The Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team represents Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They have appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments and have a 3–4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges. They reached the Sweet Sixteen in the 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and defeated the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the 1996 tournament.
EMU has competed in the MAC since joining in 1972, and previously competed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1920–1926). The team last played in the NCAA tournament in 1998.
Contents
History
Ben Braun era
Ben Braun served as head coach of the EMU men's basketball team from 1985 to 1996, before leaving to take over the head coaching duties at the University of California-Berkeley. In his 10 ½ seasons as EMU head coach, he led Eastern to its most successful decade as an NCAA Division I school, finishing as the winningest head coach in EMU history with a 185–132 record. During his tenure he was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year three times (1987–88, 1990–91, 1995–96). Those three seasons saw the Eagles win Mid-American Conference and MAC tournament championships and NCAA post-season tournament appearances, including a "Sweet 16" appearance in 1990–91. He also coached the 1994–95 team to EMU's first-ever National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Milton Barnes era
Following the departure of Ben Braun to California, Eastern Michigan hired Milton Barnes, he would spend four season as a head coach, earning 63 victories in those years.
Jim Boone era
In 2001, EMU hired Jim Boone to lead its basketball program. Boone compiled a 48–96 record in 5 seasons at the helm.
Charles Ramsey era
Ypsilanti native and EMU graduate Charles Ramsey was hired following the 2005 season. In his first game as head coach, Ramsey pulled off an upset over a Ben Braun coached California team, however that would be the highlight of his stint as head coach in Ypsilanti. After a 68–118 record in six years at the helm, EMU would fire Ramsey after the 2010–11 basketball season.
Rob Murphy era
Rob Murphy, a Detroit native was hired in the spring of 2011 to take over for Charles Ramsey. Prior to EMU, Murphy spent seven years as an assistant coach at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim. In his first season, Murphy would lead the Eagles to a 14–18 record. However, with its 9–7 record in conference play, the Eagles took 1st place in the MAC-West. In 2021, he left the team to join the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League as president and general manager.
Postseason
NCAA Tournament Division I results
The Eagles have appeared in four NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–4.
Coach Ben Braun led Eastern Michigan to their first three NCAA Division I tournament appearances during his 11-year tenure. One of the great highlights in team history came after EMU's first round victory over Duke in 1996, when the Blue Devils' Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski stated, "Eastern Michigan is very well coached, much deeper than we are and, today, much quicker than we were."
NIT results
The Eagles have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1.
CBI results
The Eagles have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1.
CIT results
The Eagles have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. Their combined record is 2–2.
NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Eagles have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament one time. Their record is 3–2.
EMU reached the Final Four of the 1972 NCAA College Division National Championship, led by All-American George Gervin, an NBA Hall of Famer selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Championships
Michigan MAC Trophy
2021-22
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic Champions
2019-20
EMU Showcase Champions
2014-15
EMU "Ice Man" Classic Champions
2012-13
Reese Trophy Winners
2007-08
Carrier Classic Champions
1996-97
Hawai'i-Hilo Classic Champions
1996-97
Hatter Classic Champions
1989-90
Toledo Blade Classic Champions
1985-86
Motor City Classic Champions
1979-80
Ashland Tournament Champions
1971-72
Pasadena Holiday Tournament Champions
1970-71
Wayne State Centennial Classic Champions
1967-68
Marshall Classic Champions
1966-67
Flint Christmas Tournament Champions
1958-59
1959-60
IIAC All-Sports Trophy Winners
1953-54
Central Michigan Tournament/Midwest College Invitational Champions
1946-47
Michigan Collegiate Conference Champions
1929-30
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships
1920-21
Michigan Normal Championships
1907-08
1912-13
1914-15
1916-17
All-time win–loss record
Source:
Players
Players Drafted & Undrafted in the NBA and NBA-DL
*NBA-DL
Awards
All-MIAA
Harold Osborne (1921-22)
1st Team All-MIAA
Francis Davidson (1923-24)
All-Peninsula Team
Joe Schwall (1925-26)
James Barclay (1925-26)
Joe Kazlusky (1925-26)
Michigan Collegiate Conference Honors
George Muellich (1927-28)
All-Opponent's Team
John Shada (1941-42)
Leo Turner (1949-50)
1st Team All-IIAC
Webster Kirksey (1952-53)
Webster Kirksey (1953-54)
2nd Team All-IIAC
Webster Kirksey (1951-52)
Cleon Gilliam (1952-53)
Owen Sudman (1952-53)
William J. Stephens (1957-58)
Ron Gulyas (1960-61)
NAIA All-Star State of Michigan Team
William J. Stephens (1957-58)
Michigan N.A.I.A. Coach of the Year
J. Richard Adams (1962-63)
All-PAC
Gary Clark (1963-64)
Ed Gallup (1963-64)
Steve Ditchkoff (1964-65)
Rod Marlatt (1964-65)
All-Tournament NAIA Team
Earle Higgins (1967-68)
EMU Athlete of the Year
Al Jagutis (1970)
UPI 1st Team NCAA-College Division All-America
Earle Higgins (1969-70)
George Gervin (1971-72)
Coaches 1st Team NCAA-College Division All-America
George Gervin (1971-72)
All-District Team
Earle Higgins (1969-70)
Al Jagutis (1969-70)
Kennedy Mcintosh (1969-70)
Coach of the Year
James D. Dutcher (1969-70)
NAIA second-team All-District 23
Earl Dixon (1970-71)
NAIA Honorable Mention All-America
Earl Dixon (1970-71)
Motor City Classic MVP
Marlow McClain (1979-80)
Motor City Classic All-Tournament Team
Marlow McClain (1979-80)
Kelvin Blakely (1979-80)
Motor City Classic Outstanding Defensive Player
Marlow McClain (1979-80)
MAC Awards
Grant Long (1987-88)
Marcus Kennedy (1990-91)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
Darrell Lampley (2011-12)
Karrington Ward (2013-14)
Ray Lee (2014-15)
Elijah Minnie (2017-18)
Emoni Bates (2022-23)
Tyson Acuff (2023-24)
Lorenzo Neely (1987-88)
James Thompson IV (2016-17)
Ben Braun (1987-88)
Ben Braun (1990-91)
Ben Braun (1995-96)
Rob Murphy (2011-12)
Grant Long (1987-88)
Marcus Kennedy (1990-91)
Brian Tolbert (1995-96)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
DaShonte Rile (2013-14)
Tim Bond (2017-18)
J.R. Sims (2012-13)
2016 Tim Bond
2017 Tim Bond
2018 James Thompson IV
2019 James Thompson IV
National Awards
Grant Long (1987-88)
Marcus Kennedy (1990-91)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
Earl Boykins (1997-98)
Brandon Bowdry (2009-10)
James Thompson IV (2016-17)
Rob Murphy (2011-12)
Dan Hoff (1975-76)
Earl Boykins (1993-94)
Statistics
National statistical champions
2013/14 NCAA Statistical Championship for field goal percentage defense (36.9%)
MAC tournament records
1980 Greg Floyd – field goal pct. (1.000/7-7)
1984 Fred Cofield – field goals attempted (28)
Earl Boykins – field goals made (34)
Earl Boykins – field goal attempts (60)
1998 field goals made (41 v Toledo)