The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of basketball. The Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I and the

Southwestern Athletic Conference The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. It participates in t ...

(SWAC). They play their home games in

Moore Gymnasium Moore Gymnasium is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is home to the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team. It gets its name from the university's third president, Ric ...

on campus in

Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona Beach, or simply Daytona, is a coastal Resort town, resort-city in east-central Florida. Located on the eastern edge of Volusia County, Florida, Volusia County near the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic coastline, its population ...

. They are coached by former NBA player and Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus. The team has been playing since 1930, having joined Division I along with the rest of the conference in 1980. The Wildcats are one of 35 eligible Division I programs to have never appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

Team History

Pre-Division I (1930–1979)

For the first 50 years of their program, the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team competed in the NCAA Division II. Through this era, they had 8 different coaches. The most notable coach from this era was former Bethune-Cookman and

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

player Jack "Cy" McClairen. Some accomplishments during this era include qualifying for the NIBT tournament twice, the NAIA tournament once, and the NCAA Division II tournament three times. All of these post-season runs ended in defeat for Bethune-Cookman.

Division I Era (1980–Present Day)

After competing in NCAA Division II for 50 years, the team was invited to play in the NCAA Division I. In 2021, Bethune-Cookman accepted an invitation to join the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Originally, the team played in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). During this time, the only tournament the Wildcats have made is the NIT tournament. Though they now play in the NCAA Division I, they have never made a tournament appearance.

Results by season in Division I (1980–2021)

Postseason results

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament three times. Their combined record is 0–6.

NAIA tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NAIA Tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

NIT results

The Wildcats have appeared in one

National Invitation Tournament The National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Played at regional sites and traditionally at Madison Square Garden (Final Four) in New York City ...

(NIT). Their record is 0–1.

Notable players

* Kevin Bradshaw, NCAA basketball record-holder for points in a single game, player in the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional sports, professional competition in Israeli sports club, club basketball, making ...

* John Chaney, 41st Winningest Men's Basketball Coach *

Cy McClairen Jack Forsyth "Cy" McClairen (March 2, 1931 – December 28, 2020) was an American professional football player and college coach. He played as an end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the ...

, Former Player, Bethune-Cookman's Winningest Head Coach, and Athletic Director. *

Carl Fuller Carl Edmond Fuller (born January 10, 1946 in St. Augustine, Florida) is a retired professional basketball center who played two seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a member of The Floridians in the 1970–71 and 1971–72 sea ...

, Drafted into the ABA in the 7th round by the St. Louis Hawks. *Johnny Allen, Drafted into the ABA in the 4th round by the San Diego Rockets. *Sam Barber, Drafted into the ABA in the 16th round by the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

References

External links

Team website
{{Florida-basketball-team-stub