2023–24 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team
American college basketball season
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
Incoming transfers
2023 recruiting class
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
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
Jordan Crawford
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
North Mecklenburg HS
Charlotte, NC
F
1
Frankie Policelli
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
GS
Long Island Lutheran
New Hartford, NY
G
2
Reyne Smith
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jr
Australian Institute of Sport
Ulverstone , Australia
G
3
Khalil London
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
St. Dominic HS
Wyandanch, NY
G
4
Bryce Butler
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
GS
Greater Latrobe Senior HS
Latrobe, PA
G
5
Evan Kilminster
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Australian Institute of Sport
Newcastle, Australia
F
10
Ante Brzovic
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jr
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Zagreb, Croatia
G
11
Kobe Rodgers
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jr
St. Xavier HS
Cincinnati, OH
G
12
CJ Fulton
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jr
St. Malachy's College
Belfast , Northern Ireland
F
13
Ben Burnham
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jr
Carmel Christian School
Fort Mill, SC
F
15
Mayar Wol
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
Word of God Christian Academy
Raleigh, NC
F
23
James Scott
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Fr
E.E. Smith HS
Fayetteville, NC
G
31
Jack Miller
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jr
Ocean Township HS
Ocean Township, NJ
G
40
Frankie Idlett
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
So
IMG Academy
Miami, FL
F
41
Spencer Legg
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
So
Woodberry Forest School
Washington, D.C.
G
45
Dylan Ritter
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Jr
Zionsville HS
Zionsville, IN
F
50
Adam Comer
6 ft 19 in (2.31 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jr
Broome HS
Spartanburg, SC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: October 9, 2023
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
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 –
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 –
3 – Brzovic
Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (526)Boca Raton, FL
December 2, 2023 *6:00 pm, ESPNU
at No. 13 FAU Field of 68 Tip-Off
L 74–90
4–4
14 – Smith
9 – Brzovic
3 –
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 –
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 –
TD Arena (4,993)Charleston, SC
December 21, 2023 *7:00 pm, FloHoops
Saint Joseph's
W 89–82
8–4
31 – Smith
7 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
8 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
3 –
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 –
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 –
12 – Brzovic
2 –
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 –
4 – Rodgers
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Spokane, WA
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in
Eastern .
Source[16]
Awards and honors
Conference 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
Source[18] [19]
References