The 2017–18 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball team represented Florida Gulf Coast University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Eagles were led by fifth-year head coach Joe Dooley and played their home games at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They finished the season 23–12, 12–2 in ASUN play to win the ASUN regular season championship. In the ASUN tournament, they defeated USC Upstate and North Florida to advance to the championship game where they lost to Lipscomb. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Oklahoma State.
On April 4, 2018, head coach Joe Dooley left the school to become the head coach at East Carolina, where he was previously the head coach from 1995 to 1999. The following day, assistant head coach Michael Fly was promoted to head coach.
Previous season The Eagles finished the 2016–17 season 26–8, 12–2 in ASUN play to win the regular season championship. As the No. 1 seed in the ASUN tournament, they defeated Stetson, Kennesaw State, and North Florida to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As a No. 14 seed in the West region, they lost in the first round to No. 3-seeded Florida State.
Offseason
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure Reggie Reid 1 G 5'11" 162 Sophomore Harlem, GA Graduate transferred to Texas A&M–Commerce Rayjon Tucker 3 G 6'5" 205 Sophomore Charlotte, NC Transferred to Little Rock Maxx Bleecher 4 G 6'2" 180 Sophomore Boca Raton, FL Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons Kevin Mickle 10 F 6'7" 220 RS Junior Brooklyn, NY Graduate transferred to Ohio C. J. Williamson 12 G 6'6" 200 Sophomore Orlando, FL Dismissed from the team Demetris Morant 21 F 6'9" 209 RS Senior Las Vegas, NV Graduated Marc-Eddy Norelia 25 F 6'8" 218 RS Senior Orlando, FL Graduated
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous SchoolTroy Baxter Jr.1F6'8"200SOTallahassee, FLTransferred in June 2017 from UNLV following his freshman season. Will sit out the 2017–18 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, but will then have three years of eligibility beginning as a redshirt sophomore in 2018–19.Ricky Doyle15F6'10"250JRCape Coral, FLTransferred from Michigan in May 2016 following his sophomore season with the Wolverines. He will have two years of eligibility beginning as a redshirt junior in 2017–18 after sitting out the 2016–17 season per NCAA transfer rules.Brady Ernst21F6'10"230SOClinton, IATransferred from Indian Hills Community College in April 2017 and will have three years of eligibility remaining, beginning immediately as a redshirt sophomore in 2017–18.Michael Gilmore24F6'10"210JRJacksonville, FLTransferred in January 2017 from Miami, where he was sitting out after transferring there from VCU in the summer of 2016. Will sit out two semesters per NCAA transfer rules, and will be eligible to begin play in December 2017 following completion of the fall semester. He will be eligible for the duration of the 2017–18 season and the entire 2018–19 campaign.Dinero Mercurius31G6'4"200JROrlando, FLTransferred in April 2017 from Daytona State College. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, beginning immediately as a redshirt junior in 2017–18.
2017 recruiting class
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style=| Atlantic Sun Conference regular season
!colspan=12 style=| Atlantic Sun tournament
!colspan=12 style=| NIT
References