# Sacred Heart Pioneers men's basketball

The Sacred Heart Pioneers men's basketball team represents Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They play their home games at the William H. Pitt Center. During their time as members of the NCAA Division II, they were national champions in 1986.

## History

In 1983, Keith Bennett became the school's leading career scorer. He was named a National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-American in 1981, 1982, and 1983, and Regional Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983.
2014–15 was the 50th season of Pioneer basketball. Sacred Heart's first year of competition was the 1965–66 season under coach Don Feeley. Sacred Heart joined NCAA Division I in the 1999–2000 season.

### Classification

| Years | Classification | National Tournaments | Seasons |
| 1999–2000 to Present | NCAA Division I | 0 appearances | 25 |
| 1965–66 to 1998–99 | NCAA Division II | 13 appearances | 34 |

### Home court

| Years | Venue | Seasons |
| 1997–98 to Present | William H. Pitt Center | 27 |
| 1965–66 to 1996–97 | Memorial Hall | 32 |

### Conference affiliation

| Years | Conference | Seasons |
| 1999–2000 to Present | Northeast Conference | 25 |
| 1981–82 to 1996–97 | New England Collegiate Conference | 16 |
| 1965–66 to 1980–81, 1997–98 to 1998–99 | Division II Independent | 18 |

## Postseason
### NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Pioneers have appeared in 13 NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 22–15. They were national champions in 1986.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1971 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Assumption Stonehill | L 83–106 W 86–81 |
| 1972 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd Place | Assumption Bridgeport | L 82–112 L 89–107 |
| 1975 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd Place | Assumption Hartford | L 95–111 L 91–102 |
| 1977 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game | Assumption Merrimack Towson State Chattanooga North Alabama | W 83–78 W 110–104 W 85–82 L 81–95 L 77–93 |
| 1978 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Bridgeport Merrimack Cheyney | W 73–70 W 84–83 $^{OT}$ L 57–59 |
| 1981 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Stonehill Southern New Hampshire | W 89–86 L 80–81 |
| 1982 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Springfield Southern Connecticut Kentucky Wesleyan | W 66–61 W 78–67 L 85–88 |
| 1983 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Assumption American International District of Columbia | W 113–108 $^{4OT}$ W 72–68 L 38–45 |
| 1984 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | American International South Dakota State Saint Augustine's | W 72–69 $^{2OT}$ W 88–81 $^{OT}$ L 92–107 |
| 1985 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Bridgeport American International | W 47–45 L 74–80 |
| 1986 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | Springfield Southern New Hampshire Norfolk State Florida Southern Southeast Missouri State | W 76–74 $^{2OT}$ W 83–67 W 84–74 W 86–80 W 93–87 |
| 1987 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Saint Anselm Southern New Hampshire | W 82–80 L 67–73 |
| 1989 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Bentley Bridgeport North Carolina Central | W 103–88 W 69–67 L 57–58 |