The Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team represents Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The team currently competes in the West division of 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.

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.

NAIA District 23 playoff

NAIA National Division I Tournament

Mid-American Conference tournament Results

Championships

NCAA Tournament

Appearances (4) Sweet Sixteen (1)

NAIA District 23 (4)

NCAA-CD Great Lakes Region

NAIA National Division I Tournament

Elite Eight (2) Semifinals (1) Finals (1)

NCAA Division II Tournament

Elite Eight (1) Final Four (1) Third Place game (1)

MAC regular season champions (4)

Mid-American Conference tournament

Finals (6) Champions (4)

Michigan MAC Trophy

Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic Champions

EMU Showcase Champions

EMU "Ice Man" Classic Champions

Reese Trophy Winners

Carrier Classic Champions

Hawai'i-Hilo Classic Champions

Hatter Classic Champions

Toledo Blade Classic Champions

Motor City Classic Champions

Ashland Tournament Champions

Pasadena Holiday Tournament Champions

Wayne State Centennial Classic Champions

Marshall Classic Champions

Flint Christmas Tournament Champions

IIAC All-Sports Trophy Winners

Central Michigan Tournament/Midwest College Invitational Champions

Michigan Collegiate Conference Champions

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships

Michigan Normal Championships

All-time win–loss record

Source:

Players

Players Drafted & Undrafted in the NBA and NBA-DL

• NBA-DL

Current pro players

Da'Shonte Riley – Salt Lake City Stars Karrington Ward – Oklahoma City Blue Raven Lee – Santa Cruz Warriors Emoni Bates – Cleveland Cavaliers

Retired numbers

Awards

All-MIAA

1st Team All-MIAA

All-Peninsula Team

Michigan Collegiate Conference Honors

All-Opponent's Team

1st Team All-IIAC

2nd Team All-IIAC

NAIA All-Star State of Michigan Team

Michigan N.A.I.A. Coach of the Year

All-PAC

All-Tournament NAIA Team

EMU Athlete of the Year

UPI 1st Team NCAA-College Division All-America

Coaches 1st Team NCAA-College Division All-America

All-District Team

Coach of the Year

NAIA second-team All-District 23

NAIA Honorable Mention All-America

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

MAC Awards

MAC Player of the Year

1st Team All-MAC

2nd Team All-MAC

3rd Team All-MAC

MAC Honorable Mention

MAC West Player of the Week

MAC Player of the Week

MAC Freshman Of The Year

MAC Coach of the Year

MAC All-Freshman team

MAC All-Tournament Team

MAC Tournament MVP

MAC Defensive Player of the Year

Academic All-MAC

Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention

MAC All-Defensive team

Pre-Season All-MAC

Preseason 1st Team All-MAC West Division

Pre-Season All-MAC 2nd Team

MAC All-Defense

MAC Freshman of the Year (Foxsports.com)

Athlon Sports College Basketball Preseason All-MAC 1st Team

James Thompson IV (2016-17)

National Awards

Pre-season Honorable Mention All-American

National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star

The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

Honorable Mention All-American

"Sports Ilustrated's ""Best Little Player in America"" in the 1997 College Basketball Preview Issue"

"1998 John Wooden ""Player of the Year"" Award Nominee"

USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year

National Association of Basketball Coaches District 14 2nd Team

Sporting News Preseason Top 10 Player

Co-Coach of the Year in the NCAA District 14 Division I

Cosida Academic All-American Selections 2nd Team

All-Freshman Team

Other Awards

Thompson Challenge All Tournament Team

Golden Bear Classic

Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islander Invitational

Hoosier Tipoff Classic All-Tournament Team

Portsmouth invitational All-Star

Ta-Wa-Si All-Star Basketball Team

All Great Alaska Shootout Team

All-Tournament Team Pepsi-Marist Classic

Basketball Travelers Invitational All Tournament Team

EMU Showcase MVP

Toledo Blade Classic All Tournament Team

Fred Cofield (1983-84)

Toledo Blade Classic MVP

Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team

Top 100 Recruiting Services Consensus Index

E-Club Hall of Fame

vs Michigan Universities

• As of April 17, 2024

Statistics

National statistical champions

MAC Statistical Champions Team Season

MAC individual statistical champion

MAC tournament records

Individual single game

Individual tournament career

Team