1996–97 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 1996–97 Charleston Cougars College of Charleston Cougars logo.svg 125 Trans America Athletic Conference East Division TAAC 21 16 29–3 16–0 John Kresse 18th John Kresse Arena TAAC Regular Season championTAAC tournament champion NCAA tournament second round The 1996–97 College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball team represented the College of Charleston in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by 18th-year head coach John Kresse, played their home games at F. Mitchell Johnson Arena in Charleston, South Carolina as members of the Trans America Athletic Conference. After finishing the regular season conference schedule unbeaten (16–0), the Cougars would also win the 1997 TAAC tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 12 seed in the Southeast region. College of Charleston beat No. 5 seed MarylandCollege of Charleston Makes Case for Respect https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/14/sports/college-of-charleston-makes-case-for-respect.html The New York Times March 14, 1997 June 11, 2021 in the opening round before falling to eventual National champion Arizona in the second round, 73–69.Arizona Uses Every Trick in Its Bag to Oust Charleston https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/16/sports/arizona-uses-every-trick-in-its-bag-to-oust-charleston.html The New York Times March 16, 1997 June 11, 2021 The team set a school record for wins in a season and finished with an overall record of 29–3 as well as a No. 16 ranking in the season’s final AP poll. The Charleston senior class finished with a four-year record of 101–17. Roster 1996 College of Charleston Cougars y yes Thaddeous Delaney 4 C 6 8 250 sr     Jermel President 20 G 5 11 so Charleston, South Carolina Burke Stacy Harris 21 F 6 4 sr Alexandria, Virginia West Potomac Sedric Webber 23 F 6 6 195 so y Columbia, South Carolina W. J. Keenan Anthony Johnson 24 G 6 3 195 sr y y basketball Charleston, South Carolina R.B. Stall Rodney Conner 42 F 6 7 sr Orangeburg, South Carolina Orangeburg-Wilkinson John Kresse (St. John's) https://cofcsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1996-97 Schedule and results yes |- !colspan=12 style=College of Charleston Cougars| Regular season Nov 22, 1996 yes yes Charleston Southern F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 81–68 3,068 1–0 Nov 27, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Arizona State Sun Devils Arizona State Sullivan Arena Anchorage Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 77–68 8,285 2–0 Nov 29, 1996 yes yes Stanford 21 Sullivan Arena Anchorage Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 82–78 8,285 3–0 Nov 30, 1996 yes yes Kentucky 8 Sullivan Arena Anchorage Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 65–92 8,285 3–1 Dec 7, 1996 yes The Citadel F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 68–63 3,622 4–1 Dec 14, 1996 1996 men Presbyterian Blue Hose Presbyterian F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 62–56 2,741 5–1 Dec 16, 1996 1996 men Elon Phoenix Elon F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 68–59 2,432 6–1 2–0 Dec 18, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma State Gallagher-Iba Arena Stillwater, Oklahoma 49–67 5,821 6–2 Dec 28, 1996 yes Drexel F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 75–65 3,722 7–2 Dec 29, 1996 yes 1996 men Northern Illinois Huskies Northern Illinois F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 71–67 OT 2,561 8–2 Jan 2, 1997 yes 1996 men Mercer Bears Mercer Porter Gym Macon, Georgia 88–64 683 9–2 1–0 Jan 4, 1997 yes 1996 men Georgia State Panthers Georgia State GSU Sports Arena Statesboro, Georgia 88–63 1,245 10–2 2–0 Jan 9, 1997 1996 men Jacksonville State Gamecocks Jacksonville State F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 90–74 3,482 11–2 3–0 Jan 11, 1997 yes 1996 men Samford Bulldogs Samford Seibert Hall Birmingham, Alabama 79–59 3,588 12–2 4–0 Jan 13, 1997 yes yes 1996 men Wofford Terriers Wofford Benjamin Johnson Arena Spartanburg, South Carolina 88–64 2,422 13–2 Jan 16, 1997 1996 men Florida Atlantic Owls Florida Atlantic F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 72–64 3,617 14–2 5–0 Jan 18, 1997 1996 men Florida International Panthers Florida International F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 78–75 3,692 15–2 6–0 Jan 23, 1997 1996 men Campbell Fighting Camels Campbell F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 77–52 3,347 16–2 7–0 Jan 30, 1997 yes 1996 men Central Florida Knights Central Florida UCF Arena Orlando, Florida 87–63 1,345 17–2 8–0 Feb 1, 1997 yes 1996 men Stetson Hatters Stetson Edmunds Center DeLand, Florida 77–56 3,307 18–2 9–0 Feb 3, 1997 yes Campbell Carter Gymnasium Buies Creek, North Carolina 97–58 788 19–2 10–0 Feb 6, 1997 Central Florida F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 90–61 3,419 20–2 11–0 Feb 8, 1997 Stetson F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 62–44 3,607 21–2 12–0 Feb 13, 1997 yes 25 Florida International Golden Panther Arena Miami, Florida 85–81 1,273 22–2 13–0 Feb 15, 1997 yes 25 Florida Atlantic FAU Arena Boca Raton, Florida 64–60 2,124 23–2 14–0 Feb 20, 1997 22 1996 men Southeastern Louisiana Lions Southeastern Louisiana F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 81–68 3,688 24–2 15–0 Feb 22, 1997 22 1996 men Centenary Gentlemen Centenary F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina 94–73 3,734 25–2 16–0 |- !colspan=12 style=College of Charleston Cougars| TAAC tournament |- Feb 27, 1997 yes 20 1 Centenary F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina Quarterfinals 89–71 3,255 26–2 Feb 28, 1997 yes 20 1 Southeastern Louisiana F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina Semifinals 93–63 3,480 27–2 Mar 1, 1997 yes 20 1 Florida International F. Mitchell Johnson Arena Charleston, South Carolina Championship Game 83–73 3,525 28–2 |- !colspan=12 style=College of Charleston Cougars| NCAA Tournament Mar 13, 1997 yes yes 16 12 SE Maryland 22 5 SE Pyramid Arena Memphis, Tennessee First Round 75–66 9,000 29–2 Mar 15, 1997 yes yes 16 12 SE Arizona 15 4 SE Pyramid Arena Memphis, Tennessee Second Round 69–73 Arizona Ends Charleston's Dream https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-16-sp-38974-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 16, 1997 June 11, 2021 11,815 29–3 AP Poll SE Southeast Eastern Sourcehttps://cofcsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1996-97 1996-97 Men's Basketball Schedule College of Charleston Athletics June 11, 2021 en https://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB1/A/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_College%20Division_1997_1014_College%20of%20Charleston%20(South%20Carolina).pdf College of Charleston 1996-1997 stats NCAA Career Statistics Rankings 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings Awards and honors Anthony Johnson – TAAC Player of the Year John Kresse – TAAC Coach of the Year NBA draft 1997 NBA draft Charleston Cougars Round Pick Player NBA Team 2 39 Anthony Johnson Sacramento Kings https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1997.html 1997 NBA Draft Basketball-reference.com June 12, 2021 References Charleston Category:Charleston Cougars men's basketball seasons Charleston Charleston Cougars basketball, men's Charleston Cougars basketball, men's