As the leaves begin to change colors, the basketball season quickly approaches. Last season, Emory University’s men’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship at the hands of Wesleyan University (Conn.). The loss put an end to a historic season that saw the Eagles ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time in program history. Overall, the team finished the 2024-25 season with a stellar 23-6 record.
With the 2025-26 season starting up, junior forward Ethan Fauss said he believes the squad will be able to use last year’s Elite Eight exit as a source of motivation to fuel a championship run this season.
“After last year making it to the Elite Eight and then losing by three in overtime, we understand that there’s a major chance here to win a national championship,” Fauss said. “That brings a lot of energy to the team as a whole and to everyone individually.”
After being named preseason All-Americans, senior guards Jair Knight and Ben Pearce are poised to anchor the squad and drive the Eagles’ successes again this season. Last year, Pearce’s standout campaign saw him lead the Eagles in minutes played, three-pointers made and assists. Pearce said this offseason he prioritized improving his shooting.
“I’ve worked most on shooting on the move and better off the dribble, off screens, both on and off the ball,” Pearce said. “Coming off screens and being able to just set my feet when I have the ball and it’s a ball screen, and also when it's an off-ball screen, just finding my balance and getting to my spots overall.”
While Pearce and the whole team have focused on improving their individual skill sets, Pearce said it is essential for the team to play together.
“We have a lot of individual talent, but it’s one of those things where the whole has to really be greater than the sum of the parts,” Pearce said. “We have to be able to play well together, or the individual talent isn’t really worth that much. That’s kind of the mindset that everybody has and understands. We’ve just been working to help each other out and be the best complement to each other.”
Head coach Jason Zimmerman is entering his 17th season at the helm and looks to add to his tally as the school’s all-time winningest coach. Zimmerman said he is confident that his squad’s experience in the NCAA tournament will help them take another step forward this season.
“Our seniors have been here, they’ve been three different times now with three different endings to a season,” Zimmerman said. “Last year, we were one shot away from going to the Final Four. Those things always, as a coach, you draw on those lessons.”
One habit that has consistently fueled the Eagles’ success under Zimmerman is their fast-paced playstyle and relentless defense. The veteran coach said continuing to improve on these two approaches will help them keep their opponents on edge.
“We always play very fast,” Zimmerman said. “We try to keep people back on their heels defensively. … Last year, we were fifth in the country in defensive efficiency. We led the country in blocked shots. Our defensive presence has been getting better and better.”
The Eagles are ranked No. 3 in D3hoops.com’s preseason poll for the 2025-26 season. However, Zimmerman said he is not concerned with any pressure that high expectations may cause for the Eagles.
“We put as much expectation on ourselves internally as anybody would externally,” Zimmerman said. “Pressure is a privilege, so that’s what we want, that’s what you want. It’s why you come to Emory to play on the men’s basketball program. You want that pressure.”
Likewise, Pearce said he is unfazed by the expectations placed on the team and is confident in their ability to handle any pressure that may come along with a high preseason ranking.
“We take pride in that and at a lot of points feel like we deserve that spot,” Pearce said. “Coach says, ‘If there’s going to be rankings, you might as well be at the top of them.’ That's how we feel. We want to be that best team and show everyone else what we’re about, and most importantly, show ourselves what we’re capable of.”
The Eagles will host Augusta University (Ga.) in an exhibition match on Nov. 5 before traveling to Piedmont University (Ga.) on Nov. 9 to open their regular season.
