News and Notes
- UNCW leads the all-time series with W&M at 42-26, including a 101-77 win in Wilmington this season. The Tribe has enjoyed the most recent success with the Seahawks, winning seven of the last nine tilts, including the last four in Williamsburg. Over the last three seasons under current UNCW head coach Kevin Keatts, W&M has handed UNCW three of its 10 CAA losses, the most of any opponent.
- Saturday's contest not only pits the top two scoring offenses in the CAA, but the winningest programs over the last four seasons. UNCW leads the league with 72 overall wins and 38 in CAA play over that stretch, while W&M is second with 70 and 37, respectively. W&M owns a 60.9 winning percentage overall during the last four years, just ahead of UNCW's 60.5.
- The Tribe coaching staff will be wearing sneakers with the special gold Princess Lacey's Laces in honor of the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission, and promote the American Cancer Society as a place for help and support.
- The Tribe shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the fifth time in the last seven games and nine time overall this season vs. Delaware. W&M is 8-1 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor. The Green and Gold ranks 55th nationally in field goal percentage (47.2).
- Over his last eight games, senior
Daniel Dixon is averaging 21.8 points per game. He has scored in double figures in a career-best 12-straight games and ranks third in the CAA at 19.7 points per game in league action. Dixon has led W&M in scoring in seven of the last 10 games.
Scouting UNCW
- UNCW enters the game with the Tribe at 20-2 on the year and a perfect 9-0 in CAA play. With its 20th win at JMU on Thursday, the Seahawks posted its second consecutive 20-win season for the first time since 2003. UNCW is one a nine-game win streak, is ranked No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 and is receiving votes in both the
Associated Press Top-25 poll and USA Today Coaches poll. Over the last two seasons, UNCW has won 24 of its last 26 games against CAA foes. They currently ranked No. 3 nationally with a 90.9 winning percentage and is one of only two teams, along with Gonzaga, to win 20 games.
- The Seahawks sport the top offense in the CAA and one that ranks among the best in the country. UNCW is 20th according to KenPom.com in offensive efficiency (117.6), which also leads the CAA. They average 86.4 points per game, which leads the league and ranks 10th nationally. The Seahawks are sixth in the country in 2-point field goal percentage at 57.8.
- UNCW ranks among the national leaders in forcing turnovers and limiting them on the offensive end. They are fourth nationally in turnover margin, forcing teams into five more per game. The Seahawks are first in the country in offensive turnover percentage, only turning it over on 13.8 percent of its possessions. They are 26th nationally, forcing opponents into 15.8 turnovers per game. Four UNCW players ranks among the top 12 in the CAA in steals per game.
- Offensively, a trio of players rank among the top seven in the CAA in scoring. C.J. Bryce leads the way at 16.9 per game, which is second in the league. Chris Flemmings is not far behind at 16.0, which is fourth in the CAA, and Denzel Ingram is seventh in the league at 15.3 per contest. Ingram has been even better in CAA play, averaging 18 points per game. He is the league leader in assists (5.6) and 3-pointers per game (3.4). All three players scored 18 points in UNCW's win over the Tribe in Wilmington earlier this season.
- Devontae Cacock averages a double-double at 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He leads the country in field goal percentage at 80.3 percent. He is 17th nationally in rebounds per game, including a 12.4 average in CAA play. According to KenPom.com, he leads the country in offensive rating.
- UNCW leads the all-time series with W&M at 42-26. The Tribe has enjoyed the most recent success with the Seahawks, winning seven of the last nine tilts, including the last four in Williamsburg. Over the last three seasons under current Seahawk head coach Kevin Keatts, W&M has handed UNCW three of its 10 CAA losses, the most of any opponent. Last season, W&M rallied from a 12-point deficit with a 23-0 second-half run to down the Seahawks, 87-69, in Williamsburg.
Tribe Excels in the Classroom
- Along with its work on the court, the men's hoops program continues to demonstrate why Tribe Athletics personifies the term student-athlete with its efforts in the classroom. The men's basketball team achieved a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.15 during the fall semester at the 'Public Ivy' institution, its best since 2010. Over the last seven years, the Tribe has posted a team GPA of nearly 3.0 (2.99). Currently, 10 of the Tribe's 14 players have GPAs of 3.0 or better.
- The College ranked fifth on America's Top Public Colleges list according to
Forbes in 2016 and sixth among
U.S. News & World Reports' Best Public Schools.
U.S. News & World Report also rated W&M 32nd nationally among all universities in 2017.
- During Shaver's 14 years, W&M leads the CAA with 40 CAA All-Academic Team selection, boasts five CAA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes of the Year and five Dean Ehlers Leadership Award winners. The Dean Ehlers Leadership Award is given to the student-athlete who "embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship in conjunction with his academic athletic achievement."
Suits And Sneakers® Week
- The Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week, January 23-29, 2017, is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission, and promote the American Cancer Society as a place for help and support. While coaching games during the week, coaches across the country, including the Tribe coaching staff, will wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk.
- Along with their shoes, the Tribe staff will #laceupforlacy, wearing the special gold Princess Lacey's Laces. As Michigan State University's number one fan, eight-year old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth and her special relationship with star player Adreian Payne dominated the media for a significant portion of the 2013-2014 NCAA basketball season. Although she shortly thereafter passed away, she gives hope and inspiration to millions of others affected by cancer. As a special promotion beginning Suits And Sneakers Week, and continuing through the end of the college basketball season, fans will have the opportunity to wear a specially designed pair of sneaker laces from Shoe Carnival, available online or in stores, in memory of Lacey. Funds raised will support the American Cancer Society and Princess Lacey's Legacy, to continue save lives and support those affected by pediatric cancer.
Elite Shooting
- The Tribe has shot over 50 percent from the field in five of its last seven games. W&M has nine games of 50 percent or better shooting in 2016-17 and is 8-1 in those contests. Under head coach
Tony Shaver, the Tribe is 88-12 (.880) when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, including an impressive 43-4 (.915) mark over the last four seasons.
- The Tribe has ranked among the national leaders in shooting in recent seasons. According to advanced statistical website KenPom.com, the Green and Gold has ranked among the nation's elite in effective field goal percentage and two-point percentage over the last seven seasons. W&M has also ranked among the country's top shooting teams in traditional field goal percentage in the last five years.
- This season, W&M currently ranks 55th (47.2 percent). The Tribe ranks among the top 30 nationally each of the previous four seasons. The Green and Gold ranked as high as No. 14 in 2014-15 (48.3), while coming in 21st in 2015-16 (48), 25th in 2013-14 (47.6) and 30th in 2012-13 (46.7).
- W&M ranked among the top 70 nationally in effective field goal percentage in six of the last seven seasons. In 2016-17, the Tribe ranks 58th at 53.4 percent. The Green and Gold ranked sixth in the category in both 2013-14 (55.9) and 2014-15 (56.3) along with coming in at No. 16 (54.8) last season. Effective field goal percentage is the same as regular field goal percentage, but gives teams more credit for made 3-point field goals.
- Like effective field goal percentage, the Tribe ranked among the national leaders in two-point field goal percentage in six of the last seven campaigns. The Green and Gold is currently 61st nationally at 52.6 percent. Each of the previous three campaigns, W&M was among the top 25 nationally, coming in 12th in 2016 (54.7) and eighth in 2015 (54.8).
- Each of the last four years the Tribe led the CAA in adjusted offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage and two-point field goal percentage.
Dixon Scoring Tear
- Senior
Daniel Dixon has been on the tear of late, scoring in double figures in a career-best 12-straight games. Dixon, who missed the Tribe's setback at Charleston, ranks third in the league at 19.7 points per contest in CAA play.
- Over his last eight games, Dixon is averaging 21.8 points per game and shooting 54.1 percent (60-of-111) from the field.
- Dixon recorded his first two career 30-point games. He tallied a career-high 36 points at Old Dominion on Dec. 29, before pouring in 32 points on Jan. 5 against Elon. Dixon leads the Tribe with six 20-point games this season, including five over the last 11 games.
- After struggling and failing to score in 24 minutes at Central Michigan on Nov. 29, Dixon has scored in double figures in 12-straight games. In total, he leads W&M with 15 double-digit scoring games in 2016-17.
- During each of his four seasons at W&M, Dixon's scoring average has increased each season. In 2016-17, he is averaging a career-best 16.3 points per game, which leads the Tribe and ranks third in the CAA.
Double-Digit 3-Pointers
- Over the last eight seasons, W&M is averaging nearly 12 games of double-digit 3-pointers per campaign, meaning it hits 10 or more 3-pointers in a more than a third of its games each year. This season, the Tribe has knocked down double-digit 3-pointers in eight games.
- Along with setting a school-record with 19 3-pointers against Savannah State earlier this season, W&M ranks third in the CAA and ranks 43rd nationally at 9.1 3-pointers made per game.
- In program history, W&M has hit 15 or more 3-pointers on 19 occasions, and 15 of those have come under head coach
Tony Shaver. Twice this season, the Green and Gold hit top-10 single-game 3-point totals. The Tribe connected on 15 against Presbyterian, which was the seventh-best total in program history, on Nov. 19 to go along with the school-record mark of 19 vs. Savannah State on Dec. 19.
- The Tribe is 67-43 under Shaver when hitting 10 or more 3-pointers. Of the Tribe's 110 games of double-digit triples under Shaver, 101 have come over the last nine years with W&M posting a 62-39 record.
Dixon From Long Range
- In W&M's wins over Delaware, senior
Daniel Dixon was a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range, marking the second time in his career that he made at least four 3-pointers without a miss. In fact, he owns two of the Tribe's eight all-time games of 100 percent shooting from 3-point range with a minimum of four makes. Dixon was a perfect 6-of-6 from 3-point range in a 100-79 win over Hofstra in 2015.
- For his career, Dixon currently ranks eighth in Tribe history in 3-point percentage (38.8), fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.05) and sixth in 3-pointers made (209). He is only four 3-pointers away from the Tribe's all-time top five and with nine more made triples can move into third place.
- Dixon ranks 44th among active NCAA Division I leaders in 3-pointers made with 209. He became the sixth Tribe player in program history to connect on 200 career triples.
- Including the 2016-17 campaign, Dixon has ranked among the top five in the CAA in 3-pointers made each of the last three seasons. He currently ranks fourth in the CAA at 2.3 3-pointers made per game this season. After coming in fourth at 2.6 per game in 2015, Dixon ranked fifth in the league in 2016.
- Over his career, Dixon has made a habit of game-winning 3-pointers. He hit his third buzzer-beating game-winner at Hofstra on Jan. 2, drilling a 28-footer at the horn to give W&M the 95-93 overtime win. As a sophomore in 2015, Dixon hit one of the most memorable 3-pointers in W&M and CAA Tournament history from the left corner with 0.5 seconds remaining to lift the Tribe to a 92-91 semifinal win over Hofstra. Last season, he canned the game-winner with 3.4 seconds left in a 78-75 overtime win over High Point.
Dropping Dimes
- For the fifth time in 2016-17, the Tribe dished out 20 or more assists in a game during its victory over Delaware. W&M handed out 23 helpers on its 29 made field goals. The Tribe is 5-0 in games with 20 or more helpers.
- W&M dished out a season-high 30 assists on 36 made field goals in its win over Savannah State on Dec. 19. It was the second game of 30 or more assists in Tribe history, trailing the school-record mark of 33 set in 1995 against George Mason.
- The Green and Gold recorded 27 assists on its 32 made field goals in the win over Presbyterian on Nov. 19, before handing out 25 against Milligan on Dec. 16. The Tribe also dished out 23 assists at Hofstra on Jan. 2.
- The 27 assists against Presbyterian rank as the seventh most in W&M history. The 25 assists against the Buffaloes rank 11th in program lore.
- The Tribe had seven games of 20 or more assists last season, which was the most since the 1995 campaign. W&M was 6-1 in those games. Over the last seven seasons, the Green and Gold is 24-1 when dishing out 20 or more assists in a game.
- In its wins this season, the Tribe is averaging 20.5 assists per game compared to just 12.3 in its losses.
