FIU Panthers men's basketball

Last updated
FIU Panthers
Basketball current event.svg 2025–26 FIU Panthers men's basketball team
Florida International University FIU logo.svg
University Florida International University
Head coach Jeremy Ballard (8th season)
Conference Conference USA
Location Westchester, Florida
Arena Ocean Bank Convocation Center
(capacity: 5,000)
Nickname Panthers
ColorsBlue and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
1995
Conference tournament champions
TAAC: 1995
Conference regular-season champions
TAAC: 1993

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 Jeremy Ballard and play their home games at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Contents

FIU at UCLA Pauley Pavilion, 2008 UCLA basketball 08.jpg
FIU at UCLA Pauley Pavilion, 2008

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. [2] He was fired after the 2011–12 season, compiling a 26–65 record in three seasons at FIU. [3]

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. [4]

Jeremy Ballard era

On April 20, 2018, VCU associate head coach Jeremy Ballard was hired by the Panthers for the head coaching job. [5]

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.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1995 16First 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.

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

Year-by-year results

SeasonConference
affiliation		Win–loss
(overall)		Win–loss
(overall)		Conference
finish		Postseason
1981–82D-II Independent11–16n/an/a
1982–83D-II Independent15–12n/an/a
1983–84D-II Independent13–13n/an/a
1984–85D-II Independent19–8n/an/a
1985–86D-II Independent17–9n/an/a
1986–87D-II Independent7–18n/an/a
1987–88D-II Independent9–19n/an/a
1988–89D-I Independent10–18n/an/a
1989–90D-I Independent9–19n/an/a
1990–91D-I Independent6–22n/an/a
1991–92TAAC11–177–7T–3rdTAAC Tournament Quarterfinals
1992–93TAAC20–109–31stTAAC Regular Season Champs
1993–94TAAC11–167–9T–6thTAAC Tournament Quarterfinals
1994–95TAAC11–194–12T–9thTAAC Tournament Champs
NCAA First Round
1995–96TAAC13–155–11T–3rd EastTAAC Tournament Semifinals
1996–97TAAC16–1312–42nd EastTAAC Tournament Finals
1997–98TAAC21–813–32nd EastTAAC Tournament Finals
1998–99Sun Belt13–167–7T–3rdSun Belt Tournament Semifinals
1999–2000Sun Belt16–149–74thSun Belt Tournament First Round
2000–01Sun Belt8–215–115th EastSun Belt Tournament Second Round
2001–02Sun Belt10–204–105th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2002–03Sun Belt8–211–135th EastSun Belt Tournament Second Round
2003–04Sun Belt5–220–135th East
2004–05Sun Belt13–170–105th EastSun Belt Tournament Semifinals
2005–06Sun Belt8–200–135th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2006–07Sun Belt12–177–116th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2007–08Sun Belt9–206–125th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2008–09Sun Belt13–207–115th EastSun Belt Tournament Quarterfinals
2009–10Sun Belt7–254–146th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2010–11Sun Belt11–195–116th EastSun Belt Tournament Quarterfinals
2011–12Sun Belt8–215–116th EastSun Belt Tournament First Round
2012–13Sun Belt18–1411–93rd EastSun Belt Tournament Finals
2013–14C-USA15–167–9T–8th
2014–15C-USA16–178–10T–7thC-USA Tournament Quarterfinals
2015–16C-USA13–197–11T–9thC-USA Tournament Second Round
2016–17C-USA7–243–1513th
2017–18C-USA14–188–10T–7thC-USA Tournament First Round
2018–19C-USA20–1410–87thC-USA Tournament First Round
CIT Second Round
2019–20C-USA19–139-95thC-USA Tournament Quarterfinals
2020–21C-USA9–172–1514th (overall)
7th East
2021–22C-USA15–175–1311th (overall)
6th East
2022–23C-USA14–188–12T–6th
2023–24C-USA11–225–119th
2024–25C-USA10–233–1510th

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

Raja Bell attended FIU for two seasons Rajab.jpg
Raja Bell attended FIU for two seasons

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

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

References

  1. ↑ "FIU Style Guide" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  2. ↑ Pelegrin, Pete (April 16, 2009). "Thomas gives, receives on his first day on job". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 2D. Retrieved March 14, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Jackson, Barry; Kaufman, Michelle (April 7, 2012). "FIU's Isiah Thomas 'stunned' by dismissal". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 2A . Retrieved March 14, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "FIU parts ways with coach Evans". gwinettprepsports.com. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ Epps Jr., Wayne (April 20, 2018). "VCU associate head coach Jeremy Ballard headed to Florida International". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved April 20, 2018.
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