Get the most recent data 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 Road to what we hope might be an historic, bracket-busting run by way of the match, we’ll be there to share the information and cheer on the Cougars!
Verify again right here recurrently 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 Area. The lads’s basketball group’s home-base is full of cheers and excited chatter because the group continues to guide 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 get together in TD Area.
2:06 p.m., Thursday, March 16
Nearly time!
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
🆚 No. 5 San Diego State / NCAA First Spherical
⏰ 3:10 PM
📍 Orlando, Florida
🏟 Amway Heart
📺 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 sport 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 faculty pep band. Now increase your hand if that pep band features a violin and a banjo.
That is often the a part of the experiment the place Lilli Taylor and Amelia Tebalt are the one individuals elevating their arms.
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. The truth is, the one purpose she stuffed out an software to affix Chucktown Sound was to make her father pleased, 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 a little bit shocked, however he (Gongora) talked about that I could also be mic’d up for video games and so my music might 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 carry 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 might be seen jamming with the remainder of Chucktown Sound throughout the School of Charleston versus San Diego State sport this afternoon. However they might be exhausting to listen to.
“Sadly, Lilli and I can’t be mic’d for the match as a result of they may solely permit an electrical bass to be mic’d, or amplified for the video games,” says Tebalt, including with fun, “however you understand, 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 Area and the Amway Heart 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 situated 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 choosing the Cougars to beat Sand Diego State within the first spherical.
20,000: The seating capability for Amway Heart.
40: The variety of confirmed School of Charleston watch get together 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 might be stationed alongside the baseline of the courtroom in Amway Heart throughout the sport.
Shaina Rosenfeld and Peyton Raybon
Junior Peyton Raybon is happy about cheering throughout this nationwide match, however admits she’s a little bit bit nervous.
“I believe the actual key’s 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 sport as a School of Charleston cheerleader. “I’m right here to stay within the second and have the chance to cheer in a sport like this one.”
Each say that their households and associates might 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 largest second I’ve had as a School of Charleston cheerleader,” she says. “With the ability to be right here and help the basketball group throughout this magical yr is admittedly 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 stay viewing in TD Area. Restricted amount in-store however seize one from the web 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 Heart in Orlando Wednesday morning. The hour-long session allowed the gamers to get a really feel for the courtroom earlier than Thursday’s sport towards San Diego State.
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 often not numerous 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 once they reached hour quantity 4 of their bus journey.
That’s once 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 resembling 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 turned the recent matter of dialog on the bus for the remainder of the journey.
“The members of the dance group say that once they journey, they all the time 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 toilet.”
“They’d all the pieces 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 lodge 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 observe the sport in particular person? No drawback! Come cheer on the lads’s basketball group with fellow Cougars’ followers on the NCAA Recreation Watch Social gathering at TD Area on Thursday. Doorways open at 2 p.m.
11:02 a.m., Tuesday, March 14
Come want the Cougars effectively once they go away from TD Area this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. to go to Orlando! The lads’s basketball group will tackle San Diego State on Thursday at Amway Heart.
by way of 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 fashion 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 Educational All-American group throughout his sophomore and junior years.
As a graduate scholar at West Liberty, he taught anatomy lessons on the college 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 wonderful individuals,” he says.
Bolon isn’t the one one happy together with his educational profession.
“I do know my mother is pleased I obtained these levels,” he says with fun. “Something that pleases my mother makes me pleased.”
If he continues at this tempo, they might have to alter 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 could possibly 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’s 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 practically 40 spots behind in these classes, so it wound up down on the 12 line.
Given the id of the final two groups to make the sector, 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 file.”
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 photos with Clyde the Cougar mascot (final yr I obtained to wave the flag, too). However the 31-win group can also 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 highway 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 ideally suited for the Aztecs). In the event that they get to the second spherical, they’ll possible face an offensively challenged Virginia group.”
USA Immediately
“With a gaudy 31-3 file, 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 person having to play greater than 28 minutes a sport. That depth permits the Cougars to push the tempo to the tune of simply over 80 factors a sport, offering a stiff take a look at for the sturdy 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 numerous 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 quicker tempo, they usually’ve seemingly forgotten easy methods to lose (final time was on Feb. 2). SDSU coach Brian Dutcher has accomplished 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 an enormous title program, however they’re nonetheless a top-25 group. Pat Kelsey has accomplished 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 sport and prefer to rise up and down whereas trying a ton of threes. In the event that they’re hitting, they can’t solely win this sport, however be a darkish horse for an Elite Eight run.”
Entrance Web page Bets
Staff to observe: 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 file and one of many top-15 offenses within the nation, averaging 80.8 factors per sport, and have 5 gamers averaging double digits.
Within the always-fun 12-5 matchup, Charleston could be 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 get together 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 sport on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Stan Van Gundy might 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 Closing 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 get together. 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 carefully 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 numerous enjoyable and wonderful to observe!”
Waving a Croatian flag, Ayden predicts that the Cougars can have a superb 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 Area on Assembly Road for the Sunday Choice Present Watch Social gathering. Doorways open at 5 p.m.
Inside the world, the Chucktown Sound pep band is warming up. The large 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
Immediately is the day! Who’s EXCITED?
Joyful 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 uncertain in regards to the attainable location of the Cougars’ first sport 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 Submit 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 Immediately 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 might be in Albany, New York.
- Bleacher Report has the School enjoying San Diego State within the NCAA Southern Regionals however didn’t predict the placement.
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 area might be revealed throughout the choice present Sunday at 6 p.m. on CBS. The School will host a viewing get together of the 2023 NCAA Males’s Basketball Choice Present in TD Area beginning at 5 p.m. The free occasion will characteristic 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 part of the School of Charleston males’s basketball group on Sunday, March 12, 2023, for a NCAA Choice Present Watch Social gathering at TD Area. Doorways open at 5 p.m.
The Cougars are going dancing!
Be part of us on Sunday at TD Area to search out out the place @CofCBasketball will head for the primary spherical of the NCAA Match. Extra data beneath ⬇️#TheCollege 🌴🏀https://t.co/4FLNtc3GVF
— #TheCollege (@CofCSports) March 9, 2023
Supply hyperlink