Nicholls Colonels men's basketball

The Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana in the sport of basketball.^[2][3] The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference.^[4][5] Nicholls' first men's basketball team was fielded in 1958. The team plays its home games at 3,800-seat Stopher Gymnasium^[6] and are coached by Tevon Saddler .^[7] The Colonels have appeared two times in the NCAA tournament, most recently in 1998.

Nicholls Colonels men's basketball
2024–25 Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team
University	Nicholls State University
Head coach	Tevon Saddler (2nd season)
Conference	Southland
Location	Thibodaux, Louisiana
Arena	Stopher Gymnasium (capacity: 3,800)
Nickname	Colonels
Colors	Red and gray[1]
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1976*, 1979*
Other NCAA tournament results Sweet Sixteen 1976*, 1979* Appearances 1976*, 1979*, 1995, 1998
Conference tournament champions
1995, 1998
Conference regular-season champions
1976, 1979, 1995, 1998, 2018, 2021, 2022
* at Division II level

Stopher Gymnasium

Championships

Conference championships

Regular season ^[8]

• Gulf South: 1976, 1979
• Southland: 1995, 1998, 2018, 2021

Tournament ^[8]

• Southland: 1995, 1998

History

NCAA Division I Tournament

The Colonels have appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments in 1995 and 1998. Their combined record is 0–2.^[8]

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1995	First round	Virginia	L 72–96
1998	First round	Arizona	L 60–99

NIT results

Nicholls has appeared in one National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 0–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2022	First round	SMU	L 58–68

NCAA Division II Tournament

The Colonels have appeared in two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 4–2.^[8]

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1976	Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight	Lincoln (MO) Grambling State Chattanooga	W 97–79 W 90–89 L 78–107
1979	Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight	Southeast Missouri State Rollins North Alabama	W 89–74 W 100–87 L 97–103

Conference affiliations

Years Conference Classification 1958–1965 Independent NCAA College Division 1965–1971 Gulf States Conference NCAA College Division 1971–1973 Gulf South Conference NCAA College Division 1973–1979 Gulf South Conference NCAA Division II 1979–1980 Independent NCAA Division II *1980–1984 Independent NCAA Division I 1984–1987 Gulf Star Conference NCAA Division I 1987–1991 Independent NCAA Division I 1991–present Southland Conference NCAA Division I

* From 1982–84, Nicholls State was a provisional member of the TAAC. Men's basketball did not play any conference games.^[8][9][10]

Arenas

Shaver Gymnasium – Nicholls State men's basketball home from 1958–69

Stopher Gymnasium

Main article: Stopher Gymnasium

Stopher Gymnasium is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The on-campus arena opened in 1970 and is home of the Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team.^[8]

Shaver Gymnasium

Shaver Gymnasium or Richard C. Shaver Gymnasium is a 750-seat on-campus arena that opened in 1958 and was the home of the Nicholls State Colonels men's basketball team from its opening until 1969.^[11]

Head coaches

Name Years Morris Osburn 1958–1960 Jack Holley 1960–1962 Billy Key 1962–1963 Jim Mahoney 1963–1966 Don Landry 1966–1979 Jerry Sanders 1979–1981 Gordon C. Stauffer 1981–1990 Rickey Broussard 1990–2002 Ricky Blanton 2002–2004 J.P. Piper 2004–2016 Richie Riley 2016–2018 Austin Claunch 2018–2023 Tevon Saddler 2023-Present

Source: ^[8]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball programs
• Nicholls Colonels