Troy Trojans men's basketball

Troy Trojans
2017–18 Troy Trojans men's basketball team
File:Troy University logo.gif
University	Troy University
First season	1950–51
All-time record	1,036–860 (.546)
Head coach	Phil Cunningham (5th season)
Conference	Sun Belt
Location	Troy, Alabama
Arena	Trojan Arena (capacity: 5,200)
Nickname	Trojans
Colors	Cardinal, silver, and black
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
2003, 2017
Conference tournament champions
2003, 2017
Conference regular season champions
1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010

The Troy Trojans men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of Troy University. The program is classified in NCAA Division I and the team competes in the Sun Belt Conference.

The current head coach of the Trojans is Phil Cunningham. The team currently plays their home games in Trojan Arena, which was built in 2012 and replaced the old arena known as Sartain Hall.

History

Troy's first season was in 1950 under then head coach Buddy Brooks. As of the end of the 2012–2013 season, the Troy Trojans program holds a 989–784 overall record since the team was first formed in 1950.

The Troy Trojans basketball program is currently under the direction of head coach Phil Cunningham. He replaced long-time head coach Don Maestri, who is the winningest coach in Troy University history and who won numerous conference coach-of-the-year awards during his tenure. He was inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Dothan, Alabama on June 7, 2008. He was later inducted into the Troy Sport Hall of Fame in 2012.

The Trojans appeared in the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as a 14-seed after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament and faced 3-seeded Xavier in the first round, losing 71–59. The Trojans were the champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2003 and defeated Central Florida for the conference tournament championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2004, the Trojans were the Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Champions. That year, the Trojans made it all the way to the Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship game, only to lose a heart-breaker on the last minute to UCF by a score of 55-60. As regular season champions, Troy was given an automatic bid to the NIT Tournament where they would face Niagara in Buffalo, New York. Troy would lose to Niagara in the First Round, 83-87. They finished with a 24-7 overall record. Following the season, Troy made the move to the Sun Belt Conference for all sports.

From 2005-2008, Troy struggled to find the success that they enjoyed during their time in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their new home in the Sun Belt Conference proved to be a challenge, with Troy going 51-69 over a stretch of four seasons.

In 2009, after finishing in 3rd place in the Sun Belt Conference, the Trojans would make their first post-season appearance since 2004 in the first annual CBI Tournament, where they would host the College of Charleston, only to lose in a thriller, 91–93. They would finish the season with a 19–13 record.

In 2010, Troy won their first ever Sun Belt Regular Season Title and made it to the Finals of Sun Belt Conference Tournament before losing in the last 30 seconds to North Texas, 63–66. The Trojans received an invite to the NIT Tournament where they would fall to Ole Miss in the first round, 65–84. The Trojans finished the 2010 season with a 20–13 (13–5) record, with big wins over in-state rival Auburn and Valparaiso.

In the inaugural opening game of the newly-built Trojan Arena during the 2012 season, Troy had a record-crowd of 5,120 as they hosted Mississippi State, who was coming off of a 20-win season and an NIT appearance. Troy would upset the Bulldogs to open Trojan Arena, defeating them by a score of 56-53.

In 2017, under head coach Phil Cunningham, Troy made their way back to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, defeating Texas State 59-53. The team would be given a 15-seed, playing #2 seed Duke in the First Round. Duke defeated Troy in that game by score of 87-65. Troy finished the season with a 22-15 record.

The Trojan basketball team is recognized in recent Division I Basketball history for leading the nation in 3-pointers for seven different seasons (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2005, and 2006), making 1068 3-pointers over the course of 89 games (11.66 per game) during those three seasons.

Before Troy's accession to Division I, Troy was one of the most successful basketball teams in Division II before they transitioned to Division I. In 1988, the team made it to the Elite 8 of the Division II Tournament before falling to Alaska-Anchorage, 72–77. Five years later, the team advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II national championship game against Cal-State Bakersfield, only to finish as runner-up by falling to the Roadrunners, 72–85.

One of Troy's most famous claim to fame, however, is their game against DeVry (when DeVry had athletics) on January 12, 1992 when the Trojans came out victorious by the NCAA-record score of 253–141. This game is the current highest scoring game in NCAA basketball history.

"Trey State"

Under head coach Don Maestri, Troy State led the nation in three-point shots attempted and three-point shots made for many years during the program's time in the NCAA's Division II. Maestri's run-and-gun style of play was very effective, even after Troy State transitioned to the NCAA'sDivision I. Because of this style of play, Troy State amassed 141 games where they scored 100 or more points, with a record of 122–19 when scoring more than 100 points during Maestri's tenure as head coach from 1982–2013.

When Troy State began their first season in Division I in 1994, the program came in with a bang, ranking #2 in the nation in 3-pointers attempted and #5 in the nation in three-pointers made. Maestri and his Trojan teams never looked back from there. From 1994–2006, the Trojans finished #1 in that nation four times in 3-pointers attempted and 3-pointers made. Troy State also placed in the top five nationally of those same statistical categories eight times from 1994 to 2008. This led some newspaper and media outlets to give the basketball program the moniker "Trey State."

Troy currently holds the all-time NCAA-record across all divisions for three-pointers attempted, shooting 1,303 three-pointers during the 1991–1992 season.

"Did you say 258?"

Main article: 1992 Troy State vs. DeVry men's basketball game

On January 12, 1992, Troy State shattered a plethora of records during a match-up against the DeVry University Hoyas of the NAIA. The Trojans sported a 12–3 record while the DeVry Hoyas had a 3–15 record. After tip-off, Troy State scored their first basket after 54 seconds. The Trojans only had 15 points after the first three minutes. As the game settled into its soon-to-be record breaking groove, points came steadily; with 3:14 remaining in the first half, Troy eclipsed the 100-point mark.

Within the first three minutes of the second half, the Trojans scored 26 points and had already accumulated 149 overall with 17 minutes remaining. It was not until 6:35 into the second half that Troy State scored their first points of the half that were not three-pointers or dunks. With 10 minutes remaining, Chris Greasham's three-pointer gave Troy 189, eclipsing the previous NCAA single game scoring record of 187. Then, with 7:53 to go, Troy State surpassed the 200-point mark, becoming the first (and only) team in college basketball history to surpass the bicentennial threshold. The scoreboard in Troy's arena was not built to display 200+ points, and so when the moment occurred, it did not display the numbers correctly (their solution was to start over at zero and work their way back up from there). During the second half alone, the Trojans scored 135 points, besting their minutes-old record of 123, and the 30 three-pointers in the second stanza broke the NCAA all-time game record of 25 (set previously by Troy). Their 51 made three-point field goals more than doubled that record, and the 109 three-point attempts record has never been seriously contested.

When the final buzzer sounded, Troy State had won the game by a record-breaking score of 258–141. The score of the game quickly made national headlines across the United States, from The Seattle Times to the Miami Herald, and even into other countries.

The game between Troy State and DeVry remains the highest single scoring game in NCAA history. Seven statisticians worked for 57 minutes after the game ended to complete its box score. Among records considered unbreakable are total points between teams (399), points by one team in one half (135), and three-pointers made and attempted (51/109) by one team in a single game. That season, Troy State compiled a 23–6 overall record while setting many school records along the way, including single season scoring average (121.0), field goals made and attempted (1,274/2,839), three-pointers made and attempted (444/1,303), and steals (460). They also set single game records of points (258), points in a half (135), field goals made and attempted (102/190), rebounds (94), assists (65), and total points between teams.

Conference titles

The Troy basketball program has won 14 conference titles with five different conferences since the program's inception in 1950.

Conference Year Title Record Coach Alabama Collegiate Conference 1960–1961 Conference 22–6 (9–1) John Archer 1961–1962 Conference 25–6 (8–4) 1963–1964 Conference 22–8 (7–3) 1965–1966 Tournament 24–9 (5–6) Gulf South Conference 1976–1977 Conference 15–14 (11–5) Wes Bizilia 1990–1991 Conference 22–8 (13–3) Don Maestri East Coast Conference 1993–1994 Conference 13–14 (5–0) Atlantic Sun Conference 1999–2000 Conference 17–11 (13–5) 2001–2002 Conference 18–10 (14–6) 2002–2003 Conference 26–6 (14–2) 2002–2003 Tournament 2003–2004 Conference 24–7 (18–2) Sun Belt Conference 2009–2010 Conference 20–13 (13–5) 2016–2017 Tournament 22–15 (10–8) Phil Cunningham Coaches Years Coach Record 1950–1951 Buddy Brooks 3–15 1951–1956 Leonard Serfustini 75–52 1956–1973 John Archer 302–186 1973–1982 Wes Bizilia 103–128 1982–2013 Don Maestri 501–403 2013–present Phil Cunningham 51–75 All-Americans Darryl Thomas (Div. II) Anthony Reed (Div. II) Terry McCord (Div. II) O'Darien Bassett (Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major All-America Team) Greg Davis (ESPN All-America Team, AP Honorable Mention) Facilities Sartain Hall (1962–2012) View of Trojan Arena from the main rotunda entrance. Sartain Hall is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Troy, Alabama. It was home to the Troy University Trojans basketball team until Trojan Arena opened in 2012. It opened in 1962. The building was built as a new Physical Education Building in 1962, with its major facility being a 2,500-seat basketball gymnasium which was ready for the first basketball game that fall. [3] Before Sartain Hall, the university never previously had an adequate gymnasium, and the college administration had the foresight at the time to make it available for high school basketball tournaments as well as college games and tournaments. The building is named in honor of the late Professor Auxford Sartain. [4] In 2012, Sartain Hall was no longer used for basketball activities since the newly-built Trojan Arena had opened. It is currently being used as a multi-purpose student recreation facility. Trojan Arena (2012–present) Trojan Arena is a 5,200 seat arena that is home to the Troy men's and women's basketball, volleyball and track programs. The arena is also used for the university's commencement ceremonies and special events. Trojan Arena replaces the university's longtime basketball and events facility, Sartain Hall, which opened in 1962. File:Trojan Arena Main Court.jpg Interior view of main court at Trojan Arena. The facility was constructed with architectural direction by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood and design support by venue specialists Populous, noted for its designs of such sporting venues as Yankee Stadium in New York City, the main stadium for the 2012 London Olympic Games and Nanjing Sports Park in China. Trojan Arena seating features 5,200 chair-back seats, seven upper-level suites and an exclusive Stadium Club area for donors, while also having floor seating for students. The arena features an LED ribbon board that circles around the entire arena, one of only two of its kind in the Sun Belt Conference. Daktronics designed, manufactured, and installed two 767-square-foot LED video/scoring system boards, which are the largest end-wall installations Daktronics has ever produced for an indoor college facility. The court level of the arena features eight sections of Daktronics LED scorer’s tables. They each measure 2 feet high by more than 9 feet wide and can be connected in any configuration to showcase student athletes, display additional statistical information in real time, recognize sponsors and promote upcoming events. The arena was featured in LED Magazine for its use of state-of-the-art technology throughout the arena. Under the main playing court sits a 10,000 sq ft area of basketball practice courts. These facilities are shared by both the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the indoor women's volley team. Among the other features of the new arena are a three-tiered rotunda at the main entrance, an interior concourse with concession stands and a food court-styled dining center with specialty food items. Postseason results Troy currently possesses an all-time record of 11–14 in postseason tournaments. NCAA Division I Tournament results The Trojans have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament two times. Their combined record is 0–2. Year Round Opponent Result 2003 First Round Xavier L 59–71 2017 First Round Duke L 65–87 NIT results The Trojans have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two times. Their combined record is 0–2. Year Round Opponent Result 2004 First Round Niagara L 83–87 2010 First Round Mississippi L 65–84 CBI results The Trojans have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 0–1. Year Round Opponent Result 2009 First Round College of Charleston L 91–93 NCAA Division II tournament results The Trojans have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament five times. Their combined record is 10–6. Year Round Opponent Result 1976 First Round Second Round Jacksonville State Alabama-Huntsville W 88–85 L 69–74 1977 First Round Second Round Lincoln North Alabama W 81–75 L 70–77 1988 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Consolation Round Virginia Union North Carolina Central Gannon Alaska-Anchorage Florida Southern W 75–71 W 66–65 W 100–79 L 72–77 L 84–94 1991 First Round Second Round Florida Southern North Alabama W 78–73 L 86–93 1993 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship Game Florida Southern Delta State Washburn Southern New Hampshire Cal State-Bakersfield W 75–72 W 110–93 W 94–82 W 126–123 L 72–85 NAIA Tournament results The Trojans have appeared in the NAIA Tournament three times. Their combined record is 1–3. Year Round Opponent Result 1957 First Round Ball State L 70–98 1958 First Round IUP L 73–90 1959 First Round Second Round St. Bernard Illinois State W 78–73 L 50–98 Division I records/Championships Division I Statistics overview Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason Troy State (East Coast Conference) (1993–1994) 1993–1994 Don Maestri 13–14 5–0 1st — Troy State (Mid-Continent Conference) (1994–1997) 1994–1995 Don Maestri 12–15 10–8 — 1995–1996 Don Maestri 11–16 8–10 — 1996–1997 Don Maestri 17–10 10–6 — Troy State (Atlantic Sun Conference) (1997–2005) 1997–1998 Don Maestri 7–20 5–11 — 1998–1999 Don Maestri 10–17 6–10 — 1999–2000 Don Maestri 17–11 13–5 1st — 2000–2001 Don Maestri 19–12 12–6 — 2001–2002 Don Maestri 18–10 14–6 1st — 2002–2003 Don Maestri 26–6 14–2 1st NCAA 1st Round 2003–2004 Don Maestri 24–7 18–2 1st NIT 1st Round 2004–2005 Don Maestri 12–18 10–10 8th — Troy (Sun Belt Conference) (2005–Present) 2005–2006 Don Maestri 14–15 6–9 T-4th (West) — 2006–2007 Don Maestri 13–17 8–10 T-4th (East) — 2007–2008 Don Maestri 12–19 4–14 6th (East) — 2008–2009 Don Maestri 19–13 14–4 2nd (East) CBI 1st Round 2009–2010 Don Maestri 20–13 13–5 T-1st (East) NIT 1st Round 2010–2011 Don Maestri 8–21 6–10 T-4th (East) 2011–2012 Don Maestri 10–18 5–11 T-5th (East) 2012–2013 Don Maestri 12–21 6–14 6th (East) Don Maestri: 294–293 87–139 2013–2014 Phil Cunningham 11–20 6–12 8th 2014–2015 Phil Cunningham 10–19 5–15 11th 2015–2016 Phil Cunningham 9–22 4–16 11th 2016–2017 Phil Cunningham 22–15 10–8 T-6th NCAA 1st Round Phil Cunningham: 52–76 25–51 Total: 307–314       National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion Rivalries Troy vs. South Alabama Currently, one of Troy's biggest rivals in basketball is with the South Alabama Jaguars. The Jaguars currently hold an 8–21 advantage over the Trojans. Troy vs. Georgia State Troy and Georgia State have met off and on since 1951. They began to play each other regularly when Georgia State joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. Troy currently holds a 22–18 edge over the Panthers. Troy vs. UCF Now a dormant rivalry, Troy and UCF were once conference rivals during their tenure in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Both basketball programs routinely fought for the conference regular season and tournament titles before they both left the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005. Troy currently leads the series with a 12–8 record. References External links Official website