Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball

Central Connecticut Blue Devils
2024–25 Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball team
UniversityCentral Connecticut State University
Head coachPatrick Sellers (4th season)
ConferenceNortheast Conference
LocationNew Britain, Connecticut
ArenaWilliam H. Detrick Gymnasium
(capacity: 2,654)
NicknameBlue Devils
ColorsBlue and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1966*
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1966*, 1971*
NCAA tournament appearances
1966*, 1967*, 1969*, 1971*, 1983*, 1984*, 2000, 2002, 2007
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
2000, 2002, 2007
Conference regular season champions
2000, 2002, 2007, 2024

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represent Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Northeast Conference and is coached by Patrick Sellers. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2007.

History

Mascot of the Central Connecticut State University athletic teams

Central's first year of competition was the 1934-35 season under coach Harrison J. Kaiser, after whom the athletic building is named. CCSU joined the NCAA Division I ranks in the 1986-87 season, marking 2020-21 as the 35th season at the Division I level.

Classification

Years Classification National Tournaments Seasons
1986–87 to Present NCAA Division I 3 appearances 35
1965–66 to 1985–86 NCAA Division II 6 appearances 21
1934–35 to 1964–65 NAIB/NAIA 10 appearances 29

Home court

Years Venue Seasons
1965–66 to present Kaiser Hall – Detrick Gymnasium 56
1947–48 to 1964–65 Memorial Hall 18
1934–35 to 1946–47 Teachers Gymnasium 11

Conference affiliation

Years Conference Seasons
1997–98 to Present Northeast Conference 24
1994–95 to 1996–97 Mid-Continent Conference 3
1990–91 to 1991–92, 1993–94 East Coast Conference 3
1986–87 to 1989–90, 1992–93 Division I Independent 5
1972–73 to 1982–83, 1985–86 Division II Independent 12
1983–84 to 1984–85 New England Collegiate Conference 2
1967–68 to 1971–72 North-East Collegiate Basketball League 5
1961–62 to 1966–67 Independent 6
1934–35 to 1960-61 New England Teachers College Conference 25

Year by year results

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Howie Dickenman (Mid-Continent Conference/Northeast Conference) (1996–2016)
1996–97 Howie Dickenman 8–19 4–12 T–7th
Northeast Conference
1997–98 Howie Dickenman 4–22 3–13 T–9th
1998–99 Howie Dickenman 19–13 11–9 4th
1999–2000 Howie Dickenman 25–6 15–2 1st NCAA first round
2000–01 Howie Dickenman 14–14 11–9 T–5th
2001–02 Howie Dickenman 26–5 19–1 1st NCAA first round
2002–03 Howie Dickenman 15–13 12–6 3rd
2003–04 Howie Dickenman 14–14 9–9 7th
2004–05 Howie Dickenman 12–16 8–10 8th
2005–06 Howie Dickenman 18–11 13–5 2nd
2006–07 Howie Dickenman 22–12 16–2 1st NCAA first round
2007–08 Howie Dickenman 14–16 10–8 6th
2008–09 Howie Dickenman 13–17 8–10 T–6th
2009–10 Howie Dickenman 12–18 9–9 T–6th
2010–11 Howie Dickenman 19–12 11–7 4th
2011–12 Howie Dickenman 13–16 10–8 T–5th
2012–13 Howie Dickenman 13–17 9–9 7th
2013–14 Howie Dickenman 11–19 7–9 6th
2014–15 Howie Dickenman 5–26 3–15 T–9th
2015–16 Howie Dickenman 4–25 3–15 10th
Howie Dickenman: 282–311 (.476) 191–169 (.531)
Donyell Marshall (Northeast Conference) (2016–2021)
2016–17 Donyell Marshall 6–23 4–14 9th
2017–18 Donyell Marshall 14–18 7–11 8th
2018–19 Donyell Marshall 11–20 5–13 10th
2019–20 Donyell Marshall 4–27 3–15 11th
2020–21 Donyell Marshall 5–16 5–13 T–9th
Donyell Marshall: 40–104 (.278) 39–89 (.305)
Patrick Sellers (Northeast Conference) (2021–present)
2021–22 Patrick Sellers 8–24 5–13 9th
2022–23 Patrick Sellers 10–22 7–9 T–7th
2023–24 Patrick Sellers 20-11 13-3 T-1st
Total: 356–445 (.444)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason

NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in three NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 0–3.[2][3]

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2000 #15 First Round #2 Iowa State L 88–78
2002 #14 First Round #3 Pittsburgh L 71–54
2007 #16 First Round #1 Ohio State L 78–57

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in six NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–8.

Year Opponent Result Round
1966 First Round
Regional Semifinals
Regional Final
Elite Eight		 Potsdam State
Philadelphia Textile
Assumption
Kentucky Wesleyan		 W 94–82
W 96–75
W 96–87
L 76–84
1967 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals		 Buffalo State
Long Island		 W 90–73
L 76–114
1969 Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place		 Springfield
Assumption		 L 80–91
L 77–98
1971 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals		 Stonehill
Assumption		 W 111–99
L 77–105
1983 Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place		 American International
Assumption		 L 64–65
L 99–89OT
1984 Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place		 South Dakota State
American International		 L 59–74
W 102–90

NAIA National Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in 10 NAIB/NAIA National Tournaments at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Their combined record is 1–10.

Year Round Opponent Result Ranking
1948 First Round
Second Round		 Montana
Xavier (Ohio)		 W 63–52
L 39–57		 –
1949 First Round Indiana Central L 59–72 –
1950 First Round Westminster (Pa.) L 62–70 –
1959 First Round #12 Westminster (Pa.) L 76–79 –
1960 First Round #6 Grambling L 68–92 –
1961 First Round #11 Southwest Texas State L 59–70 –
1962 First Round #16 William Jewell (Mo.) L 52–57 –
1963 First Round Athens State (Ala.) L 71–72 #16
1964 First Round Saint Mary’s (Texas) L 62–64 #14
1965 First Round #9 Augsburg (Minn.) L 87–103 –

NCAA Division I Conference awards

Player of the Year

Northeast Conference

Defensive Player of the Year

Northeast Conference

East Coast Conference

  • 1991 – Patrick Sellers

Rookie of the Year

Northeast Conference

  • 2012 – Kyle Vinales
  • 2008 – Shemik Thompson

East Coast Conference

  • 1991 – Bryon Smith

All-Conference First Team

Northeast Conference

Mid-Continent Conference

All-Conference Second Team

Northeast Conference

  • 2015 – Matt Mobley
  • 2009 – Ken Horton
  • 2002 – Damian Battles, Ricardo Scott
  • 2001 – John Tice
  • 2000 – Corsley Edwards, John Tice
  • 1999 – Rick Mickens, Charron Watson
  • 1998 – Rick Mickens

Mid-Continent Conference

  • 1997 – Sean Scott

All-Rookie Team

Northeast Conference

  • 2020 – Myles Baker
  • 2019 – Ian Krishnan
  • 2016 - Austin Nehls
  • 2014 - Matt Mobley
  • 2013 - Brandon Peel
  • 2012 – Kyle Vinales
  • 2008 – Ken Horton, Shemik Thompson
  • 2004 – Obie Nwadike
  • 2003 – Justin Chiera
  • 2001 – Ron Robinson
  • 1999 – Corsley Edwards
  • 1998 – Marijus Kovaliukas

Mid-Continent Conference

Coach of the Year

Northeast Conference

Other awards

All-American Selections

First Team

Second Team

  • Richard Leonard – 1984 & 1983
  • Steve Ayers – 1982
  • Bill Reaves – 1971 & 1970

Third Team

  • Steve Ayers – 1981

Honorable Mention

  • Ken Horton – 2011

UPI Selection

  • Eugene Reily – 1966

All-New England selections

First Team

  • Rich Leonard – 1984
  • Steve Ayers – 1982
  • Bill Reaves – 1971
  • Howie Dickenman – 1969

Second Team

  • Corsley Edwards – 2002
  • Rick Mickens – 2000
  • Byran Heron – 1989
  • Ken Hightower – 1984
  • Rich Leonard & Steve Ayers – 1983
  • Billy Wendt – 1973
  • Howie Dickenman – 1968
  • Paul Zajac – 1967

Third Team

  • Greg Roberts – 1978
  • Jere Quinn & Robert Charbonneau – 1977

Blue Devils in the NBA

  • Corsley Edwards – 2002 NBA Draft – Round 2, Pick 29 / Sacramento Kings (10 games played)
  • Keith Closs – 1997 Free Agent / Los Angeles Clippers (130 games played)
  • Howie Dickenman – 1969 NBA Draft – Round 17, Pick 210 / Phoenix Suns[4] (did not play)

References

  1. ^ CCSU Identity Manual (PDF). May 1, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Pitt's Knight back on the prowl". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "Oden's double-double leads top seed Ohio State over CCSU". Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2018.[dead link]
  4. ^ "1969 NBA Draft on databaseBasketball.com". Archived from the original on 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-05-25.