# Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represent Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Northeast Conference and is coached by Patrick Sellers. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2007.

## History

Central's first year of competition was the 1934-35 season under coach Harrison J. Kaiser, after whom the athletic building is named. CCSU joined the NCAA Division I ranks in the 1986-87 season, marking 2020-21 as the 35th season at the Division I level.

### Classification

| Years | Classification | National Tournaments | Seasons |
| 1986–87 to Present | NCAA Division I | 3 appearances | 35 |
| 1965–66 to 1985–86 | NCAA Division II | 6 appearances | 21 |
| 1934–35 to 1964–65 | NAIB/NAIA | 10 appearances | 29 |

### Home court

| Years | Venue | Seasons |
| 1965–66 to present | Kaiser Hall – Detrick Gymnasium | 56 |
| 1947–48 to 1964–65 | Memorial Hall | 18 |
| 1934–35 to 1946–47 | Teachers Gymnasium | 11 |

### Conference affiliation

| Years | Conference | Seasons |
| 1997–98 to Present | Northeast Conference | 24 |
| 1994–95 to 1996–97 | Mid-Continent Conference | 3 |
| 1990–91 to 1991–92, 1993–94 | East Coast Conference | 3 |
| 1986–87 to 1989–90, 1992–93 | Division I Independent | 5 |
| 1972–73 to 1982–83, 1985–86 | Division II Independent | 12 |
| 1983–84 to 1984–85 | New England Collegiate Conference | 2 |
| 1967–68 to 1971–72 | North-East Collegiate Basketball League | 5 |
| 1961–62 to 1966–67 | Independent | 6 |
| 1934–35 to 1960-61 | New England Teachers College Conference | 25 |

## Year by year results

| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Howie Dickenman (Mid-Continent Conference/Northeast Conference) (1996–2016) ||||||
| 1996–97 | Howie Dickenman | 8–19 | 4–12 | T–7th | |
| Northeast Conference ||||||
| 1997–98 | Howie Dickenman | 4–22 | 3–13 | T–9th | |
| 1998–99 | Howie Dickenman | 19–13 | 11–9 | 4th | |
| 1999–2000 | Howie Dickenman | 25–6 | 15–2 | 1st | NCAA first round |
| 2000–01 | Howie Dickenman | 14–14 | 11–9 | T–5th | |
| 2001–02 | Howie Dickenman | 27–5 | 19–1 | 1st | NCAA first round |
| 2002–03 | Howie Dickenman | 15–13 | 12–6 | 3rd | |
| 2003–04 | Howie Dickenman | 14–14 | 9–9 | 7th | |
| 2004–05 | Howie Dickenman | 12–16 | 8–10 | 8th | |
| 2005–06 | Howie Dickenman | 18–11 | 13–5 | 2nd | |
| 2006–07 | Howie Dickenman | 22–12 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA first round |
| 2007–08 | Howie Dickenman | 14–16 | 10–8 | 6th | |
| 2008–09 | Howie Dickenman | 13–17 | 8–10 | T–6th | |
| 2009–10 | Howie Dickenman | 12–18 | 9–9 | T–6th | |
| 2010–11 | Howie Dickenman | 19–12 | 11–7 | 4th | |
| 2011–12 | Howie Dickenman | 13–16 | 10–8 | T–5th | |
| 2012–13 | Howie Dickenman | 13–17 | 9–9 | 7th | |
| 2013–14 | Howie Dickenman | 11–19 | 7–9 | 6th | |
| 2014–15 | Howie Dickenman | 5–26 | 3–15 | T–9th | |
| 2015–16 | Howie Dickenman | 4–25 | 3–15 | 10th | |
| Howie Dickenman: | Howie Dickenman: | 282–311 (.476) | 191–169 (.531) | | |
| Donyell Marshall (Northeast Conference) (2016–2021) ||||||
| 2016–17 | Donyell Marshall | 6–23 | 4–14 | 9th | |
| 2017–18 | Donyell Marshall | 14–18 | 7–11 | 8th | |
| 2018–19 | Donyell Marshall | 11–20 | 5–13 | 10th | |
| 2019–20 | Donyell Marshall | 4–27 | 3–15 | 11th | |
| 2020–21 | Donyell Marshall | 5–16 | 5–13 | T–9th | |
| Donyell Marshall: | Donyell Marshall: | 40–104 (.278) | 39–89 (.305) | | |
| Patrick Sellers (Northeast Conference) (2021–present) ||||||
| 2021–22 | Patrick Sellers | 8–24 | 5–13 | 9th | |
| 2022–23 | Patrick Sellers | 10–22 | 7–9 | T–7th | |
| 2023–24 | Patrick Sellers | 20–11 | 13–3 | T–1st | |
| 2024–25 | Patrick Sellers | 24–6 | 14–2 | 1st | |
| Patrick Sellers: | Patrick Sellers: | 62–63 (.496) | 39–27 (.591) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 380–451 (.457) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## Postseason
### NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in three NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 0–3.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2000 | #15 | First Round | #2 Iowa State | L 88–78 |
| 2002 | #14 | First Round | #3 Pittsburgh | L 71–54 |
| 2007 | #16 | First Round | #1 Ohio State | L 78–57 |

### NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in six NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–8.
| Year | Opponent | Result | Round |
| 1966 | First Round Regional Semifinals Regional Final Elite Eight | Potsdam State Philadelphia Textile Assumption Kentucky Wesleyan | W 94–82 W 96–75 W 96–87 L 76–84 |
| 1967 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals | Buffalo State Long Island | W 90–73 L 76–114 |
| 1969 | Regional Semifinals Regional Third Place | Springfield Assumption | L 80–91 L 77–98 |
| 1971 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals | Stonehill Assumption | W 111–99 L 77–105 |
| 1983 | Regional Semifinals Regional Third Place | American International Assumption | L 64–65 L 99–89$^{OT}$ |
| 1984 | Regional Semifinals Regional Third Place | South Dakota State American International | L 59–74 W 102–90 |

### NAIA National Tournament results

The Blue Devils have appeared in 10 NAIB/NAIA National Tournaments at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Their combined record is 1–10.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | Ranking |
| 1948 | First Round Second Round | Montana Xavier (Ohio) | W 63–52 L 39–57 | – |
| 1949 | First Round | Indiana Central | L 59–72 | – |
| 1950 | First Round | Westminster (Pa.) | L 62–70 | – |
| 1959 | First Round | #12 Westminster (Pa.) | L 76–79 | – |
| 1960 | First Round | #6 Grambling | L 68–92 | – |
| 1961 | First Round | #11 Southwest Texas State | L 59–70 | – |
| 1962 | First Round | #16 William Jewell (Mo.) | L 52–57 | – |
| 1963 | First Round | Athens State (Ala.) | L 71–72 | #16 |
| 1964 | First Round | Saint Mary’s (Texas) | L 62–64 | #14 |
| 1965 | First Round | #9 Augsburg (Minn.) | L 87–103 | – |

## NCAA Division I Conference awards
### Player of the Year

Northeast Conference
* 2011 – Ken Horton
* 2007 – Javier Mojica
* 2004 – Ron Robinson
* 2002 – Corsley Edwards
* 2000 – Rick Mickens

### Defensive Player of the Year

Northeast Conference
* 2008 – Tristan Blackwood
* 2007 – Tristan Blackwood
* 2000 – Rick Mickens
* 2025-Abdul Momoh
East Coast Conference
* 1991 – Patrick Sellers

### Rookie of the Year

Northeast Conference
* 2012 – Kyle Vinales
* 2008 – Shemik Thompson
East Coast Conference
* 1991 – Bryon Smith

### All-Conference First Team

Northeast Conference
* 2013 - Kyle Vinales
* 2012 – Ken Horton
* 2011 – Ken Horton
* 2008 – Tristan Blackwood
* 2007 – Tristan Blackwood, Javier Mojica, Obie Nwadike
* 2006 – Justin Chiera
* 2004 – Ron Robinson
* 2003 – Ron Robinson
* 2002 – Corsley Edwards
* 2001 – Corsley Edwards
* 2000 – Rick Mickens
Mid-Continent Conference
* 1996 – Keith Closs

### All-Conference Second Team

Northeast Conference
* 2015 – Matt Mobley
* 2009 – Ken Horton
* 2002 – Damian Battles, Ricardo Scott
* 2001 – John Tice
* 2000 – Corsley Edwards, John Tice
* 1999 – Rick Mickens, Charron Watson
* 1998 – Rick Mickens
Mid-Continent Conference
* 1997 – Sean Scott

### All-Rookie Team

Northeast Conference
* 2020 – Myles Baker
* 2019 – Ian Krishnan
* 2016 - Austin Nehls
* 2014 - Matt Mobley
* 2013 - Brandon Peel
* 2012 – Kyle Vinales
* 2008 – Ken Horton, Shemik Thompson
* 2004 – Obie Nwadike
* 2003 – Justin Chiera
* 2001 – Ron Robinson
* 1999 – Corsley Edwards
* 1998 – Marijus Kovaliukas
Mid-Continent Conference
* 1995 – Keith Closs, Bill Langheim

### Coach of the Year

Northeast Conference
* Howie Dickenman – 2007, 2006, 2002, 2000

## Other awards
### All-American Selections

First Team
* Howie Dickenman – 1969
Second Team
* Richard Leonard – 1984 & 1983
* Steve Ayers – 1982
* Bill Reaves – 1971 & 1970
Third Team
* Steve Ayers – 1981
Honorable Mention
* Ken Horton – 2011
UPI Selection
* Eugene Reily – 1966

### All-New England selections

First Team
* Rich Leonard – 1984
* Steve Ayers – 1982
* Bill Reaves – 1971
* Howie Dickenman – 1969
Second Team
* Corsley Edwards – 2002
* Rick Mickens – 2000
* Byran Heron – 1989
* Ken Hightower – 1984
* Rich Leonard & Steve Ayers – 1983
* Billy Wendt – 1973
* Howie Dickenman – 1968
* Paul Zajac – 1967
Third Team
* Greg Roberts – 1978
* Jere Quinn & Robert Charbonneau – 1977

## Blue Devils in the NBA

* Corsley Edwards – 2002 NBA Draft – Round 2, Pick 29 / Sacramento Kings (10 games played)
* Keith Closs – 1997 Free Agent / Los Angeles Clippers (130 games played)
* Howie Dickenman – 1969 NBA Draft – Round 17, Pick 210 / Phoenix Suns (did not play)