Eastern Connecticut State University Basketball – What You Need to Know
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Eastern Connecticut State University has a strong Basketball Program and if you’re thinking about attending the school, here’s what you need to know.
About Eastern Connecticut State University Basketball
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public university located in Willimantic, Connecticut. It is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. The university is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Eastern Connecticut State University offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees.
The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s basketball team is a NCAA Division III team that competes in the Little East Conference The team has seen success in recent years winning the Little East Conference regular season title in 2017 and 2018. The team has also made it to the NCAA Division III tournament three times in the last four years, and made it to the Elite Eight in 2017.
The Team
The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s Basketball team is a NCAA Division III college basketball team representing Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut. The team is a member of the Little East Conference They play their home games at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium, which has a capacity of 2,500 people.
The team has had moderate success in its history, never having won an NCAA tournament game. They have qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times, in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Their best result came in 2010 when they made it to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual runners-up Amherst College. In 2009 they made it to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual champions Cabrini College.
The Schedule
The schedule for the Eastern Connecticut State University men’s Basketball team is released in the fall, and generally includes about 30 games. The games are spread out over the course of several months, with the majority taking place in winter.
Non-conference play typically begins in early November and wraps up in late December. The conference season starts in early January and runs through early March. The conference tournament is held in mid-March, and the NCAA tournament starts a week later.
The team typically plays two or three games per week, with occasional breaks for exams and holidays. home games are played at either the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium or the Charles L. ]
The Fans
Eastern Connecticut State University has a long-standing tradition of having some of the most passionate and dedicated fans in all of college basketball The students and alumni have a deep love for their team and show up in droves to support them, no matter where they re Playing When the team is playing at home, the stands are always packed and the atmosphere is electric.
The Rivalries
The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s basketball team is the basketball team that represents Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut. The school’s team currently competes in the Little East Conference They are currently coached by Mike Anderson
The ECSU men’s basketball team has several rivals, the most notable being the University of Hartford Hawks the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils and the Western Connecticut State Colonials.
The hawks and Blue Devils share a long-standing rivalry that has been dubbed the “Border War.” The two schools are separated by only around 10 miles, which makes for a intense competition between the two fan bases. The “Border War” reached its peak in the early 2000s when both teams were regularly ranked in the top 25 nationally.
The Colonials and ECSU also have a strong rivalry, although it is not as well known as the “Border War.” The two schools are located around 60 miles apart, which also adds to the intensity of the competition.
The Venue
Eastern Connecticut State University will be hosting the men’s and women’s basketball teams from Quinnipiac University on Saturday, December 10th. The games will take place in the William H. Detrick Gymnasium, located on Eastern’s campus at 83 Windham Street in Willimantic, CT.
The Detrick Gymnasium, which originally opened in 1957, has a capacity of 3,500 people. The facility underwent a multi-Million Dollar renovation in 2010, and now features an air-supported dome that covers the entire playing surface. This allows the gym to be used year-round for a variety of sports and events.
In addition to being the home court for Eastern’s men’s and women’s Basketball teams the Detrick Gymnasium has also hosted concerts by nationally-known recording artists such as Bob Dylan and Phish.
The History
Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s basketball team has a long and storied history. The team has its roots in the mid-1900s, when it was founded as a small college hoops team. Since then, the team has gone on to compete in the NCAA Division II tournament several times, most recently in 2019.
The team has produced several NBA players including Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Washington Wizards forward Anthony Tolliver. In recent years the team has struggled to find consistent success, but they remain a force to be reckoned with in the Division II ranks.
The Championships
The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s Basketball team has won six conference championships in its history. The most recent came in the 2017-2018 season when the Warriors went undefeated in conference play The other five titles were won in the following seasons:
1992-1993
1995-1996
1998-1999
2001-2002
2016-2017
In addition to their six conference championships, the Warriors have also made one appearance in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament That came in the 1998-1999 season when they defeated Husson University in the first round before losing to Williams College in the second round.
The Coaches
Eastern Connecticut State University’s Basketball Program has been led by some of the best coaches in the country. Steve Pikiell, Bobcats’ current Head Coach has been coaching since 1992 and has held his current position since 2016. He has led the Bobcats to two Division III National Championships and six Little East Conference regular season titles. Prior to Pikiell, James Calhoun was the head coach of the Bobcats from 1986 to 1996. He also led the team to two Division III national championships and six Little East Conference Regular Season titles.
The Future
The Eastern Connecticut State University Men’s Basketball Team is coming off a historic season in which they set a program record for wins in a season (23) and captured their first-ever Little East Conference regular season championship. The team returns a core group of players from that squad, including senior co-captains Tyrese Trice (Windsor, CT) and John Zinno (Cranston, RI), who will look to lead the team to new heights in 2019-20.