| Charleston Cougars | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| University | College of Charleston | ||
| Head coach | Pat Kelsey (3rd season) | ||
| Conference | Coastal Athletic Association | ||
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina | ||
| Arena | TD Arena (Capacity: 5,100) | ||
| Nickname | Cougars | ||
| Colors | Maroon and white[1] | ||
| NCAA tournament round of 32 | |||
| 1997 | |||
| NCAA tournament appearances | |||
| 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2018, 2023 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| Dixie: 1964 TAAC/A-Sun: 1997, 1998 SoCon: 1999 CAA: 2018, 2023 | |||
| Conference regular season champions | |||
| TAAC/A-Sun: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 SoCon: 1999, 2000, 2003, 2011 CAA: 2018, 2023 | |||
The Charleston Cougars men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team representing the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The Cougars compete in the Coastal Athletic Association. Home games are played at TD Arena, located on College of Charleston's campus. While a member of the NAIA, they were National Champions in 1983.
History
The College of Charleston has sponsored a men's basketball team since 1898. They have been NCAA Division I since 1991 in the Trans-Atlantic Athletic Conference (now ASUN Conference), the Southern Conference and presently the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association).[2] In 2012, ESPN ranked Charleston as the 73rd best college basketball program in the previous 50 years, which was the highest ranking of all Division I teams in the state of South Carolina.[3]
John Kresse era (1979–2001)
Under head coach John Kresse, the team had its greatest success. In 1983, the Cougars won the NAIA Championship. In the 1991–92 season, the Cougars made the jump to Division I and beat UNC–Charlotte in their first game. In the 1998–99 season, the team joined the Southern Conference, winning its only SoCon tournament championship that year. In 1994, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Cougars reached the NCAA tournament, with a record of 1–4, beating Maryland in the opening round in 1997. In 1995 and 1996, the Cougars made the NIT.
The program's biggest regular season win in school history was over then-No. 3 North Carolina on the road on December 6, 1998. Kresse's career record at Charleston is 560–143.
Tom Herrion era (2002–06)
Many consider this a dark age for the program, as despite still recording winning seasons and a NIT berth in 2003. The Cougars' strength of schedule slid into decline and players with questionable reputations filled the roster. Tom Herrion's first Charleston team finished 25–8 in 2002–03, captured the Great Alaska Shootout title and advanced to the NIT. His 25 victories marked the highest total of any first-year NCAA Division I head coach during the 2002–03 season.[4] Herrion also guided the Cougars to a 20–9 finish in 2003–04, 18–10 performance in 2004–05 and 17–11 record in 2005–06. Herrion's final record was 80–38.
Bobby Cremins era (2006–12)
The College of Charleston hired former Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Cremins in 2006.[5] In each of Cremins' five complete seasons, Charleston won 20 games and Cremins won the SoCon Coach of the Year award in 2011. The Cougars played in a national postseason tournament in three consecutive seasons under Cremins, making the CBI in 2009 and 2010 and the NIT in 2011. During Cremins' tenure, the Cougars were put back in the national spotlight when they upset then-No.9 North Carolina on January 4, 2010, at TD Arena.[6] He took a leave of absence during the 2011–2012 season due to exhaustion and retired at the conclusion of the season.[7] His overall record at Charleston is 125–68.[8]
Doug Wojcik era (2012–14)
Doug Wojcik, University of Tulsa's all-time wins leader, was named the 22nd all-time head men's basketball coach at the College of Charleston on April 1, 2012.[9] In his first season with the Cougars, Wojcik led Charleston to the SoCon Championship before losing to Davidson. The Cougars were added to the CBI postseason tournament, losing to George Mason in the first round.[10] Charleston moved to the Colonial Athletic Association (now the Coastal Athletic Association) in 2013 and Wojcik's Cougars struggled to a 6–10 conference record. He was fired on August 5, 2014, with a 38–29 overall record.[11]
Earl Grant era (2014–2021)
Earl Grant, a former Clemson and Wichita State assistant, was named the Cougars' 23rd all-time head coach on September 2, 2014.[12] Charleston struggled in Grant's first year at the helm, finishing the season with just nine wins.[13] The Cougars did, however, win their first-ever CAA tournament game, a 56–48 decision over Drexel in the first round.[14] Grant got his first signature win with Charleston on November 30, 2015, when the Cougars defeated LSU 70–58 at TD Arena.[15]
Grant's Cougars experienced the national postseason for the first time under his watch during the 2016–17 season. After finishing the regular season with a 23–8 record and losing in the CAA Tournament final, Charleston received an at-large bid to the NIT as a five seed. The Cougars ultimately lost at Colorado State, 81–74.
In the 2017–2018 Season, Coach Grant and the Cougars managed a 26–8 season going 14–4 in the conference and undefeated at home, with sweeps over conference teams Delaware, Hofstra, Northeastern and UNCW. The Cougars would take the regular-season conference championship in a 79–58 win over Elon and would go into the CAA Conference tournament as a #1 seed, going on to win the tournament championship in an 83–76 OT win over Northeastern.[16] Charleston would then receive a #13 seed spot in the 2018 NCAA Men's Tournament and play #4 Auburn in San Diego, CA.[17] After the season, Grant left to be head coach of Boston College.
Pat Kelsey era (2021–present)
The Cougars hired Pat Kelsey, former head coach at Winthrop University, on March 25, 2021.[18]
Conference affiliations
- 1963–64 to 1969–70 – Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference[lower-alpha 1]
- 1970–71 to 1990–91 – Independent
- 1991–92 to 1997–98 – Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference[lower-alpha 2]
- 1998–99 to 2012–13 – Southern Conference
- 2013–14 to Present – Colonial Athletic Association
- Notes
- ↑ Currently known as the USA South Athletic Conference
- ↑ Currently known as the ASUN Conference
Year-by-year history
Charleston's history since joining Division I in 1991.
| Cougars Yearly Records | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Overall Rec. | Conference Rec. | Accomplishments |
| 1991–92 | 19–8 | N/A | N/A |
| 1992–93 | 19–8 | N/A | N/A |
| 1993–94 | 24–4 | 14–2 (TAAC) | TAAC Regular Season Champions, NCAA round of 64 |
| 1994–95 | 23–6 | 15–1 (TAAC) | TAAC Regular Season Champions, NIT first round |
| 1995–96 | 25–4 | 15–1 (TAAC) | TAAC Regular Season Champions, NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1996–97 | 29–3 | 16–0 (TAAC) | TAAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA round of 32 |
| 1997–98 | 24–6 | 14–2 (TAAC) | TAAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA round of 64 |
| 1998–99 | 28–3 | 16–0 (SoCon) | SoCon Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA round of 64 |
| 1999–00 | 24–6 | 13–3 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions (best overall record) |
| 2000–01 | 22–7 | 12–4 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions |
| 2001–02 | 21–9 | 9–7 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions |
| 2002–03 | 25–8 | 13–3 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions (best overall record), NIT Quarterfinals |
| 2003–04 | 20–9 | 11–5 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions |
| 2004–05 | 18–10 | 10–8 (SoCon) | N/A |
| 2005–06 | 17–11 | 9–6 (SoCon) | N/A |
| 2006–07 | 22–11 | 13–5 (SoCon) | N/A |
| 2007–08 | 16–17 | 9–11 (SoCon) | N/A |
| 2008–09 | 27–9 | 15–5 (SoCon) | CBI Quarterfinals |
| 2009–10 | 22–12 | 14–4 (SoCon) | CBI First round |
| 2010–11 | 26–11 | 14–4 (SoCon) | SoCon South Division Champions (tied best overall record), NIT Quarterfinals |
| 2011–12 | 19–12 | 10–8 (SoCon) | N/A |
| 2012–13 | 24–11 | 14–4 (SoCon) | CBI First round |
| 2013–14 | 14–18 | 6–10 (CAA) | N/A |
| 2014–15 | 9–24 | 3–15 (CAA) | N/A |
| 2015–16 | 17–14 | 8–10 (CAA) | N/A |
| 2016–17 | 25–10 | 14–4 (CAA) | NIT first round |
| 2017–18 | 28–8 | 14–4 (CAA) | CAA Regular Season co-champions & Tournament Champions, NCAA round of 64 |
| 2018–19 | 24–9 | 12–6 (CAA) | N/A |
| 2019–20 | 17–14 | 11–7 (CAA) | N/A |
| 2020–21 | 9–10 | 6–4 (CAA) | Season shortened due to COVID-19 |
| 2021–22 | 17–15 | 8–10 (CAA) | N/A |
Postseason
NCAA tournament results
The Cougars have appeared in the NCAA tournament six times. Their combined record is 1–6.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | #12 | First round | #5 Wake Forest | L 58–68 |
| 1997 | #12 | First round Second round | #5 Maryland #4 Arizona | W 75–66 L 69–73 |
| 1998 | #14 | First round | #3 Stanford | L 57–67 |
| 1999 | #8 | First round | #9 Tulsa | L 53–62 |
| 2018 | #13 | First round | #4 Auburn | L 58–62 |
| 2023 | #12 | First round | #5 San Diego State | L 57-63 |
NIT results
The Cougars have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) five times. Their combined record is 4–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | First round | Providence | L 67–72 |
| 1996 | First round Second round | Tennessee Rhode Island | W 55–49 L 58–62 |
| 2003 | Opening Round First round | Kent State Providence | W 72–66 L 64–69 |
| 2011 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Dayton Cleveland State Wichita State | W 94–84 W 64–56 L 75–82 |
| 2017 | First round | Colorado State | L 74–81 |
CBI results
The Cougars have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) three times. Their combined record is 2–3.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | First round Quarterfinals | Troy Richmond | W 93–91 L 72–74 |
| 2010 | First round Quarterfinals | Eastern Kentucky VCU | W 82–79 L 86–93 |
| 2013 | First round | George Mason | L 77–78 |
NAIA tournament results
The Cougars have appeared in the NAIA tournament six times. Their combined record is 15–5. They were National Champions in 1983.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Saint John's (MN) Oklahoma Panhandle State Santa Fe Chaminade West Virginia Wesleyan | W 67–43 W 64–62 OT W 67–62 W 66–65 W 57–53 |
| 1985 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Castleton State Southeastern Oklahoma State Wayland Baptist | W 68–52 W 60–43 L 68–73 |
| 1986 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Taylor Cumberland Arkansas–Monticello | W 57–47 W 59–46 L 60–63 |
| 1987 | First round Second round | Western State Hawaiʻi–Hilo | W 67–51 L 57–65 |
| 1988 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National third-place game | Defiance University of the Ozarks Saint Thomas Aquinas Auburn–Montgomery Waynesburg | W 78–62 W 73–59 W 67–61 L 70–74 W 89–61 |
| 1989 | First round Second round | Olivet Nazarene Central Washington | W 79–64 L 55–66 |
Cougars in the NBA
Five former College of Charleston players have played in the NBA.
| Name | Years Played | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Jarrell Brantley | 2020-2021 | UTA |
| Joe Chealey | 2019-2020 | CHA |
| Andrew Goudelock | 2012-2016 | LAL and HOU |
| Anthony Johnson | 1998-2010 | SAC, ATL, ORL, CLE, NJN, IND, and DAL |
| Grant Riller | 2021 | CHA |
Cougars in international leagues
- Joe Chealey, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Payton Willis (born 1998), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
References
- ↑ College of Charleston Athletics Identity Standards (PDF). June 11, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ "Charleston Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). CofC Sports.
- ↑ "50 in 50: Conference breakdowns". ESPN.
- ↑ "Herrion ready to restart his career". ESPN.
- ↑ "Bobby Cremins". CofC Sports. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
- ↑ Final/OT (2010-01-05). "North Carolina vs. Charleston - Game Recap - January 4, 2010 - ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- ↑ "Bobby Cremins taking indefinite leave". ESPN.
- ↑ "Bobby Cremins". CofC Sports. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
- ↑ Menchaca, Ron. "Doug Wojcik Named Men's Basketball Coach - College of Charleston News : College of Charleston News". News.cofc.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- ↑ "Men's Basketball Wins Over Charleston, 78–77, in CBI". GMU Sports.
- ↑ "College of Charleston fires embattled Wojcik". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "College of Charleston names Earl Grant hoops coach". USAToday.com. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ↑ "2014–2015 CAA Standings". Caasports.com. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- ↑ "CofC-Drexel Boxscore". Caasports.com. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- ↑ "LSU Tigers vs. Charleston Cougars". Scores.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
- ↑ Miller, Andrew. "College of Charleston men's basketball advances to NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ↑ "Charleston Draws Auburn In NCAA First Round". Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ↑ "Kelsey Named Men's Basketball Head Coach at College of Charleston". College of Charleston Sports. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
