Longwood Lancers men's basketball

Last updated
Longwood Lancers men's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Longwood Lancers men's basketball team
Longwood Lancers wordmark.svg
UniversityLongwood University
First season1976–77
All-time record665–762 (.466)
Head coach Ronnie Thomas (1st season)
Conference Big South
Location Farmville, Virginia
Arena Joan Perry Brock Center
(capacity: 3,000)
NicknameLancers
Student section Lancer Lunatics
ColorsBlue and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament Final Four
Division III: 1980
Other NCAA tournament results
Elite EightDivision III: 1980
Sweet SixteenDivision II: 1994
Division III: 1980
AppearancesDivision I: 2022, 2024
Division II: 1994, 1995, 2001
Division III: 1980
Conference tournament champions
CVAC: 2001
Big South: 2022, 2024
Conference regular season champions
Mason–Dixon: 1988
Big South: 2022
Conference division regular season champions
2022

The Longwood Lancers men's basketball team is the Division I basketball team that represents Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. Since 2012, the team has competed in the Big South Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Their current head coach is Ronnie Thomas. The Lancers made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2022, followed by another appearance in 2024.

Contents

History

Longwood was an all-female school for the majority of its history; however, a limited number of male day students attended the school following World War II, and those students fielded a basketball team under the name Longwood Pioneers. [2] The current NCAA men's basketball program began in 1976 under head coach Allan McNamee, when the school became fully co-educational that same year. [3] The Lancers finished 1–6 against four year institutions in the inaugural season, and 2–9 overall. The Lancers were NCAA Division III members for their first four years. In 1980, they became Division II members, until 2004, when they began a transition to Division I membership. They became full Division I members in 2007.

In 2022, the Lancers won the Big South tournament and earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament as a Division I program. In the 2021-2022 season, Longwood had the best record in the Big South (15-1) and won the regular-season conference championship (North Division). In the Big South tournament championship, the team held the lead over Winthrop wire-to-wire through the entire game.

In 2024, the Lancers won the Big South men's basketball tournament for the second time in three years and earned a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament. In the Big South Tournament, the team entered as a 5-seed and beat No. 4 seed Gardner-Webb, No. 1 seed High Point, and No. 2 seed UNC-Asheville.

The Lancers have been members of three conferences in their history: the Division II Mason–Dixon Conference from 1983 to 1988 (not to be confused with another defunct conference with the same name, which disbanded in 1974) and the-then Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference from 1995 to 2003. Longwood spent nine seasons as an independent during and after reclassification to Division I, until they joined the Big South Conference in 2012.

Longwood previously reached the NCAA tournament three times during its Division II history and once at the Division III level. In 1988, Longwood won a share of the Mason-Dixon Conference regular season title, [4] and in 2001, won the CVAC tournament championship as a 3 seed. [5] [6]

The Lancers currently play in Willett Hall on Jerome Kersey Court, [7] named after former Longwood basketball player and NBA star Jerome Kersey. In 2019, Longwood announced a $15 million donation to begin construction of a new, 72,000 square foot convocation and events center that will replace Willett Hall as the venue for Lancer basketball. The Joan Perry Brock Center, named after its benefactor, will seat up to 3,000, and is scheduled to open in 2023. [8] [9]

The Lancers have had nine different head coaches of their men's basketball team, as detailed below. The current head coach, former UMBC director of recruiting Griff Aldrich, joined the program in 2018.

Conference affiliations

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Lancers have appeared in two NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 0–2.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
2022 #14 SouthFirst round#3 TennesseeL 56–88
2024 #16 SouthFirst round#1 HoustonL 46–86

CBI

The Lancers have appeared in the Division I College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament two times. Their record is 1–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2019 First round
Second Round
Southern Miss
DePaul
W 90–68
L 89–97
2021 First roundPepperdineL 66–80

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Lancers have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament three times. Their combined record is 2–4. [10]

YearRoundOpponentResult
1994 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Carson–Newman
Norfolk State
Elizabeth City State
W 76–63
L 59–61
L 87–88
1995 Regional QuarterfinalsShawL 76–83
2001 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
West Chester
Queens (NC)
W 103–95
L 76–77

NCAA Division III tournament results

The Lancers appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament once. Their record is 3–2. [11]

YearRoundOpponentResult
1980 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd-place game
Framingham State
Clark
Potsdam State
North Park
Wittenberg
W 73–63
W 70–60
W 78–61
L 55–57
L 47–48

Coaches

Year-by-year records

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Allan McNamee (Division III Independent)(1976–1977)
1976–77Allan McNamee 2–9
Allen McNamee:2–9 (.182)
Bill McAdams (Division III Independent)(1977–1978)
1977–78Bill McAdams 8–16
Bill McAdams:8–16 (.333)
Ron Bash (Division III Independent)(1978–1980)
1978–79Ron Bash 19–8
1979–80Ron Bash 28–3NCAA Division III Final Four
Ron Bash (Division II Independent)(1980–1981)
1980–81Ron Bash 19–9
Ron Bash:66–20 (.767)
Cal Luther (Division II Independent)(1981–1983)
1981–82Cal Luther 15–8
1982–83Cal Luther 15–10
Cal Luther (Mason–Dixon Conference)(1983–1988)
1983–84Cal Luther 15–127–32nd
1984–85Cal Luther 11–173–74th
1985–86Cal Luther 14–137–32nd
1986–87Cal Luther 13–143–53rd
1987–88Cal Luther 19–106–2T–1st
Cal Luther (Division II Independent)(1988–1990)
1988–89Cal Luther 20–7
1989–90Cal Luther 14–14
Cal Luther:136–105 (.564)26–20 (.565)
Ron Carr (Division II Independent)(1990–1995)
1990–91Ron Carr 11–17
1991–92Ron Carr 14–14
1992–93Ron Carr 17–10
1993–94Ron Carr 23–6 NCAA Division II Regional semifinals
1994–95Ron Carr 19–9 NCAA Division II Regional Quarterfinals
Ron Carr (Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC))(1995–1999)
1995–96Ron Carr 11–177–118th
1996–97Ron Carr 11–176–14T–7th
1997–98Ron Carr 13–159–97th
1998–99Ron Carr 8–196–129th
Ron Carr:127–124 (.506)28–46 (.378)
Mike Leeder (Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC))(1999–2003)
1999–2000Mike Leeder 4–222–16T-11th
2000–01Mike Leeder 23–815–7T–2nd [5] NCAA Division II Regional semifinals
2001–02Mike Leeder 13–1310–106th
2002–03Mike Leeder 15–1411–9
Mike Leeder:55–57 (.491)38–42 (.475)
Mike Gillian (Division II Independent)(2003–2004)
2003–04Mike Gillian 5–22
Mike Gillian (Division I Independent)(2004–2012)
2004–05 Mike Gillian 1–30
2005–06 Mike Gillian 10–20
2006–07 Mike Gillian 9–22
2007–08 Mike Gillian 9–22
2008–09 Mike Gillian 17–14
2009–10 Mike Gillian 12–19
2010–11 Mike Gillian 12–19
2011–12 Mike Gillian 10–21
Mike Gillian (Big South Conference)(2012–2013)
2012–13 Mike Gillian 8–254–126th (North)
Mike Gillian:93–214 (.303)4–12 (.250)
Jayson Gee (Big South Conference)(2013–2018)
2013–14 Jayson Gee 8–243–136th (North)
2014–15 Jayson Gee 11–235–139th
2015–16 Jayson Gee 10–235–13T–8th
2016–17 Jayson Gee 6–243–159th
2017–18 Jayson Gee 7–263–1510th
Jayson Gee:42–120 (.259)19–69 (.216)
Griff Aldrich (Big South Conference)(2018–2025)
2018–19 Griff Aldrich 16–185–119th CBI Quarterfinals
2019–20 Griff Aldrich 15–179–94th
2020–21 Griff Aldrich 12–1710–10T–5th CBI Quarterfinals
2021–22 Griff Aldrich 26–615–11st (North) NCAA tournament
2022-23 Griff Aldrich 20–1212–62nd
2023-24 Griff Aldrich 21–146–10T–5th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2024-25 Griff Aldrich 18–147–9T–5th
Griff Aldrich:127–100 (.559)
Total:665–762 (.466)

      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

[12] [13]

Notable players

Jerome Kersey #54

Jerome Kersey is widely known as the best player in Longwood history. Playing from 1980 to 1984 Kersey set school records for points, rebounds, steals and blocked shots while making 57% of his baskets. As a senior, his rebounding average of 14.2 led all Division II players.

In 1984, Kersey was selected 46th overall in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He became a starter and was part of the nucleus of a strong Portland team, along with Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Buck Williams, and Kevin Duckworth that made it to the NBA Finals two out of the next three years (in 1990 and 1992). Kersey also finished second to Michael Jordan in the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest. In 1999, Kersey won an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs. He would eventually retire in 2001 as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

In May 2006, Kersey graduated from Longwood, having only needed two more college courses to graduate for some years.

Kevin Jefferson #33

Kevin Jefferson played for the Lancers from 1986–1990. Jefferson ended his career with 1,806 career points, a record that would hold for 22 years.

Colin Ducharme #52

The 6'9" Ducharme would transfer to Longwood from the University of Virginia for his final year of eligibility in 2000. Ducharme averaged 19.6 points and 15.8 rebounds per game in his one year in Farmville. He led Longwood to a CVAC championship and an NCAA tournament appearance while being named the Division II National Player of the Year by multiple outlets. Ducharme remains only one of two retired numbers in Longwood history, with the other being Jerome Kersey.

Antwan Carter #4

Antwan Carter became the most efficient players in Longwood history and its best player so far in the Division I era. Playing from 2008–2012, Carter would break Kevin Jefferson's all-time scoring record and finished his career scoring 1,886 points. Carter also finished second in Longwood history in rebounds with 1,008.

References

  1. Longwood University Visual Brand Guide (PDF). Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. Shepherd, Barbara (June 12, 2014). Longwood University: The First 175 Years. Longwood University Foundation. p. 88. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  3. Prouty, Greg. "Coeducation and Men's Athletics at Longwood". Longwood Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  4. "Lancer Winning Streak Ends At The Mount". The Rotunda. Farmville, Virginia. February 22, 1988. p. 6. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Underwood, Jared (March 1, 2001). "Men's Basketball Enters CVAC Tournament on a High Note". The Rotunda. Farmville, Virginia. p. 12. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  6. Prouty, Greg (March 8, 2001). "Men's Basketball Headed to the Big Dance!". The Rotunda. Farmville, Virginia. p. 12. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  7. Cook, Chris (November 25, 2016). "Longwood to Name Court in Honor of Jerome Kersey" (Press release). Longwood Lancers . Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  8. "Longwood announces largest gift in its history, $15 million from Joan Brock '64 for campus events center" (Press release). Longwood University. April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  9. "Joan Perry Brock Center". Longwood University . Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  10. "Division II Men's Basketball All-Time Tournament Scores". NCAA Championships.com. 2001. Archived from the original on September 9, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  11. "Year-by-Year Tournament Scores". NCAA Championships.com. 2000. Archived from the original on September 7, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  12. ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. ESPN. 6 October 2009. p. 347. ISBN   978-0345513922 . Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  13. 2013–14 Men's Basketball Media Guide. pp. 83–93. Retrieved 14 November 2014.