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 five consecutive seasons, from 1998–2002.

Catholic University Cardinals
UniversityThe Catholic University of America
Head coachAaron Kelly (1st season)
ConferenceLandmark Conference
III Division
LocationWashington, D.C.
ArenaRaymond A. DuFour Athletic Center
NicknameCardinals
ColorsCardinal Red and Black[1]
         
NCAA Tournament Champions
2001
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1998, 1999, 2000, 2002
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
2003, 2004, 2007, 2013
NCAA Tournament Opening Round
1993, 1996, 2006
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

The 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 their first two games in it, and went 38–15 from 1925 to 28.[2]

NCAA Tournament results

The 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.

Cardinals' NCAA D-I Tournament history
Year Opponent Won/Lost Result
1944
Dartmouth College L 38–63
Temple University L 35–55

The 1963–64 season, Catholic played the NCAA College Division (Division II) Tournament at Hofstra, losing to Hofstra and Philadelphia.

Cardinals' NCAA D-II (College Division) Tournament history
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 five consecutive seasons, from 1998–2002. They also reached the postseason in 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015,[3] and 2016.[4]

Cardinals' NCAA D-III Tournament history
Year Round Opponent Won/Lost Result
1993 1st Stockton State College L 91–106
1996 1st Cabrini College L 65–85
1998
2nd Johns Hopkins University W 67–62
Sectional Semifinals Hunter College L 82–84 (2 OT)
1999
1st Lebanon Valley College W 77–72
2nd Goucher College W 73–69
Sectional Semifinals William Paterson University L 71–79
2000
2nd Christopher Newport University W 65–64
Sectional Semifinals William Paterson University W 57–52
Sectional Finals Franklin & Marshall College L 74–85
2001
1st City College of New York W 82–65
2nd Widener University W 69–67
Sectional Semifinals State University of New York at Brockport W 69–64
Sectional Finals Clark University W 82–78
National Semifinals Ohio Northern University W 82–76
Championship William Paterson University W 76–62
2002
2nd Hampden–Sydney College W 74–66
Sectional Semifinals Clark University L 72–75
2003 2nd Montclair State University L 78–95
2004
1st SUNY-Old Westbury W 75–50
2nd Gwynedd–Mercy College L 72–74 (OT)
2006 1st Widener University L 59–61
2007
1st Messiah College W 37–58
2nd Lincoln University L 70–81
2013
1st College of Staten Island W 67–61
2nd Williams College L 78–89
2015
1st Alvernia University W 87–80
2nd Randolph–Macon College L 65–78
2016 1st Endicott College L 76–84

Coaches
Cardinals' Coaches
Years Coach
1911–30Fred Rice
1931–41Forrest Cotton
1943–44John Long
1952–1957Joe Della Ratta
1958–Tom Young
Bob Reese
1975–1982Jack Kvancz
1983–1989Jack Bruen
1990–1991Bob Valvano
1992–2003Mike Lonergan
2004–presentSteve Howes

References
  1. "Color Palette – Identity Standards – Section 2 – Catholic University of America | CUA". Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. 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.
  3. "Cardinals Receive 15th NCAA Tournament Bid, Host Alvernia on Thursday". Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  4. "CUA Men's Basketball to Host NCAA First & Second Rounds". Archived from the original on 2016-12-04. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
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