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) +SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingsPostseason1980–1981Cy McClairen13–156–84th–1981–1982Cy McClairen11–175–76th–1982–1983Cy McClairen5–213–97th–1983–1984Cy McClairen6–222–106th–1984–1985Cy McClairen8–194–125th–1985–1986Cy McClairen7–224–127th–1986–1987Cy McClairen10–196–87th–1987–1988Cy McClairen6–214–10––1988–1989Cy McClairen12–168–85th–1989–1990Cy McClairen10–188–84th–1990–1991Cy McClairen5–243–139th–1991–1992Cy McClairen4–253–138th–1992–1993Cy McClairen2–252–149th–1993–1994Tony Sheals 9–188–85th–1994–1995Tony Sheals 12–169–74th–1995–1996Tony Sheals 12–158–84th–1996–1997Tony Sheals 12–169–94th–1997–1998Horace Broadnax1–261–1710th–1998–1999Horace Broadnax 11–1610–95th–1999–2000Horace Broadnax 14–1512–64th–2000–2001Horace Broadnax 10–195–139th–2001–2002Clifford Reed Jr. (6–4) Horace Broadnax (6–13)12–178–108th–2002–2003Clifford Reed Jr.8–225–13T–9th–2003–2004Clifford Reed Jr.8–217–118th–2004–2005Clifford Reed Jr.13–176–129th–2005–2006Clifford Reed Jr.15–1511–73rd–2006–2007Clifford Reed Jr.9–216–129th–2007–2008Clifford Reed Jr.11–215–119th–2008–2009Clifford Reed Jr.17–169–73rd–2009–2010Clifford Reed Jr.17–167–97th–2010–2011Clifford Reed Jr.21–1313–31stNIT2011–2012Gravelle Craig18–1711–54th–2012–2013Gravelle Craig14–207–98th–2013–2014Gravelle Craig7–255–1110th–2014–2015Gravelle Craig11–217–98th–2015–2016Gravelle Craig14–1810–64th–2016–2017Gravelle Craig10–226–1010th–2017–2018Ryan Ridder18–1412–4T–1st–2018–2019Ryan Ridder14–179–75th–2019–2020Ryan Ridder16–1410–64th–2020–2021Ryan Ridder0–00–0N/A–2021–2022Reggie Theus9–217–1110th–2022–2023Reggie Theus12–208–107th–2023–2024Reggie Theus17–1711–75thCBI2024–2025Reggie Theus15–1512–53rd–

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.

1965 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game EvansvilleNorfolk State L 77–116L 74–91 1968 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Union (TN)Oglethorpe L 67–81L 70–82 1980 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Florida SouthernWest Georgia L 72–81L 62–75

NAIA tournament results The Wildcats have appeared in the NAIA tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

1966 First Round Carroll L 88–91

NIT results The Wildcats have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1.

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.

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

References

External links Team website