Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Game #14 - at The Citadel










Who: The Citadel
Where: McAlister Field House,  Charleston, SC
When: Wednesday, January 3, 2023
Time: 7 pm
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Live Stats
Enrollment: 3,721
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Blue and White

Head Coach: Ed Conroy, a standout basketball cadet-athlete at The Citadel from 1985-89 and previous head coach of the Bulldogs from 2006-10, returned as sideline commander of his alma mater for the 2022-23 season. He was announced as the 31st head coach by Director of Athletics Mike Capaccio on March 23, 2022.

Current Record: 8-5 overall, 4-2 home, 2-4 away, 2-0 neutral, 0-0 conference.
Last Season's Record: 10-22 overall, 5-9 home, 4-11 away, 1-2neutral, 5-13 conference.

The Series: Western owns a 45-40 overall record versus the Bulldogs. In conference games, the Cats are 42-38 and are 5-5 in the last 10 games played, however, the Cats are on a three-game loss streak against the Bulldogs and have dropped 5 of the last 6 games.

The top two defensive units in the Southern Conference in terms of limiting opponent scoring to date square off on Wednesday. The Citadel is allowing just 65.5 points per game, just ahead of WCU in second at 66.0 ppg.

The Bulldogs were selected ninth in both the coaches and media preseason polls, but have posted an 8-5 non-conference record, winning 5 of their last 6 games, including a 20-point win over Notre Dame in South Bend.  Like Western, the Bulldogs closed out the 2023 year with a non-DI win, a 106-76 victory over Toccoa Falls on Saturday. Coach Conroy earned his 200th career win in that game. 

"The Citadel (8-5) is one of six teams in the league with eight or more victories heading into 2024 that includes four wins at home (4-1). The Bulldogs have won two straight with a 20-point road win over a common opponent, the ACC's Notre Dame, and earned head coach Ed Conroy his 200th career victory with a 30-point, 106-76, win over non-Division I NCCAA foe Toccoa Falls last weekend. 

Seven Bulldogs scored in double figures in their most recent victory. The Cadet starting five averages nearly nine or more points per game with three scoring in double figures. Sophomore AJ Smith ranks fifth in the SoCon with a 16.1 point per game average, followed by Notre Dame graduate transfer Elijah Morgan (17th, 13.3 ppg) and sophomore Madison Durr (10.1 ppg). Vanderbilt transfer post Quentin Millora-Brown has six double-doubles on the year including five in his last six games to average 9.7 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds per game."








No comments: