered offense and stingy defense. EMU is averaging 79.2 points per game through its first five contests, while holding the opposition to just 59.4 points per game. A lot to do with the Eagles' defense is the fact that they post 10 blocks per contest, good for the third most in the NCAA Division I ranks.
Individually for the Green and White, Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township (Moraine Valley C.C.)) and Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) have been the offensive catalysts posting 18.2 and 18 points per contest, respectively. Glenn Bryant (Detroit, Mich.-Oak Hill Academy (Arkansas)) has posted 12.3 points per game coming off of the bench this season, while Da'Shonte Riley (Detroit, Mich.-Detroit Country Day (Syracuse)) has anchored the EMU defense after averaging 5.2 rejections per contest, good for the fourth most nationally.
"It's exciting to see our program being recognized by coaches and media around the country," mentioned Murphy. "Our staff and players have worked extremely hard the past two seasons to put us in position for success."
The Eagles look to continue its strong start Wednesday, Nov. 27, when they travel to Lexington, Ky. to take the No. 3/4-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats. EMU looks to avenge last season's loss at Rupp Arena with the tip scheduled for 4 p.m. on Cawood's Court. Audio coverage of the action can be found on 89.1 FM (WEMU) or WEMU.org, while fans can also tune into Fox Sports South or ESPN3 for all of the action live in Lexington.
CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid Major Top 25
| School (First Place Votes) | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1. Wichita State (27) | 5-0 | 771 | 1 |
| 2. Gonzaga (4) | 4-0 | 746 | 2 |
| 3. Belmont | 6-1 | 660 | 5 |
| 4. Indiana State | 3-1 | 628 | 6 |
| 5. Harvard | 4-1 | 624 | 4 |
| 6. BYU | 4-1 | 570 | 3 |
| 7. New Mexico State | 4-1 | 570 | 7 |
| 8. Saint Mary's | 5-0 | 552 | 8 |
| 9. Toledo | 6-0 | 515 | 10 |
| 10. Manhattan | 3-1 | 424 | 11 |
| 11. Florida Gulf Coast | 4-1 | 353 | 13 |
| 12. Western Kentucky | 3-1 | 343 | 18 |
| 13. Princeton | 3-1 | 303 | 15 |
| 14. Akron | 1-2 | 288 | 12 |
| 15. Green Bay | 2-1 | 282 | 21 |
| 16. Denver | 0-2 | 254 | 16 |
| 17. Youngstown State | 6-1 | 212 | 25 |
| 18. UC Santa Barbara | 2-2 | 191 | 17 |
| 19. Drexel | 3-1 | 157 | NR |
| 20. Weber State | 0-2 | 121 | 19 |
| 21. Kent State | 6-1 | 114 | NR |
| 22. Eastern Kentucky | 6-1 | 107 | NR |
| 23. Towson | 6-1 | 101 | 22 |
| 24. North Carolina Central | 4-1 | 92 | NR |
| 25. Eastern Michigan | 5-0 | 87 | NR |
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