Charleston, South Carolina, is home to the College of Charleston Cougars men’s basketball team, which competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The team plays its home games at TD Arena in Charleston.
2023–24 Season Highlights:
- Record: The Cougars finished with a 27–8 overall record and a 15–3 mark in CAA play, securing both the regular-season and tournament championships.
- CAA Tournament: They triumphed in the CAA tournament by defeating Monmouth, Towson, and Stony Brook in overtime, earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
- NCAA Tournament: As a No. 13 seed in the West region, Charleston’s tournament run concluded with a first-round loss to Alabama, which advanced to the Final Four that year.
Coaching Changes:
- Following the successful 2023–24 season, head coach Pat Kelsey departed to take the head coaching position at Louisville.
- Chris Mack was subsequently hired as the 25th head coach in Charleston’s history, marking his first year with the team in the 2024–25 season.
2024–25 Season Performance:
- Record: Under Coach Mack, the Cougars posted a 23–8 overall record and a 13–5 conference record.
- CAA Tournament: They reached the championship game but fell short, concluding their tournament run as runners-up.
Notable Player – Ante Brzovic:
- A standout player during this period was Ante Brzovic, who transferred from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
- 2023–24 Season: Brzovic averaged 12.1 points, 2.4 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-CAA honors.
- 2024–25 Season: He continued his impressive performance, starting all 31 games and averaging 15.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game. His contributions earned him the CAA Player of the Year award.
Recent Developments:
- As of March 10, 2025, the Cougars are participating in the CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, aiming to secure another NCAA tournament berth. The tournament is being held from March 7–11 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
The College of Charleston Cougars continue to build on their rich basketball tradition, striving for excellence in both conference play and national competitions.