The 2022–23 College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball team represented the College of Charleston in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by second-year head coach Pat Kelsey, played their home games at the TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina as members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

On January 2, 2023, the Cougars were ranked in the AP poll for the first time in 20 years. They remained ranked for four weeks, the earliest in any season that the Cougars have been ranked for multiple consecutive weeks.

The team defeated Stony Brook, Towson, and UNC Wilmington to win the CAA tournament, claiming the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The team won 31 games before qualifying for the NCAA tournament, a record for the school's Division I era.

This was the 6th NCAA tournament appearance in program history. As a No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament's Southern region, they were defeated in the first round by No. 5 seed San Diego State, a team that went on to upset No. 1 seed Alabama in the Sweet 16 and later played in the national championship game.

Previous season The Cougars finished the 2021–22 season 17–15, 8–10 in CAA play, to finish in sixth place. They defeated Hofstra in the quarterfinals of the CAA tournament before losing to UNC Wilmington in the semifinals.

Offseason Departures

Charleston departuresJordan Sechan1G6'1"GSNew Canaan, ConnecticutGraduated Brendan Tucker 5 G 6'3" 180 JR Lawrenceville, Georgia Transferred to Georgia State Dimitrius Underwood 11 G/F 6'4" 215 GS Mesquite, Texas Graduated John Meeks 12 F 6'6" 224 GS Burlington, North Carolina Graduated Nick Farrar 30 F 6'6" 250 SO Apex, North Carolina Transferred to UNC Wilmington Osinachi Smart 33 F/C 6'8" 240 GS Umuahia, Nigeria Graduated

Incoming transfers Charleston incoming transfers Ante Brzovic 10 F 230 SO Zagreb, Croatia Southeastern Oklahoma State 3 October 1, 2022Ryan Larson11G6'1"180GSSaint Paul, MinnesotaWofford1October 1, 2022Pat Robinson III15G6'3"195GSChesterfield, New JerseyWest Liberty1October 1, 2022Jaylon Scott21G6'5"195GSAllen, TexasBethel1October 1, 2022 Source

2022 recruiting class

Preseason In the conference's preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish in fourth place.

2022 All-CAA Rookie Team members Reyne Smith and Ben Burnham continued for a second year on the team, and Dalton Bolon returned after an injury early last season.

Roster

Schedule and results

!colspan=12 style=|Non-conference regular season

!colspan=12 style=|CAA regular season

!colspan=12 style=| CAA tournament

!colspan=12 style=}| NCAA tournament

Source

Awards and honors Invitational tournament honors Charleston Classic Most Outstanding Player Ryan Larson Guard Conference honorsCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Ryan Larson GCAA All-Tournament Team Ryan Larson GCAA All-Tournament Team Ante Brzovic FCAA Sixth Man of the Year Pat Robinson III GAll-CAA First Team Dalton Bolon GAll-CAA Third Team Ryan Larson GAll-CAA Third Team Ante Brzovic FCAA All-Defensive Team Jaylon Scott G National honors Academic All-America First Team Dalton Bolon Guard

Source

Rankings

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.

References