Catholic University Cardinals men's basketball
The Catholic University Cardinals men's basketball team represents The Catholic University of America in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III college basketball competition as a member of the Landmark Conference. They won the national championship in the 2000–2001 season, and are the only program in Division III to reach the Sweet Sixteen in five consecutive seasons, from 1998 to 2002.
| Catholic University Cardinals | |
|---|---|
| University | The Catholic University of America |
| Head coach | Aaron Kelly (1st season) |
| Conference | Landmark Conference III Division |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Arena | Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center |
| Nickname | Cardinals |
| Colors | Cardinal red and black[1] |
| NCAA tournament champions | |
| 2001 | |
| NCAA tournament Final Four | |
| 2001 | |
| NCAA tournament Elite Eight | |
| 2001 | |
| NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |
| 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 | |
| NCAA tournament round of 32 | |
| 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 | |
| NCAA tournament First Four | |
| 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| Division I: 1944; Division II: 1964; Division III: 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016 | |
History
editThe team began as a club sport in the 1909–10 season, and gained varsity status the following year.[2] Although it did not have an official head coach, the roster listed Joseph Bollin as the team's "manager."[2] The first game during the club sport era was against Georgetown University, and the first official game was a 42–33 home victory over Gallaudet University on January 7, 1911.[2] They followed it with a 37–34 victory over St. John's College in Annapolis, but lost the remaining six games of the season to finish 2–6.[2]
Fred Rice, a graduate student, joined the team in the 1911–12 season as a player coach.[2] Rice had previously played at Georgetown, where he earned a law degree.[2] The team improved to 10–7, and then 13–3 in 1912–13.[2]
The December 1916 edition of The Catholic University of America Bulletin declared that, under Rice's leadership,
Our three latest seasons have been records of accomplishment and victory. Schools of much greater prominence have been conquered, and even the acknowledged college champions of the North have bowed in defeat to us. The fastest Southern teams have been unable to best us, and, as a result, the South Atlantic Championship has been awarded to us two times.
The Brookland Gymnasium, the first on-campus arena, opened in 1924. The team won its first two games in it, and went 38–15 from 1925 to 1928.[2]
NCAA tournament results
editThe 1943–44 men's basketball team won the Mason-Dixon Conference title and made the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. The team played in Madison Square Garden, losing to Dartmouth and Temple.
| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | |||
| Dartmouth College | L | 38–63 | |
| Temple University | L | 35–55 |
In the 1963–64 season, Catholic played the NCAA College Division (Division II) Tournament at Hofstra, losing to Hofstra and Philadelphia.
| Year | Opponent | Won/Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | |||
| Hofstra University | L | 91–92 (2OT) | |
| Philadelphia Textile | L | 64–94 |
The men's basketball team won the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship and was the only program in Division III to reach the Sweet Sixteen in five consecutive seasons, from 1998 to 2002. They also reached the postseason in 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015,[3] 2016,[4] and 2024.
Coaches
edit| Years | Coach |
|---|---|
| 1911 – 1930 | Fred Rice |
| 1931 – 1941 | Forrest Cotton |
| 1943 – 1944 | John Long |
| 1952 – 1957 | Joe Della Ratta |
| 1958 – 1967 | Tom Young |
| Bob Reese | |
| 1972 – 1975 | Dick Myers |
| 1975 – 1982 | Jack Kvancz |
| 1983 – 1989 | Jack Bruen |
| 1990 – 1991 | Bob Valvano |
| 1992 – 2003 | Mike Lonergan |
| 2004 – 2019 | Steve Howes |
| 2019 – present | Aaron Kelly |
References
edit- ^ "Color Palette – Identity Standards – Section 2 – Catholic University of America | CUA". Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McManes, Chris (November 1, 2010). "FLIGHT OF THE CARDINALS: A 100-YEAR HISTORY OF CUA MEN'S BASKETBALL". Archived from the original on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
- ^ "Cardinals Receive 15th NCAA Tournament Bid, Host Alvernia on Thursday". Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
- ^ "CUA Men's Basketball to Host NCAA First & Second Rounds". Archived from the original on 2016-12-04. Retrieved 2016-11-25.