Nicholls Colonels men's basketball explained

Current:	2023–24 Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team
Nicholls Colonels men's basketball
University:	Nicholls State University
Conference:	Southland
Location:	Thibodaux, Louisiana
Coach:	Tevon Saddler
Tenure:	1st
Arena:	Stopher Gymnasium
Capacity:	3,800
Nickname:	Colonels
Ncaaeliteeight:	1976*, 1979*
Ncaasweetsixteen:	1976*, 1979*
Ncaaroundof32:	1976*, 1979*
Ncaatourneys:	1976*, 1979*, 1995, 1998 *at Division II level
Conference Tournament:	1995, 1998
Conference Season:	1976, 1979, 1995, 1998, 2018, 2021, 2022

The Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana in the sport of basketball.^{[1] [2]} The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference.^{[3] [4]} Nicholls' first men's basketball team was fielded in 1958. The team plays its home games at 3,800-seat Stopher Gymnasium^[5] and are coached by Tevon Saddler .^[6] The Colonels have appeared two times in the NCAA tournament, most recently in 1998.

Championships

Conference championships

Regular season ^[7]

• Gulf South

1976, 1979

• Southland

1995, 1998, 2018, 2021

Tournament ^[7]

• Southland

1995, 1998

History

NCAA Division I Tournament

The Colonels have appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments in 1995 and 1998. Their combined record is 0–2.^[7]

	First round	Virginia	L 72–96
	First round	Arizona	L 60–99

NIT results

Nicholls has appeared in one National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 0–1.

NCAA Division II Tournament

The Colonels have appeared in two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 4–2.^[7]

	Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight	Lincoln (MO) Grambling State Chattanooga	W 97–79 W 90–89 L 78–107
	Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight	Southeast Missouri State Rollins North Alabama	W 89–74 W 100–87 L 97–103

Conference affiliations

1958–1965 Independent NCAA College Division 1965–1971 Gulf States Conference NCAA College Division 1971–1973 Gulf South Conference NCAA College Division 1973–1979 Gulf South Conference NCAA Division II 1979–1980 Independent NCAA Division II 1980–1984 Independent 1984–1987 Gulf Star Conference NCAA Division I 1987–1991 Independent NCAA Division I 1991–present Southland Conference NCAA Division I

* From 1982–84, Nicholls State was a provisional member of the TAAC. Men's basketball did not play any conference games.^{[7] [8] [9]}

Arenas

Stopher Gymnasium

See main article: Stopher Gymnasium.

Stopher Gymnasium is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The on-campus arena opened in 1970 and is home of the Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team.^[7]

Shaver Gymnasium

Shaver Gymnasium or Richard C. Shaver Gymnasium is a 750-seat on-campus arena that opened in 1958 and was the home of the Nicholls State Colonels men's basketball team from its opening until 1969.^[10]

Head coaches

Morris Osburn 1958–1960 Jack Holley 1960–1962 Billy Key 1962–1963 Jim Mahoney 1963–1966 Don Landry 1966–1979 Jerry Sanders 1979–1981 Gordon C. Stauffer 1981–1990 Rickey Broussard 1990–2002 Ricky Blanton 2002–2004 J.P. Piper 2004–2016 Richie Riley 2016–2018 Austin Claunch 2018–2023 Tevon Saddler 2023-Present

Source: ^[7]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball programs
• Nicholls Colonels

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018–19 Nicholls Men's Basketball Quick Facts. geauxcolonels.com . June 1, 2019.
2. Web site: Nicholls State Colonels team page. cbssports.com . August 28, 2015.
3. Web site: Nicholls State Colonels team page. ESPN. September 7, 2015.
4. Web site: Nicholls State University. ncaa.com. September 7, 2015.
5. Web site: Division I Teams By Arena Capacity. bbstate.com. December 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217223156/http://www.bbstate.com/info/teams-arena. December 17, 2014. dead.
6. News: Nicholls officially names Claunch new men's basketball coach. The Daily Comet. Thibodaux, LA. Brent. St. Germain. March 29, 2018. March 30, 2018.
7. Web site: Nicholls Colonels 2012-13 Media Guide . Geauxcolonels.com . August 28, 2015.
8. Web site: 2008–09 Nicholls State men's basketball media guide. nicholls.sidearmsports.com. May 30, 2019.
9. Web site: Nicholls State Colonels School History. sports-reference.com. May 30, 2019.
10. Book: ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia. 2009. The Complete History of the Men's Game. May 29, 2019. Ballantine Books. New York, NY. 978-0345513922. 318.