The Citadel Bulldogs basketball explained

The Citadel Bulldogs
Current:2023–24 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team
University:The Citadel
Conference:SoCon
Location:Charleston, South Carolina
Athletic Director:Mike Capaccio
Coach:Ed Conroy
Tenure:6th
Arena:McAlister Field House
Capacity:6,000
Nickname:Bulldogs
Studentsection:McAlister Maniacs/Long Grey Line
Conference Tournament:SIAA: 1927
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The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represents The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in the sport of men's college basketball. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Southern Conference South Division. Ed Conroy is in his second stint as the head coach, having previously held the position from 2006–2010.[1]

The team has never won a regular season or Southern Conference men's basketball tournament championship or participated in the NCAA Tournament. Following Northwestern's 2017 NCAA Tournament bid, they are one of four schools playing Division I basketball at the time of the first NCAA basketball tournament to have never made an NCAA Tournament.[2] [3] The team has made one postseason appearance, playing in the 2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, falling in the first round to eventual champion Old Dominion.[4] In 1927 the Bulldogs claimed the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament title, defeating Mercer for their only conference championship.

Notably, the Citadel is one of only two Division I schools that do not sponsor women's basketball. The other is fellow Southern Conference member and senior military college: VMI.

Facilities

The Bulldogs play their home games at the on-campus McAlister Field House, a 6,000 seat arena formerly known as The Armory. The arena was heavily renovated in 1989. During the summer of 2011, The Citadel completed additional renovations to the Field House, building a new floor and revamping the Bulldogs locker room.[5] Since the 1989 renovations, the Bulldogs have played before full capacity on three occasions: Duke (1991), South Carolina (1997), and College of Charleston (1999).[6] Like all Citadel athletic teams, the Bulldogs utilize strength and conditioning, medical, and video spaces in Seignious Hall.

Notable Bulldogs

Honored jerseys

The Citadel created the honored jersey in 2009, beginning with Les Robinson. Banners hang in McAlister Field House for each honored jersey. Since Robinson, four additional jerseys have been added. Pat Conroy's jersey was honored most recently, on February 3, 2018.[7] [8]

The Citadel Bulldogs retired numbers
width=40px style="" No.width=150px style="" Playerwidth=100px style="" Careerwidth=100px style="" Year Honored
3 1938–1940 2012
22 1963–1967 2018
33 1957–1960 2010
1982–1985 2011
C 1974–1985 2009

Coaches

Below is a list of all coaches at The Citadel and their records through the 2020–21 season.[9]

Not Available1900–010–1No Conference
J. G. Briggs1912–132–3
Darl Buse1913–146–1
Hans Kangeter1914–169–4
Harvey O'Brien1916–186–2
C. F. Myers1918–2552–277–9
Locke Brown1925–2610–64–1
Benny Blatt1926–3052–228–4
Johnny Douglas1930–3318–311–3
Charlie Willard1933–3513–160–0
Rock Norman1935–4045–3216–14
Ben Parker1939–416–164–13
Ben Clemons1941–42, 1943–444–52–8
Bo Sherman1942–438–65–3
Ernest Wehman1944–459–58–4
Eugene Clark1945–468–102–6
Whitey Piro1946–474–110–10
Bernard O'Neil1947–5228–719–47
Leo Zack1952–545–331–18
Jim Browning1954–551–180–10
Hank Witt1955–562–190–10
Norm Sloan1956–6057–3833–19
Mel Thompson1960–6767–9735–46
Dick Campbell1967–7145–5421–27
George Hill1971–7433–4211–18
Les Robinson1974–85132–16261–99
Randy Nesbit1985–9276–12132–72
Pat Dennis1992–2006158–23372–146
Ed Conroy2006–10, 2022–present49–7629–47
Chuck Driesell2010–201542–11322–66
Duggar Baucom2015–202277–13627–97

Rivalries

The primary Bulldog rivals, as in other sports, are VMI, Furman, and College of Charleston. The Citadel also has historical rivalries with other schools within the state. The Bulldogs' records versus each rival are listed below, through the 2020–21 season.[10]

Records vs rivals

40–57 2009–10 L10
87–128 2017–18 L6
59–57 2020–21 W1

Records vs conference rivals

Excludes Furman and VMI, listed above

East Tennessee State, Mercer and VMI become SoCon members in basketball for the 2014 season.

19–68 2020–21 L1
18–48 2020–21 W1
7–20 2018–19 L4
12–13 2018–19 L3
9–33 2014–15 L16
38–44 2020–21 W2
50–62 2020–21 L1

Records vs in-state rivals

Division 1, non-SoCon only

19–17 2008–09 L4
23–60 1978–79 L16
4–6 2001–02 L2
49–24 2020–21 W2
24–76 1988–89 L13
8–3 2010–11 W1
4–0 2016–17 W4
4–4 1997–98 L2

Notable seasons

See also: List of The Citadel Bulldogs basketball seasons.

Notes and References

  1. News: Citadel names Ed Conroy as head Basketball Coach. WCBD. Tim. Renaud. March 23, 2022. March 23, 2022.
  2. News: At The Citadel, hoping to outrun history, NCAA tournament drought. Washington Post. John Feinstein. February 29, 2016. February 27, 2017.
  3. Web site: Schools that have never made the NCAA Tournament — the 2017 edition. The Sports Arsenal. February 26, 2017. February 27, 2017.
  4. Book: 2011-12 The Citadel Basketball Media Guide. The Citadel. 166. June 7, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309171019/http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/1cb328e3#/1cb328e3/168. March 9, 2014.
  5. Web site: The Citadel Basketball Locker Room Renovations. citadelsports.com. June 7, 2012.
  6. Book: 2011-12 Citadel Basketball Media Guide. 20. Citadel Athletics. May 7, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309171019/http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/1cb328e3#/1cb328e3/22. March 9, 2014.
  7. Web site: Citadel honors Pat Conroy with jersey hung from rafters at McAlister Field House . Daren Stoltzfus . . February 3, 2018 . March 9, 2018.
  8. Web site: The Citadel to Honor Jake Burrows' Jersey No. 3 with a Banner in McAlister Field House . citadelsports.com . January 17, 2012.
  9. Book: 2011-12 The Citadel Basketball Media Guide. The Citadel. 99. June 25, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309171019/http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/1cb328e3#/1cb328e3/100. March 9, 2014.
  10. Book: 2020-21 The Citadel Basketball Fact Book. 114–134. The Citadel. January 25, 2021.