The Citadel Bulldogs basketball

The Citadel Bulldogs
2024–25 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team
UniversityThe Citadel
First season1900 (1900)
Athletic directorMike Capaccio
Head coachEd Conroy (7th season)
ConferenceSoCon
LocationCharleston, South Carolina
ArenaMcAlister Field House
(capacity: 6,000)
NicknameBulldogs
Student sectionMcAlister Maniacs/Long Grey Line
ColorsInfantry blue and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


Conference tournament champions
SIAA: 1927

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.[2]

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.[3][4] 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.[5] 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

McAlister Field House

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.[6] Since the 1989 renovations, the Bulldogs have played before full capacity on three occasions: Duke (1991), South Carolina (1997), and College of Charleston (1999).[7] 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.[8][9]

The Citadel Bulldogs retired numbers
No. Player Career Year Honored
3 Jake Burrows 1938–1940 2012
22 Pat Conroy 1963–1967 2018
33 Art Musselman 1957–1960 2010
Regan Truesdale 1982–1985 2011
C Les Robinson 1974–1985 2009

Coaches

Below is a list of all coaches at The Citadel and their records through the 2020–21 season.[10]

Coach Career Record Conference Record
Not Available 1900–01 0–1 No Conference
J. G. Briggs 1912–13 2–3
Darl Buse 1913–14 6–1
Hans Kangeter 1914–16 9–4
Harvey O'Brien 1916–18 6–2
C. F. Myers 1918–25 52–27 7–9
Locke Brown 1925–26 10–6 4–1
Benny Blatt 1926–30 52–22 8–4
Johnny Douglas 1930–33 18–31 1–3
Charlie Willard 1933–35 13–16 0–0
Rock Norman 1935–40 45–32 16–14
Ben Parker 1939–41 6–16 4–13
Ben Clemons 1941–42, 1943–44 4–5 2–8
Bo Sherman 1942–43 8–6 5–3
Ernest Wehman 1944–45 9–5 8–4
Eugene Clark 1945–46 8–10 2–6
Whitey Piro 1946–47 4–11 0–10
Bernard O'Neil 1947–52 28–71 9–47
Leo Zack 1952–54 5–33 1–18
Jim Browning 1954–55 1–18 0–10
Hank Witt 1955–56 2–19 0–10
Norm Sloan 1956–60 57–38 33–19
Mel Thompson 1960–67 67–97 35–46
Dick Campbell 1967–71 45–54 21–27
George Hill 1971–74 33–42 11–18
Les Robinson 1974–85 132–162 61–99
Randy Nesbit 1985–92 76–121 32–72
Pat Dennis 1992–2006 158–233 72–146
Ed Conroy 2006–10, 2022–present 49–76 29–47
Chuck Driesell 2010–2015 42–113 22–66
Duggar Baucom 2015–2022 77–136 27–97

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.[11]

Records vs rivals

Opponent Record Pct. Last Victory Streak
College of Charleston 40–57 .412 2009–10 L10
Furman 87–128 .405 2017–18 L6
VMI 59–57 .509 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.
Opponent Record Pct. Last Victory Streak
Chattanooga 19–68 .218 2020–21 L1
East Tennessee State 18–48 .273 2020–21 W1
Mercer 7–20 .259 2018–19 L4
Samford 12–13 .480 2018–19 L3
UNC Greensboro 9–33 .214 2014–15 L16
Western Carolina 38–44 .463 2020–21 W2
Wofford 50–62 .446 2020–21 L1

Records vs in-state rivals

Division 1, non-SoCon only
Opponent Record Pct. Last Victory Streak
Charleston Southern 19–17 .528 2008–09 L4
Clemson 23–60 .277 1978–79 L16
Coastal Carolina 4–6 .400 2001–02 L2
Presbyterian 49–24 .671 2020–21 W2
South Carolina 24–76 .240 1988–89 L13
South Carolina State 8–3 .727 2010–11 W1
USC Upstate 4–0 1.000 2016–17 W4
Winthrop 4–4 .500 1997–98 L2

Notable seasons

See also: List of The Citadel Bulldogs basketball seasons

References

  1. ^ "Colors: The Citadel Brand Guidelines". Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Renaud, Tim (March 23, 2022). "Citadel names Ed Conroy as head Basketball Coach". WCBD. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  3. ^ John Feinstein (February 29, 2016). "At The Citadel, hoping to outrun history, NCAA tournament drought". Washington Post. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  4. ^ "Schools that have never made the NCAA Tournament — the 2017 edition". The Sports Arsenal. February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  5. ^ 2011-12 The Citadel Basketball Media Guide. The Citadel. p. 166. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  6. ^ "The Citadel Basketball Locker Room Renovations". citadelsports.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  7. ^ 2011-12 Citadel Basketball Media Guide. Citadel Athletics. p. 20. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  8. ^ Daren Stoltzfus (February 3, 2018). "Citadel honors Pat Conroy with jersey hung from rafters at McAlister Field House". WCIV. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "The Citadel to Honor Jake Burrows' Jersey No. 3 with a Banner in McAlister Field House". citadelsports.com. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  10. ^ 2011-12 The Citadel Basketball Media Guide. The Citadel. p. 99. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  11. ^ 2020-21 The Citadel Basketball Fact Book (PDF). The Citadel. pp. 114–134. Retrieved January 25, 2021.