Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball

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 are coached by Patrick Sellers. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2007.

Central Connecticut Blue Devils
2023–24 Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball team
UniversityCentral Connecticut State University
Head coachPatrick Sellers (3rd 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

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

YearsClassificationNational TournamentsSeasons
1986–87 to PresentNCAA Division I3 appearances35
1965–66 to 1985–86NCAA Division II6 appearances21
1934–35 to 1964–65NAIB/NAIA10 appearances29

Home court

YearsVenueSeasons
1965–66 to presentKaiser Hall – Detrick Gymnasium56
1947–48 to 1964–65Memorial Hall18
1934–35 to 1946–47Teachers Gymnasium11

Conference affiliation

YearsConferenceSeasons
1997–98 to PresentNortheast Conference24
1994–95 to 1996–97Mid-Continent Conference3
1990–91 to 1991–92, 1993–94East Coast Conference3
1986–87 to 1989–90, 1992–93Division I Independent5
1972–73 to 1982–83, 1985–86Division II Independent12
1983–84 to 1984–85New England Collegiate Conference2
1967–68 to 1971–72North-East Collegiate Basketball League5
1961–62 to 1966–67Independent6
1934–35 to 1960-61New England Teachers College Conference25

Year by year results

SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Howie Dickenman (Mid-Continent Conference/Northeast Conference) (1996–2016)
1996–97Howie Dickenman8–194–12T–7th
Northeast Conference
1997–98Howie Dickenman4–223–13T–9th
1998–99Howie Dickenman19–1311–94th
1999–2000Howie Dickenman25–615–21stNCAA first round
2000–01Howie Dickenman14–1411–9T–5th
2001–02Howie Dickenman26–519–11stNCAA first round
2002–03Howie Dickenman15–1312–63rd
2003–04Howie Dickenman14–149–97th
2004–05Howie Dickenman12–168–108th
2005–06Howie Dickenman18–1113–52nd
2006–07Howie Dickenman22–1216–21stNCAA first round
2007–08Howie Dickenman14–1610–86th
2008–09Howie Dickenman13–178–10T–6th
2009–10Howie Dickenman12–189–9T–6th
2010–11Howie Dickenman19–1211–74th
2011–12Howie Dickenman13–1610–8T–5th
2012–13Howie Dickenman13–179–97th
2013–14Howie Dickenman11–197–96th
2014–15Howie Dickenman5–263–15T–9th
2015–16Howie Dickenman4–253–1510th
Howie Dickenman:282–311 (.476)191–169 (.531)
Donyell Marshall (Northeast Conference) (2016–2021)
2016–17Donyell Marshall6–234–149th
2017–18Donyell Marshall14–187–118th
2018–19Donyell Marshall11–205–1310th
2019–20Donyell Marshall4–273–1511th
2020–21Donyell Marshall5–165–13T–9th
Donyell Marshall:40–104 (.278)39–89 (.305)
Patrick Sellers (Northeast Conference) (2021–present)
2021–22Patrick Sellers8–245–139th
2022–23Patrick Sellers10–227–9T–7th
2023–24Patrick Sellers
Total:336–434 (.436)

      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]

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
2000#15First Round#2 Iowa StateL 88–78
2002#14First Round#3 PittsburghL 71–54
2007#16First Round#1 Ohio StateL 78–57

NCAA Division II Tournament results

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

YearOpponentResultRound
1966First 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
1967Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Buffalo State
Long Island
W 90–73
L 76–114
1969Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place
Springfield
Assumption
L 80–91
L 77–98
1971Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Stonehill
Assumption
W 111–99
L 77–105
1983Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place
American International
Assumption
L 64–65
L 99–89OT
1984Regional 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.

YearRoundOpponentResultRanking
1948First Round
Second Round
Montana
Xavier (Ohio)
W 63–52
L 39–57
1949First RoundIndiana CentralL 59–72
1950First RoundWestminster (Pa.)L 62–70
1959First Round#12 Westminster (Pa.)L 76–79
1960First Round#6 GramblingL 68–92
1961First Round#11 Southwest Texas StateL 59–70
1962First Round#16 William Jewell (Mo.)L 52–57
1963First RoundAthens State (Ala.)L 71–72#16
1964First RoundSaint Mary’s (Texas)L 62–64#14
1965First 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

External links