DI’s Pat Kelsey leads CofC to the Big Dance
Daniel Island resident and coach of the College of Charleston’s men’s basketball team is taking his team to the Big Dance starting March 16.
The Cougars secured their ticket to the NCAA National Championship tournament by closing their 31-3 season claiming the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Colonial Athletic Association title in Washington, D.C., March 7.
In the championship game, CofC downed the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in a nail-biter that came down to the wire by a score of 63-58.
CofC, seeded No. 12 in the South Region for the NCAA tournament, faces No. 5 seed San Diego State (27-6) in the first round on Thursday, March 16, at 3:10 p.m. at the Amway Center in Orlando. The game will air on truTV.
All games will be televised on various CBS channels, truTV, TBS and TNT. Check your TV provider listings for exact times. The complete bracket is available on the NCAA website.
The Cougars learned of their first-round opponent on Sunday, March 12, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Show live on CBS Sports. The College of Charleston Athletics Department hosted a viewing party at TD Arena to watch the show and celebrate the team.
The Cougars last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
CofC wrapped up their regular season in February, with what Kelsey called a “magical” season, sporting a 28-3 record and sharing a first-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association Conference. Along the way, they garnered a 20-game winning streak and a spot on the Associated Press’ Top-25 poll for the first time in two decades.
Kelsey, who signed a five-year, $5.5 million contract extension, making him the highest paid basketball coach in the CAA, recently told The Daniel Island News, “I think I have one of the best college coaching jobs in the country.”
Editor’s note: Read more about Coach Kelsey and his journey in Misty Jo Nelson’s story online and watch for DI sports writer Philip Bowen’s report on the Cougars’ projected NCAA battle in the March 16 issue of the paper.
— compiled by Boots Gifford, copy editor, boots@thedanielislandnews.com