# Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball

The Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball team represents Jacksonville University in the sport of basketball. The Dolphins compete in NCAA Division I's ASUN Conference (ASUN), having joined in 1998. Home games are played in the historic Swisher Gymnasium on the campus of Jacksonville University.
While the Jacksonville University's men's basketball team first took the court in 1948, the program did not join Division 1 until 1966. Early highlights included the program's first postseason appearance in the 1970 NCAA tournament and were the national runners-up in 1970 led by future Hall of Fame and ABA/NBA Star Artis Gilmore. They have appeared in five NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 1986.

## History
### Conference affiliations

* 1948–49 to 1956–57 – NJCAA Independent
* 1957–58 to 1965–66 – NAIA Independent
* 1966–67 to 1975–76 – NCAA Division I Independent
* 1976–77 to 1997–98 – Sun Belt Conference
* 1998–99 to present – Atlantic Sun Conference

#### Notes

* ↑ Formerly known as the Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference until 2001, and later known as the Atlantic Sun Conference until 2016 and then known as the ASUN Conference until 2023.

## Postseason
### NCAA tournament results

The Dolphins have appeared in the NCAA tournament five times and were the national runner-up in 1970. Their overall tournament record is 4–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1970 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals Final Four National Championship Game | Western Kentucky Iowa Kentucky St. Bonaventure UCLA | W 109–96 W 104–103 W 106–100 W 91–83 L 69–80 |
| 1971 | Regional Quarterfinals | Western Kentucky | L 72–74 |
| 1973 | Regional Quarterfinals | Austin Peay | L 75–77 |
| 1979 | First round | Virginia Tech | L 53–70 |
| 1986 | First round | Temple | L 50–61 $^{OT}$ |

### NIT results

The Dolphins have appeared in six National Invitation Tournaments. Their overall record is 6–7.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1972 | First round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd-place game | Fordham Lafayette Maryland St. John's | W 94–75 W 87–76 L 77–91 W 83–80 |
| 1974 | First round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd-place game | Massachusetts Maryland–Eastern Shore Purdue Boston College | W 73–69 W 85–83 L 63–78 L 77–87 |
| 1980 | First round | Murray State | L 49–53 |
| 1987 | First round | Vanderbilt | L 72–74 |
| 2009 | First round | Florida | L 62–84 |
| 2010 | First round Second Round | Arizona State Texas Tech | W 67–66 L 64–69 |

### CIT results

The Dolphins have appeared in two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Their overall record is 1–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2011 | First round Second Round | East Carolina SMU | W 71–66 $^{OT}$ L 62–63 |
| 2017 | First round | Saint Francis (PA) | L 76–78 |

### NAIA results

The Dolphins have appeared in one NAIA tournament. Their overall record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1965 | First round | Central State (Ohio) | L 57–78 |

## Notable players
### Retired numbers

Jacksonville has retired seven jersey numbers.
Jacksonville Dolphins retired numbers :
| No. | Player | Pos. | Career |
| 3 | Ben Smith | PG | 2006–2010 |
| 4 | Dee Brown | PG | 1986–1990 |
| 24 | Rex Morgan | SG | 1968–1970 |
| 32 | Otis Smith | SG / SF | 1982–1986 |
| 43 | James Ray | PF | 1976–1980 |
| 52 | Roger Strickland | F | 1960–1963 |
| 53 | Artis Gilmore | C | 1969–1971 |