2023–24 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team
2023–24 Charleston Cougars men's basketball | |
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CAA regular season and tournament champions | |
NCAA tournament, First Round | |
Conference | Coastal Athletic Association |
Record | 27–8 (15–3 CAA) |
Head coach |
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Associate head coach | Brian Kloman |
Assistant coaches |
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Home arena | TD Arena |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charleston † | 15 | – | 3 | .833 | 27 | – | 8 | .771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drexel | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 20 | – | 12 | .625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hofstra | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 20 | – | 13 | .606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNC Wilmington | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 21 | – | 10 | .677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Towson | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 20 | – | 14 | .588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Delaware | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 19 | – | 14 | .576 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stony Brook | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 20 | – | 15 | .571 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monmouth | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 18 | – | 15 | .545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Campbell | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 14 | – | 18 | .438 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northeastern | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 12 | – | 20 | .375 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elon | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 13 | – | 19 | .406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina A&T | 5 | – | 13 | .278 | 7 | – | 25 | .219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William & Mary | 4 | – | 14 | .222 | 10 | – | 23 | .303 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hampton | 3 | – | 15 | .167 | 9 | – | 24 | .273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† 2024 CAA tournament winner |
The 2023–24 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team represented the College of Charleston in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by third-year head coach Pat Kelsey, played their home games at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina, as members of the Coastal Athletic Association. They finished the 27–8, 15–3 in CAA play to win the regular season championship. The team defeated Monmouth, Towson, and Stony Brook to win the CAA tournament. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 13 seed in the West region.[1] There they lost in the first round to Alabama, a team that went on to that year's Final Four.[2]
On March 28, 2024, head coach Pat Kelsey left the team to take the head coaching position at Louisville.[3]
Previous season
The Cougars finished the 2022–23 season 31–4, 16–2 in CAA play to finish tied for first place with Hofstra. The team defeated Stony Brook, Towson, and UNC Wilmington to win the CAA tournament, claiming the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The team won 31 games before qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, a record for the school's Division I era.[4]
This was the 6th NCAA tournament appearance in program history. As a No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament's Southern region, they were defeated in the First Round by No. 5 seed San Diego State, a team that went on to upset No. 1 seed Alabama in the Sweet 16 and later played in the national championship game.
On November 20, 2022, the Cougars defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Charleston Classic Championship game, winning the local tournament for the first time in program history. On January 2, 2023, the Cougars were ranked in the AP poll for the first time in 20 years. They remained ranked for four weeks, the earliest in any season that the Cougars have been ranked for multiple consecutive weeks.[5]
Offseason
Departures
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dalton Bolon | 3 | G | 6'4" | 205 | GS | Gnadenhutten, Ohio | Graduated |
Raekwon Horton | 5 | F | 6'6" | 200 | SO | Santee, South Carolina | Transferred to James Madison[6] |
Ryan Larson | 11 | G | 6'1" | 180 | GS | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Graduated |
Pat Robinson III | 15 | G | 6'3" | 195 | GS | Chesterfield, New Jersey | Graduated |
Jaylon Scott | 21 | G | 6'5" | 195 | GS | Allen, Texas | Graduated |
Babacar Faye | 35 | F | 6'8" | 190 | FR | Saly, Senegal | Transferred to Western Kentucky[7] |
Charles Lampten | 42 | F | 6'11" | 230 | SR | Roanoke, Texas | Transferred to Western Carolina[8] |
Incoming transfers
Name | Number | Pos | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school | Years remaining | Date eligible |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frankie Policelli[9] | 1 | F | 6'9" | 225 | GS | New Hartford, New York | Stony Brook | 1 | October 1, 2023 |
Bryce Butler[10] | 4 | G | 6'5" | 205 | GS | Latrobe, Pennsylvania | West Liberty | 1 | October 1, 2023 |
Kobe Rodgers[11] | 11 | G | 6'3" | 180 | JR | Cincinnati, Ohio | Nova Southeastern | 2 | October 1, 2023 |
CJ Fulton[12] | 12 | G | 6'2" | 190 | JR | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Lafayette | 2 | October 1, 2023 |
2023 recruiting class
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mayar Wol F |
Hickory, NC | Moravian Prep | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jun 12, 2022 | |
Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 79 | ||||||
James Scott C |
Fayetteville, NC | Seventy-First Senior | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Nov 9, 2022 | |
Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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Preseason
In the conference's preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish in first place.[13]
Juniors Ante Brzovic (CAA Preseason First Team), Reyne Smith (CAA Preseason Second Team) and Ben Burnham announced that they would be returning to the team.[14][15]
Roster
2023–24 College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Schedule and results
Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
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Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
November 6, 2023* 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Iona | W 71–69 | 1–0 |
16 – Brzovic | 8 – Policelli | 4 – Smith | TD Arena (5,265) Charleston, SC | ||||
November 10, 2023* 6:00 pm, CBSSN |
vs. Duquesne Veterans Classic |
L 72–90 | 1–1 |
14 – Rodgers | 10 – Brzovic | 4 – Fulton | Alumni Hall (2,340) Annapolis, MD | ||||
November 16, 2023* 11:30 am, ESPNU |
vs. Vermont Myrtle Beach Invitational First Round |
L 64–73 | 1–2 |
13 – Burnham | 6 – Tied | 2 – Brzovic | HTC Center (1,154) Conway, SC | ||||
November 17, 2023* 2:30 pm, ESPNU |
vs. Wyoming Myrtle Beach Invitational Consolation 2nd Round |
L 60–67 | 1–3 |
19 – Burnham | 8 – Burnham | 3 – Fulton | HTC Center (1,152) Conway, SC | ||||
November 19, 2023* 1:00 pm, ESPN+ |
at Coastal Carolina Myrtle Beach Invitational 7th Place Game |
W 80–72 | 2–3 |
24 – Smith | 11 – Brzovic | 6 – Fulton | HTC Center (1,172) Conway, SC | ||||
November 26, 2023* 5:30 pm, ESPN+ |
at Kent State | W 84–78 | 3–3 |
21 – Smith | 7 – Butler | 7 – Fulton | MAC Center (1,813) Kent, OH | ||||
December 1, 2023* 6:00 pm, FloHoops |
vs. Liberty Field of 68 Tip-Off |
W 76–67 | 4–3 |
18 – Burnham | 6 – Tied | 3 – Brzovic | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (526) Boca Raton, FL | ||||
December 2, 2023* 6:00 pm, ESPNU |
at No. 13 Florida Atlantic Field of 68 Tip-Off |
L 74–90 | 4–4 |
14 – Smith | 9 – Brzovic | 3 – Tied | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (3,161) Boca Raton, FL | ||||
December 10, 2023* 2:00 pm, FloHoops |
Rhode Island | W 85–70 | 5–4 |
23 – Burnham | 5 – Tied | 5 – Fulton | TD Arena (4,974) Charleston, SC | ||||
December 14, 2023* 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
The Citadel | W 86–71 | 6–4 |
15 – Policelli | 9 – Brzovic | 8 – Fulton | TD Arena (4,911) Charleston, SC | ||||
December 18, 2023* 6:00 pm, FloHoops |
Coastal Carolina | W 84–81 | 7–4 |
16 – Scott | 10 – Rodgers | 3 – Tied | TD Arena (4,993) Charleston, SC | ||||
December 21, 2023* 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Saint Joseph's | W 89–82 | 8–4 |
31 – Smith | 7 – Tied | 8 – Fulton | TD Arena (4,854) Charleston, SC | ||||
December 29, 2023* 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Montreat | W 96–59 | 9–4 |
19 – Burnham | 8 – Brzovic | 4 – Tied | TD Arena (5,027) Charleston, SC | ||||
CAA regular season | |||||||||||
January 4, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
at Hofstra | W 73–61 | 10–4 (1–0) |
18 – Butler | 7 – Tied | 8 – Fulton | Mack Sports Complex (1,412) Hempstead, NY | ||||
January 6, 2024 6:30 pm, FloHoops |
at Stony Brook | W 93–87 | 11–4 (2–0) |
20 – Smith | 6 – Policelli | 6 – Brzovic | Island Federal Arena (2,416) Stony Brook, NY | ||||
January 11, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Elon | W 80–62 | 12–4 (3–0) |
20 – Tied | 8 – Tied | 5 – Brzovic | TD Arena (4,679) Charleston, SC | ||||
January 13, 2024 4:30 pm, FloHoops |
Monmouth Hall of Fame |
W 94–83 | 13–4 (4–0) |
19 – Rodgers | 12 – Brzovic | 6 – Tied | TD Arena (4,790) Charleston, SC | ||||
January 18, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Towson | L 78–82 | 13–5 (4–1) |
24 – Rodgers | 9 – Brzovic | 1 – Tied | TD Arena (4,858) Charleston, SC | ||||
January 20, 2024 7:00 pm, CBSSN |
at UNC Wilmington | L 69–78 | 13–6 (4–2) |
27 – Brzovic | 11 – Brzovic | 5 – Fulton | Trask Coliseum (5,100) Wilmington, NC | ||||
January 25, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
at Hampton | W 107–86 | 14–6 (5–2) |
31 – Brzovic | 12 – Brzovic | 7 – Fulton | Hampton Convocation Center (897) Hampton, VA | ||||
January 27, 2024 2:00 pm, FloHoops |
at Campbell | W 90–67 | 15–6 (6–2) |
16 – Burnham | 6 – Policelli | 3 – Tied | Gore Arena (1,617) Buies Creek, NC | ||||
February 1, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
UNC Wilmington | L 74–80 | 15–7 (6–3) |
20 – Rodgers | 9 – Policelli | 5 – Fulton | TD Arena (5,021) Charleston, SC | ||||
February 3, 2024 2:00 pm, FloHoops |
at William & Mary | W 84–83 | 16–7 (7–3) |
20 – Burnham | 7 – Burnham | 5 – Brzovic | Kaplan Arena (5,062) Williamsburg, VA | ||||
February 8, 2024 8:00 pm, CBSSN |
North Carolina A&T | W 80–58 | 17–7 (8–3) |
21 – Burnham | 16 – Policelli | 5 – Fulton | TD Arena (4,624) Charleston, SC | ||||
February 10, 2024 3:30 pm, FloHoops |
Drexel Black Out |
W 80–70 | 18–7 (9–3) |
22 – Policelli | 5 – Tied | 3 – Tied | TD Arena (4,750) Charleston, SC | ||||
February 15, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
at Northeastern | W 77–73 | 19–7 (10–3) |
21 – Smith | 6 – Tied | 4 – Fulton | Matthews Arena (1,127) Boston, MA | ||||
February 19, 2024 8:00 pm, CBSSN |
William & Mary | W 65–57 | 20–7 (11–3) |
15 – Tied | 12 – Brzovic | 2 – Tied | TD Arena (4,517) Charleston, SC | ||||
February 22, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
at Delaware | W 90–71 | 21–7 (12–3) |
20 – Rodgers | 7 – Burnham | 6 – Fulton | Bob Carpenter Center (2,191) Newark, DE | ||||
February 24, 2024 2:00 pm, CBSSN |
at Towson | W 72–56 | 22–7 (13–3) |
17 – Policelli | 5 – Rodgers | 5 – Fulton | SECU Arena (4,322) Towson, MD | ||||
February 29, 2024 7:00 pm, FloHoops |
Campbell | W 96–73 | 23–7 (14–3) |
32 – Smith | 8 – Burnham | 7 – Rodgers | TD Arena (4,905) Charleston, SC | ||||
March 2, 2024 2:00 pm, FloHoops |
Hofstra Senior Day White Out |
W 87–76 | 24–7 (15–3) |
21 – Smith | 7 – Policelli | 8 – Rodgers | TD Arena (5,127) Charleston, SC | ||||
CAA tournament | |||||||||||
March 10, 2024 12:00 pm, FloHoops |
(1) | vs. (8) Monmouth Quarterfinals |
W 83–59 | 25–7 |
16 – Burnham | 9 – Brzovic | 7 – Fulton | Entertainment and Sports Arena Washington, D.C. | |||
March 11, 2024 6:00 pm, CBSSN |
(1) | vs. (5) Towson Semifinals |
W 61–56 | 26–7 |
16 – Smith | 6 – Brzovic | 3 – Fulton | Entertainment and Sports Arena Washington, D.C. | |||
March 12, 2024 7:00 pm, CBSSN |
(1) | vs. (7) Stony Brook Championship |
W 82–79 OT | 27–7 |
23 – Smith | 7 – Burnham | 6 – Fulton | Entertainment and Sports Arena (1,954) Washington, D.C. | |||
NCAA tournament | |||||||||||
March 22, 2024 7:35 pm, TruTV |
(13 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 19 Alabama First Round |
L 96–109 | 27–8 |
19 – Burnham | 8 – Tied | 4 – Rodgers | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Spokane, WA | |||
Source[16]
Awards and honors
Honors | Player | Position |
---|---|---|
CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player | Reyne Smith | G |
CAA All-Tournament Team | Reyne Smith | G |
CAA All-Tournament Team | Frankie Policelli | F |
CAA All-Tournament Team | Kobe Rodgers | G |
CAA Sixth Man of the Year | Bryce Butler | G |
All-CAA First Team | Ante Brzovic | F |
All-CAA Second Team | Reyne Smith | G |
All-CAA Third Team | Ben Burnham | F |
CAA All-Rookie Team | James Scott | F |
Honors | Coach | Position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Coastal Athletic Association Men's Basketball Coach of the Year | Pat Kelsey | Head coach | [17] |
References
- ^ "Cougars Reyne Supreme Again in CAA". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "Cougars End Season in NCAA First Round". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ McGavic, Matthew. "Louisville Officially Hires Pat Kelsey as Men's Basketball Head Coach". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "Cougars Rule CAA After Rallying Past UNCW". College of Charleston Athletics. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "2022-23 College of Charleston Cougars Men 's Schedule and Results". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ News-Record, SHANE METTLEN Daily (2023-05-14). "Charleston Guard Horton Commits To JMU". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Babacar Faye Signed to 2023-24 Roster". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Graduate Transfer Charles Lampten Joins Catamount Basketball". Western Carolina University. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "CAA Rebounding Leader Joins Cougars". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Kelsey Signs Butler as Graduate Transfer". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Division II National Champion Rodgers Set to Join Men's Basketball Program". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Irish National Team Member Fulton Signs with Cougars". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Charleston Tabbed as CAA Men's Basketball Favorite; Drexel's Williams Selected as Preseason Player of the Year". caasports.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Men's Basketball Picked First in CAA Preseason Poll". College of Charleston Athletics. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster". College of Charleston Athletics. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". College of Charleston Athletics. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ Miller, Andrew (2024-03-07). "College of Charleston's Pat Kelsey, Bryce Butler receive postseason CAA awards". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "CAA Men's Basketball Annual Awards Unveiled; Hofstra's Thomas Named Player of the Year". caasports.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Washburn, Rob. "Charleston Prevails in Overtime to Win Back-to-Back CAA Championships". caasports.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.