# Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball

The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of basketball. The Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They play their home games in Moore Gymnasium on campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. They are coached by former NBA player and Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus. The team has been playing since 1930, having joined Division I along with the rest of the conference in 1980.
The Wildcats are one of 34 eligible Division I programs to have never appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. They are the only SWAC team to never reach the tournament and one of just two (with Florida A&M) to never win the SWAC tournament.

## Team history
### Pre-Division I (1930–1979)

For the first 50 years of their program, the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team competed in the NCAA Division II. During this era, it had eight different coaches. The most notable coach from this era was former Bethune–Cookman and Pittsburgh Steelers player Jack "Cy" McClairen. Some accomplishments during this era include qualifying for the NIBT tournament twice, the NAIA tournament once, and the NCAA Division II tournament three times. All of these post-season runs ended in defeat for Bethune–Cookman.

### Division I era (1980–present)

After competing in NCAA Division II for 50 years, the team was invited to play in the NCAA Division I. In 2021, Bethune–Cookman accepted an invitation to join the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Originally, the team played in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). During this time, the only tournament the Wildcats have made is the NIT tournament. Though they now play in the NCAA Division I, they have never made a tournament appearance.

### Results by season in Division I (1980–2025)

| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standings | Postseason |
| 1980–1981 | Cy McClairen | 13–15 | 6–8 | 4th | – |
| 1981–1982 | Cy McClairen | 11–17 | 5–7 | 6th | – |
| 1982–1983 | Cy McClairen | 5–21 | 3–9 | 7th | – |
| 1983–1984 | Cy McClairen | 6–22 | 2–10 | 6th | – |
| 1984–1985 | Cy McClairen | 8–19 | 4–12 | 5th | – |
| 1985–1986 | Cy McClairen | 7–22 | 4–12 | 7th | – |
| 1986–1987 | Cy McClairen | 10–19 | 6–8 | 7th | – |
| 1987–1988 | Cy McClairen | 6–21 | 4–10 | – | – |
| 1988–1989 | Cy McClairen | 12–16 | 8–8 | 5th | – |
| 1989–1990 | Cy McClairen | 10–18 | 8–8 | 4th | – |
| 1990–1991 | Cy McClairen | 5–24 | 3–13 | 9th | – |
| 1991–1992 | Cy McClairen | 4–25 | 3–13 | 8th | – |
| 1992–1993 | Cy McClairen | 2–25 | 2–14 | 9th | – |
| 1993–1994 | Tony Sheals | 9–18 | 8–8 | 5th | – |
| 1994–1995 | Tony Sheals | 12–16 | 9–7 | 4th | – |
| 1995–1996 | Tony Sheals | 12–15 | 8–8 | 4th | – |
| 1996–1997 | Tony Sheals | 12–16 | 9–9 | 4th | – |
| 1997–1998 | Horace Broadnax | 1–26 | 1–17 | 10th | – |
| 1998–1999 | Horace Broadnax | 11–16 | 10–9 | 5th | – |
| 1999–2000 | Horace Broadnax | 14–15 | 12–6 | 4th | – |
| 2000–2001 | Horace Broadnax | 10–19 | 5–13 | 9th | – |
| 2001–2002 | Clifford Reed Jr. (6–4) Horace Broadnax (6–13) | 12–17 | 8–10 | 8th | – |
| 2002–2003 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 8–22 | 5–13 | T–9th | – |
| 2003–2004 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 8–21 | 7–11 | 8th | – |
| 2004–2005 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 13–17 | 6–12 | 9th | – |
| 2005–2006 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 15–15 | 11–7 | 3rd | – |
| 2006–2007 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 9–21 | 6–12 | 9th | – |
| 2007–2008 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 11–21 | 5–11 | 9th | – |
| 2008–2009 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 17–16 | 9–7 | 3rd | – |
| 2009–2010 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 17–16 | 7–9 | 7th | – |
| 2010–2011 | Clifford Reed Jr. | 21–13 | 13–3 | 1st | NIT |
| 2011–2012 | Gravelle Craig | 18–17 | 11–5 | 4th | – |
| 2012–2013 | Gravelle Craig | 14–20 | 7–9 | 8th | – |
| 2013–2014 | Gravelle Craig | 7–25 | 5–11 | 10th | – |
| 2014–2015 | Gravelle Craig | 11–21 | 7–9 | 8th | – |
| 2015–2016 | Gravelle Craig | 14–18 | 10–6 | 4th | – |
| 2016–2017 | Gravelle Craig | 10–22 | 6–10 | 10th | – |
| 2017–2018 | Ryan Ridder | 18–14 | 12–4 | T–1st | – |
| 2018–2019 | Ryan Ridder | 14–17 | 9–7 | 5th | – |
| 2019–2020 | Ryan Ridder | 16–14 | 10–6 | 4th | – |
| 2020–2021 | Ryan Ridder | 0–0 | 0–0 | N/A | – |
| 2021–2022 | Reggie Theus | 9–21 | 7–11 | 10th | – |
| 2022–2023 | Reggie Theus | 12–20 | 8–10 | 7th | – |
| 2023–2024 | Reggie Theus | 17–17 | 11–7 | 5th | CBI |
| 2024–2025 | Reggie Theus | 15–15 | 12–5 | 3rd | – |

## Postseason results
### NCAA Division II tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament three times. Their combined record is 0–6.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1965 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Evansville Norfolk State | L 77–116 L 74–91 |
| 1968 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Union (TN) Oglethorpe | L 67–81 L 70–82 |
| 1980 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Florida Southern West Georgia | L 72–81 L 62–75 |

### NAIA tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NAIA tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1966 | First Round | Carroll | L 88–91 |

### NIT results

The Wildcats have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2011 | First Round | Virginia Tech | L 54–79 |

### CBI results

The Wildcats have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) once in 2024. Their combined record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2024 | First Round | Arkansas State | L 85–86 |

## Notable players

* Kevin Bradshaw, NCAA basketball record-holder for points in a single game, player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* John Chaney, 41st-winningest men's basketball coach
* Cy McClairen, former player, Bethune–Cookman's winningest head coach, and athletic director
* Carl Fuller, drafted into the ABA in the 7th round by the St. Louis Hawks
* Johnny Allen, drafted into the ABA in the 4th round by the San Diego Rockets
* Sam Barber, drafted into the ABA in the 16th round by the Boston Celtics