Get the most recent info and behind-the-scenes motion because the School of Charleston males’s basketball group prepares for its first NCAA Match look in 5 years.
From boarding the bus on Assembly Avenue to what we hope will probably be an historic, bracket-busting run by the match, we’ll be there to share the information and cheer on the Cougars!
Verify again right here commonly for anecdotes, interviews, images, movies and social shares.
6:42 p.m., Thursday, March 16
5:28 p.m., Thursday, March 16
GET UP COUGAR NATION!!!#OurCity 🌴🏀
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 16, 2023
5:01 p.m., Thursday, March 16
The house crowd is with you – Go Cougars!
4:53 p.m., Thursday, March 16
GOOD VIBES 😎 pic.twitter.com/bcUAZBUdfB
— School of Charleston (@CofC) March 16, 2023
4:19 p.m., Thursday, March 16
HALF | CofC 29, SDSU 32
Reyne leads us with 7⃣ factors on the half. Cougar Nation – LET’S GET LOUD!#OurCity 🌴🏀
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 16, 2023
4:06 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Shout out to our Cougar followers right here with us proper now! We see you! 🐾🫶 pic.twitter.com/S50DlIaicb
— School of Charleston (@CofC) March 16, 2023
4:03 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Greater than 400 followers are watching the sport from TD Enviornment. The lads’s basketball group’s home-base is stuffed with cheers and excited chatter because the group continues to steer the scoreboard.
3:51 p.m., Thursday, March 16
11 minutes into the primary half and the Cougars are dominating the courtroom 🏀 🔥
3:33 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Get us going @reynesmith! A cost for the Aussie and we’re on the first media TO.
1H 16:00 | CofC 8, SDSU 6#OurCity 🌴🏀 pic.twitter.com/RACjFwKShB
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 16, 2023
3:08 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Followers eagerly awaiting tip-off on the watch social gathering in TD Enviornment.
2:06 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Virtually time!
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
🆚 No. 5 San Diego State / NCAA First Spherical
⏰ 3:10 PM
📍 Orlando, Florida
🏟 Amway Middle
📺 truTV
🎧 https://t.co/22gWhj2DDX
📊 https://t.co/vUfhclBH6u#OurCity 🌴🏀 x @TDBank_US pic.twitter.com/ystgIe4Ys7— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 16, 2023
11:22 a.m., Thursday, March 16
Stand up, Cougars! 🐾 It’s recreation day!! pic.twitter.com/sY0txn9qJr
— School of Charleston (@CofC) March 16, 2023
9:36 a.m., Thursday, March 16
Let’s do an experiment.
Assume of a school pep band. Now increase your hand if that pep band features a violin and a banjo.
That is normally the a part of the experiment the place Lilli Taylor and Amelia Tebalt are the one individuals elevating their palms.

Lilli Taylor (violinist) and Amelia Tebalt (banjo participant) journey with School of Charleston’s pep band, Chucktown Sound, to the 2023 NCAA match. (Photograph by Mike Ledford)
Taylor performs violin and Tebalt performs banjo within the School of Charleston’s pep band, Chucktown Sound. And sure, they’re each very conscious that their devices are uncommon amongst faculty pep bands.
Taylor by no means anticipated to ever be part of a pep band. Actually, the one purpose she stuffed out an software to affix Chucktown Sound was to make her father completely satisfied, however she’s glad she did. Quickly after submitting the appliance, band director Chris Gongora reached out and after a profitable audition, Taylor was invited to affix the group.
“I used to be somewhat stunned, however he (Gongora) talked about that I could also be mic’d up for video games and so my music will be heard and never simply music into the air,” says Taylor.
Tebalt began enjoying banjo on the age of 5 and has carried out each jazz and previous time Appalachian music for a few years. Like Taylor, Tebalt excels in an instrument not usually related to pep bands.
It was Tebalt’s mom who satisfied her to convey a banjo to a pep band.
“My mother found there was as soon as two accordion gamers in Chucktown Sound,” She says. “If anybody would allow you to play with them, she mentioned it will be Chucktown Sound.’”
The 2 will be seen jamming with the remainder of Chucktown Sound throughout the School of Charleston versus San Diego State recreation this afternoon. However they might be onerous to listen to.
“Sadly, Lilli and I cannot be mic’d for the match as a result of they’ll solely permit an electrical bass to be mic’d, or amplified for the video games,” says Tebalt, including with fun, “however you recognize, we are going to nonetheless be there.”
7:36 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
Southern Division of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Match: By the numbers:
379: The variety of miles between TD Enviornment and the Amway Middle in Orlando.
5.65: The price of a tall Café Mocha within the Orlando Airport.
4: The variety of School of Charleston logos and decals positioned contained in the Doubletree Resort in Downtown Orlando.
8: The variety of groups enjoying in Orlando this weekend for the primary spherical of March Insanity (School of Charleston, Furman, San Diego State College, Duke, Virginia, Oral Roberts, Tennessee, College of Louisiana).
28: The proportion of individuals filling out brackets within the CBS March Insanity Bracket contest selecting the Cougars to beat Sand Diego State within the first spherical.
20,000: The seating capability for Amway Middle.
40: The variety of confirmed School of Charleston watch social gathering places across the nation, together with websites in Nashville, New Orleans, San Diego, Waco and much more.
76: The forecasted temperature in Orlando on the time of tip off on Thursday.
5:36 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
School of Charleston President Andrew Hsu and Sports activities Director for WCIV (Charleston, South Carolina) Scott Eisberg labored to place collectively President Hsu’s March Insanity bracket. Spoiler alert: School of Charleston to win!!!
4:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
When the Cougars take the ground towards San Diego State on Thursday, they won’t be the one ones within the nationwide highlight. Six School of Charleston cheerleaders will probably be stationed alongside the baseline of the courtroom in Amway Middle throughout the recreation.

Shaina Rosenfeld and Peyton Raybon
Junior Peyton Raybon is happy about cheering throughout this nationwide match, however admits she’s somewhat bit nervous.
“I believe the actual secret is to remain calm and do the issues I do know I’ve to do,” says Raybon.
Shaina Rosenfeld agrees. Being a senior, she is aware of that this can be her final recreation as a School of Charleston cheerleader. “I’m right here to reside within the second and have the chance to cheer in a recreation like this one.”
Each say that their households and pals will probably be glued to the sport to see if they will catch a glimpse of them throughout the broadcast on truTV.
Raybon says being a local of Charleston, she is aware of that it is a particular second for lots of people within the Lowcountry.
“That is the most important second I’ve had as a School of Charleston cheerleader,” she says. “With the ability to be right here and assist the basketball group throughout this magical yr is basically one thing particular.”
2:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 15
This simply in: March Insanity tees 🏀 , that includes the one and solely @CofCBasketball Cougars! Discover them within the Cougar Spirit Store throughout tomorrow’s reside viewing in TD Enviornment. Restricted amount in-store however seize one from the net store ⬇️ https://t.co/coWd3uXUAG pic.twitter.com/cOslRzMWBu
— School of Charleston (@CofC) March 15, 2023
11:54 a.m., Wednesday, March 15
The Charleston Cougars obtained their first have a look at the Amway Middle in Orlando Wednesday morning. The hour-long session allowed the gamers to get a really feel for the courtroom earlier than Thursday’s recreation towards San Diego State.
- School of Charleston males’s basketball practices throughout an NCAA match media occasion at Amway Middle, Orlando.
- School of Charleston males’s basketball practices throughout an NCAA match media occasion at Amway Middle, Orlando.
11:39 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
Reyne takes us alongside for the journey to Orlando and teaches us a grammar lesson on the similar time.
What can’t he do?#OurCity 🌴🏀 pic.twitter.com/d1x3mENLTD
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 15, 2023
9:24 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
There’s normally not plenty of pleasure on a six-hour bus journey from Charleston to Orlando. However all that modified for members of the School of Charleston cheerleading group, pep band and dance group after they reached hour quantity 4 of their bus journey.
That’s after they stopped at Buc-ee’s on Interstate 95 simply exterior of St. Augustine.
In case you don’t know, Buc-ee’s is an enormous Texas-based comfort retailer chain. How huge? The 55,000-square-foot retailer has 120 fueling stations and rows and rows of things equivalent to clothes, house décor, sporting items, 22 varieties of fudge, 20 varieties of jerky, 70 flavors of fountain drinks, boogie boards, windbreakers, wine glasses, and one thing referred to as Buc-ee’s onesies ― for each adults and kids.
Buc-ee’s shortly grew to become the new matter of dialog on the bus for the remainder of the journey.
“The members of the dance group say that after they journey, they at all times cease at Buc-ee’s,” mentioned Luna Riley, a member of the pep band. “It was overwhelming. I imply, there was truly an artwork gallery within the rest room.”
“That they had every little thing from furnishings to meals,” added pep band member Lilli Taylor, who additionally had by no means heard of Buc-ee’s till the bus journey on Tuesday. “It was actually cool.”
8:02 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
Twenty eight members of Chucktown Sound, the School’s pep band, in addition to six cheerleaders and 6 members of the dance group have additionally arrived in Orlando.
7:20 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
After a fast flight, the group arrived on the resort in Orlando. Coach Kelsey was the primary particular person off the bus proclaiming “Our Metropolis” enthusiastically to the individuals greeting the group.
4:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
And so they’re off! Protected travels!
3:46 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
Can’t make it to Orlando to look at the sport in particular person? No drawback! Come cheer on the lads’s basketball group with fellow Cougars’ followers on the NCAA Recreation Watch Celebration at TD Enviornment on Thursday. Doorways open at 2 p.m.
11:02 a.m., Tuesday, March 14
Come want the Cougars properly after they depart from TD Enviornment this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. to move to Orlando! The lads’s basketball group will tackle San Diego State on Thursday at Amway Middle.
through GIPHY
9:23 a.m., Tuesday, March 14
Get to know the gamers:

Dalton Bolon
On the basketball courtroom, Dalton Bolon has earned the nicknamed “Psycho D” due to his aggressive model of play. Relating to his training, he’s simply as aggressive.
He earned his bachelor’s diploma in train physiology from West Liberty College in simply three years. He was named to the NCAA Division II Tutorial All-American group throughout his sophomore and junior years.
As a graduate pupil at West Liberty, he taught anatomy lessons on the faculty as a way to make some more money. After he earned a grasp’s diploma in biology, Bolon transferred to the School of Charleston and can full the necessities for a grasp’s diploma in communication this yr.
“I’m blessed that basketball has allowed me to earn nice levels and meet some superb individuals,” he says.
Bolon is just not the one one happy along with his tutorial profession.
“I do know my mother is completely satisfied I obtained these levels,” he says with fun. “Something that pleases my mother makes me completely satisfied.”
If he continues at this tempo, they might have to vary his nickname to “Psycho Ph.D.”
3:42 p.m., Monday, March 13
A number of nationwide information organizations are specializing in the upcoming School of Charleston vs San Diego State matchup on Thursday afternoon.
Related Press
“Fifth-seeded San Diego State will face Charleston in what might be a preferred 5-12 upset decide for bracket swimming pools together with the Furman-Virginia matchup.”
The Sporting Information
“Sometime, the committee will study the worth of dominance. Maybe it is going to come if the Cougars smack No. 5 seed San Diego State out of the match in a 12-over-5 upset.
The committee appeared to get what Florida Atlantic was doing by ending 31-3, however it appears to have wanted convincing by FAU’s excessive predictive metrics rankings. Charleston was almost 40 spots behind in these classes, so it wound up down on the 12 line.
Given the identification of the final two groups to make the sphere, Arizona State and Nevada, they might have been seeded onto the 12 line for his or her First 4 video games and Charleston might have been accorded the respect they earned with a 30-3 report.”
WTOP Radio (Washington D.C)
“It’s straightforward to get behind the School of Charleston. I’ve seen them play in-person throughout the CAA Match and have even posed for footage with Clyde the Cougar mascot (final yr I obtained to wave the flag, too). However the 31-win group can be a three-point capturing machine (tenth in makes and 2nd in makes an attempt in all of Division I). They shoot threes to get sizzling, after which they shoot threes to remain sizzling.
Additionally they play six hours down the street in Orlando, whereas their first-round foe San Diego State has to fly throughout three time zones (the 12:10 p.m. PDT begin isn’t lethal, however removed from ultimate for the Aztecs). In the event that they get to the second spherical, they’ll seemingly face an offensively challenged Virginia group.”
USA At the moment
“With a gaudy 31-3 report, the School of Charleston is a nightmare draw on the 12 seed line. The Cougars are balanced, with 4 gamers averaging between 9 and 12.6 factors, and deep, with no one having to play greater than 28 minutes a recreation. That depth permits the Cougars to push the tempo to the tune of simply over 80 factors a recreation, offering a stiff check for the robust protection of San Diego State.
The Aztecs, nevertheless, received’t be straightforward to topple. They claimed the common season and match titles within the Mountain West, a league that clearly impressed the choice committee with three different groups chosen. That is one other first-round matchup that can get plenty of consideration.”
Sports activities Illustrated
“Upset Watch: No. 12 School of Charleston over No. 5 San Diego State. The Cougars current a stylistic reverse from the Aztecs, enjoying at a a lot sooner tempo, and so they’ve seemingly forgotten methods to lose (final time was on Feb. 2). SDSU coach Brian Dutcher has achieved a fantastic job changing Steve Fisher — besides on this match. He’s 0-3, with two losses as a higher-seeded group.”
Rivals.Com
“I’m going to roll with the School of Charleston over San Diego State. It won’t be the flashiest upset prediction as SDSU isn’t a giant title program, however they’re nonetheless a top-25 group. Pat Kelsey has achieved an exceptional job with the Cougars program and has them simply exterior of the top-25 as they’ve eclipsed 30 wins this season. Charleston is 14th nationally in factors per recreation and wish to stand up and down whereas trying a ton of threes. In the event that they’re hitting, they can’t solely win this recreation, however be a darkish horse for an Elite Eight run.”
Entrance Web page Bets
Staff to look at: School of Charleston
“Winners of the Colonial Athletic Affiliation title, the School of Charleston is making its first NCAA Match look since 2018.
The Cougars will face No. 5-seeded San Diego State (27-6) within the first spherical in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday. The Aztecs received the Mountain West common season and match championship this season and are making their tenth NCAA Match look within the final 13 years.
The School of Charleston boasts a 31-3 report and one of many top-15 offenses within the nation, averaging 80.8 factors per recreation, and have 5 gamers averaging double digits.
Within the always-fun 12-5 matchup, Charleston is perhaps simply the group to drag off the primary upset of this yr’s match.”
11:42 a.m., Monday, March 13
Nonetheless carrying that watch social gathering vitality from Sunday into Monday and all the best way to Thursday!
9:42 a.m., Monday, March 13
CBS Sports activities has launched the group of announcers calling the School of Charleston/San Diego State recreation on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Stan Van Gundy will probably be working play-by-play and commentary. Lauren Shehadi would be the sideline reporter.
The sport will begin at roughly 3:10 p.m. on truTV.
By the best way, this yr’s males’s Remaining 4 would be the final one within the play-by-play chair for CBS’s Jim Nantz.
6:36 p.m., Sunday, March 12
“I believe we’re up for the problem.” – Guard Dalton Bolon
6:08 p.m., Sunday, March 12
We’re going to Orlando – lookout San Diego State 👀
See you within the Sunshine State ☀️#OurCity 🌴🏀 pic.twitter.com/ttVZdfItEP
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) March 12, 2023
5:53 p.m., Sunday, March 12
The group takes the courtroom amid followers’ excited cheers. Ahead Charles Lampten is amongst gamers to signal autographs for younger followers.
5:43 p.m., Sunday, March 12

Rebecca Pugh, middle, and her son, Ayden, holding a Croatian flag, got here to cheer on Croatian participant Ante Brzovic. (Photograph by Mike Ledford)
Rebecca Pugh introduced her 12-year-old son Ayden to the watch social gathering. Pugh has been a Cougars fan for years, however actually obtained excited when she found {that a} participant on the group, Ante Brzovic, is from Croatia.
Being of Croatian heritage, Rebecca and Ayden have intently adopted Brzovic this season.
“We began following the group and was excited to listen to about Ante,” mentioned Pugh on Sunday simply shortly earlier than the beginning of the Choice Sunday present. “They’re plenty of enjoyable and superb to look at!”
Waving a Croatian flag, Ayden predicts that the Cougars can have a very good run within the Match, noting “we solely misplaced three video games.”
5:02 p.m., Sunday, March 12
Doorways are open!
4:30 p.m., Sunday, March 12
Followers are already lining up exterior TD Enviornment on Assembly Avenue for the Sunday Choice Present Watch Celebration. Doorways open at 5 p.m.
Inside the sector, the Chucktown Sound pep band is warming up. The enormous TV screens are on and tuned to CBS Sports activities.
Athletics workers are organising lights on the courtroom.
The Cougarettes Dance Staff simply arrived with pom-poms in hand.
6:59 a.m., Sunday, March 12
At the moment is the day! Who’s EXCITED?
Completely satisfied Choice Sunday y’all. See you tonight at The Six. OUR CITY! pic.twitter.com/zVO7dqDlxW
— Pat Kelsey (@patkelsey) March 12, 2023
12:30 p.m., Friday, March 10
Are you not sure concerning the potential location of the Cougars’ first recreation within the NCAA basketball match subsequent week?
You aren’t the one one. Even the sports activities pundits can’t agree on the place the School of Charleston will journey and their potential opponent within the opening spherical.
- The Washington Put up believes that the School will play Texas A&M in Sacramento, California.
- The web site Contained in the Corridor thinks the School will play the College of Miami in Orlando, Florida.
- 24/7 Sports activities predicts that Miami and Charleston will meet in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- Each ESPN and the web site Warmth Verify CBB predict the School will play Iowa State in Greensboro.
- Each USA At the moment and The Athletic predict the School will play the College of Virginia in Greensboro.
- CBS Sports activities additionally has Charleston enjoying Virginia, however they predict the sport will probably be in Albany, New York.
- Bleacher Report has the School enjoying San Diego State within the NCAA Southern Regionals however didn’t predict the situation.
In different phrases, it could be a good suggestion to carry off on making journey plans.
All of the hypothesis involves an finish on Sunday, March 12, 2023, when the lads’s NCAA bracket and subject will probably be revealed throughout the choice present Sunday at 6 p.m. on CBS. The School will host a viewing social gathering of the 2023 NCAA Males’s Basketball Choice Present in TD Enviornment beginning at 5 p.m. The free occasion will function participant introductions and remarks from males’s basketball Head Coach Pat Kelsey previous to the CBS broadcast.
1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 9
Get excited for Choice Sunday! Be a part of the School of Charleston males’s basketball group on Sunday, March 12, 2023, for a NCAA Choice Present Watch Celebration at TD Enviornment. Doorways open at 5 p.m.
The Cougars are going dancing!
Be a part of us on Sunday at TD Enviornment to search out out the place @CofCBasketball will head for the primary spherical of the NCAA Match. Extra information beneath ⬇️#TheCollege 🌴🏀https://t.co/4FLNtc3GVF
— #TheCollege (@CofCSports) March 9, 2023
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