The FIU Panthers men's basketball team represents Florida International University in Westchester, Florida. The school's team currently competes in Conference USA. They are led by head coach Joey Cantens and play their home games at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Isiah Thomas era Isiah Thomas was the coach of FIU from 2009 to 2012 after an unsuccessful two-year stint with the New York Knicks of the NBA. His tenure started with provost Ronald Berkman introducing him as "Isiah Thompson" at an event. He was fired after the 2011–12 season, compiling a 26–65 record in three seasons at FIU.

Richard Pitino era On April 15, 2012, Richard Pitino left his position as the associate head coach at the University of Louisville to become the head coach at FIU. With only six players remaining from the previous season, and not all of them on scholarship, Pitino cobbled together a team and coached a high-pressure defense that finished eighth in the nation in steals. He was able to compile an 18–14 record (11-9 in the Sun Belt conference) in his only season as head coach. His FIU team set a record for the best conference record in school history. Additionally, FIU reached the Sun Belt tournament championship game as a four seed, before falling to Western Kentucky, 65–63.

On April 3, 2013, Richard Pitino was hired to become the next head coach at the University of Minnesota, replacing Tubby Smith.

Anthony Evans era On April 15, 2013, Anthony Evans left his position as head coach at Norfolk State University to become the head coach at FIU.

On April 2, 2018, FIU fired Evans after 5 seasons, in which the Panthers finished 65–94 with no postseason tournament appearances.

Jeremy Ballard era On April 20, 2018, VCU associate head coach Jeremy Ballard was hired by the Panthers for the head coaching job.

After a 20-win season in his first year and 19 wins during his second, FIU struggled under Ballard, never finishing higher than sixth in Conference USA or with more than eight wins during conference play, equaled in 2022-23 and 2025-26.

Nonetheless, Ballard became just the second coach in FIU history to surpass 100 career wins, doing so against Fort Lauderdale on November 18, 2025. He surpassed the FIU all-time wins record of 108 set by Rich Walker on February 4, 2026 in an 88-84 overtime victory at Middle Tennessee, the squad's first win in Murfreesboro since 2021.

Ballard racked up four more wins during the season before being dispatched by ninth-seeded Missouri State in the first round of the CUSA Tournament. It was announced that he would not return as FIU head coach on March 11, 2026, finishing his tenure with an overall record of 113-141 and 50-95 in conference play.

Joey Cantens era On March 20, 2026, Daytona State head coach Joey Cantens left his position with the Falcons and was named the tenth head coach in FIU history.

NCAA Tournament appearances FIU men's basketball team had its lone NCAA Tournament appearance in the 1995 tournament under then Head Coach Bob Weltlich, who had already announced his resignation following the season. FIU won the TAAC Basketball Tournament and in doing so earned an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament, and in doing so became the worst team to receive a bid in its history. FIU was seeded #16 and played the #1 seeded UCLA Bruins in the first round of the West Regional, which was played at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise. The Panthers lost the game to the Bruins by the score of 92–56, being the first tournament win in UCLA's successful run to the National Championship that year. Weltlich notably said during the post-game interview, "If anyone knows of any openings out there, my number is...".

Media appearances The "Sunblazers" men's basketball team was also featured in a second-season episode of Miami Vice entitled "The Fix".

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Panthers have appeared in one NCAA tournament. Their record is 0–1.

1995 16 First round (1) UCLA L 56–92

CIT Results The Panthers have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 1-1.

2019 First round Second round Texas State Green Bay W 87–81 L 68–98

Year-by-year results 1981–82 D-II Independent 11–16 n/a n/a 1982–83 D-II Independent 15–12 n/a n/a 1983–84 D-II Independent 13–13 n/a n/a 1984–85 D-II Independent 19–8 n/a n/a 1985–86 D-II Independent 17–9 n/a n/a 1986–87 D-II Independent 7–18 n/a n/a 1987–88 D-I Independent 9–19 n/a n/a 1988–89 D-I Independent 10–18 n/a n/a 1989–90 D-I Independent 9–19 n/a n/a 1990–91 D-I Independent 6–22 n/a n/a 1991–92 TAAC 11–17 7–7 T–3rd TAAC Tournament Quarterfinals 1992–93 TAAC 20–10 9–3 1st TAAC Regular Season Champs 1993–94 TAAC 11–16 7–9 T–6th TAAC Tournament Quarterfinals 1994–95 TAAC 11–19 4–12 T–9th TAAC Tournament ChampsNCAA First Round 1995–96 TAAC 13–15 5–11 T–3rd East TAAC Tournament Semifinals 1996–97 TAAC 16–13 12–4 2nd East TAAC Tournament Finals 1997–98 TAAC 21–8 13–3 2nd East TAAC Tournament Finals 1998–99 Sun Belt 13–16 7–7 T–3rd Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals 1999–2000 Sun Belt 16–14 9–7 4th Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2000–01 Sun Belt 8–21 5–11 5th East Sun Belt Tournament Second Round 2001–02 Sun Belt 10–20 4–10 5th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2002–03 Sun Belt 8–21 1–13 5th East Sun Belt Tournament Second Round 2003–04 Sun Belt 5–22 0–13 5th East 2004–05 Sun Belt 13–17 0–10 5th East Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals 2005–06 Sun Belt 8–20 0–13 5th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2006–07 Sun Belt 12–17 7–11 6th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2007–08 Sun Belt 9–20 6–12 5th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2008–09 Sun Belt 13–20 7–11 5th East Sun Belt Tournament Quarterfinals 2009–10 Sun Belt 7–25 4–14 6th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2010–11 Sun Belt 11–19 5–11 6th East Sun Belt Tournament Quarterfinals 2011–12 Sun Belt 8–21 5–11 6th East Sun Belt Tournament First Round 2012–13 Sun Belt 18–14 11–9 3rd East Sun Belt Tournament Finals 2013–14 C-USA 15–16 7–9 T–8th 2014–15 C-USA 16–17 8–10 T–7th C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals 2015–16 C-USA 13–19 7–11 T–9th C-USA Tournament Second Round 2016–17 C-USA 7–24 3–15 13th 2017–18 C-USA 14–18 8–10 T–7th C-USA Tournament First Round 2018–19 C-USA 20–14 10–8 7th C-USA Tournament First RoundCIT Second Round 2019–20 C-USA 19–13 9-9 5th C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals 2020–21 C-USA 9–17 2–15 14th (overall)7th East 2021–22 C-USA 15–17 5–13 11th (overall)6th East 2022–23 C-USA 14–18 8–12 T–6th 2023–24 C-USA 11–22 5–11 9th 2024–25 C-USA 10–23 3–15 10th 2025–26 C-USA 15–17 8–12 8th

Records

Team Honors

NCAA tournament Appearances (1): 1995

Trans America Athletic Conference tournament champions (1): 1995 Trans America Athletic Conference regular season champions (1): 1992–93

FIU basketball alumni in professional leagues

FIU Panthers alumni to have gone on to the NBA and international professional basketball.

Carlos Arroyo 1998–2001 Boston Celtics Raja Bell 1999–2000 Utah Jazz Clyde Corley 1982–1983 Dallas Mavericks

Denver Jones (born 2000), who finished his career at Auburn, spent two years at FIU, being named All-Conference USA First Team in his second. He plays for Bnei Herzliya in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

Osasumwen Osaghae (born 1998), who spent 2016-20 at FIU and led the NCAA in blocks in 2019-20, is currently a free agent.

References

External links