Chicago State Cougars men's basketball explained

Current:	2024–25 Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team
Chicago State Cougars
University:	Chicago State University
Conference:	NEC
Location:	Chicago, Illinois
Coach:	Scott Spinelli
Tenure:	1st
Arena:	Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center
Capacity:	7,000
Nickname:	Cougars
Conference Tournament:	Great West 2013

The Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team represents Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The team currently competes in the Northeast Conference and is led by third-year coach Scott Spinelli, who was hired on April 20, 2024.^[1] The Cougars play their home games at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center. They joined the Northeast Conference in the 2024-2025 season.^[2]

The 2012–13 Cougars won the Great West Conference tournament championship to earn an automatic bid to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.^[3]

Conference affiliations

• 1966–67 to 1976–77 – NAIA Independent
• 1977–78 to 1980–81 – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
• 1981–82 to 1983–84 – NAIA Independent
• 1984–85 to 1992–93 – NCAA Division I Independent
• 1993–94 – East Coast Conference
• 1994–95 to 2005–06 – Mid-Continent Conference
• 2006–07 to 2008–09 – NCAA Division I Independent
• 2009–10 to 2012–13 – Great West Conference
• 2013–14 to 2021–22 – Western Athletic Conference
• 2022–23 to 2023–24 – NCAA Division I Independent
• From 2024–25 – Northeast Conference

Postseason tournaments

NAIA Tournament results

The Cougars have appeared in three NAIA Tournaments. Their record is 5–3.

	First Round	Bethany Nazarene	L 63–69
	First Round Second Round	Tri-State West Virginia Wesleyan	W 76–65 L 70–87
	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game	Franklin Pierce Kearney State Chaminade Fort Hays State Westmont	W 79–62 W 105–104 ^2OT W 68–66 L 84–86 ^OT W 86–82 ^OT

CIT results

The Cougars have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 0–1.

First Round

UIC

L 69–80

CBI results

The Cougars have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). They have a combined record of 1–1.

First Round Second Round

UC San Diego Fairfield

W 77–75 L 74–77

Notes and References

1. Scott Spinelli Named Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Chicago State University. Chicago State Cougars. April 20, 2024. April 21, 2024.
2. Windy City Welcome: Chicago State Roars Into NEC . Northeast Conference . December 5, 2023 . December 5, 2023.
3. News: Chicago State men's basketball ends 40-game Division I skid and hopes to begin a climb upward. 2018-03-05. Medill Reports Chicago. 2018-05-22. en-US.