Binghamton Bearcats
2023–24 Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball team
UniversityBinghamton University
Head coachLevell Sanders (2nd season)
ConferenceAmerica East
LocationVestal, New York
ArenaBinghamton University Events Center
(Capacity: 5,322)
NicknameBearcats
ColorsDark green, white, and black[1]
     
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
2009
Conference tournament champions
2009
Conference regular season champions
2009

The Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball team represents Binghamton University and is located in Vestal, New York. The team currently competes in the America East Conference and plays its home games at the Binghamton University Events Center. Since becoming an NCAA Division I basketball program in 2001, the team has played in one NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2009.

History

Since the school's founding in 1946 until 1998 the Bearcats, originally known as the Colonials, participated in the NCAA as a Division III basketball program. From 1998 to 2001 the school was able to elevate its status as a Division II program and since has competed in the America East Conference at the Division I level.[2] Prior to this, no school had elevated divisions faster than Binghamton.

Division I

Since moving to Division I in 2001 the Binghamton basketball team has seen rewarding successes and great disappointments. The Bearcats also have had wins against both Rutgers University and Tulane.

Following an unsuccessful 2007 season head coach Al Walker, the only coach Binghamton had held in their Division I history, stepped down. Kevin Broadus, an assistant coach for Georgetown University was signed to fill Walker's position for the 2008 season. In his second season as head coach, Broadus took the Bearcats to their first regular season conference title in school history.[3] Binghamton subsequently defeated UMBC 61–51 in the America East tournament championship Game to make their debut in the 2009 NCAA Tournament as a 15th seed. Binghamton would lose to second-seeded Duke in the first round that year.

Following the March Madness loss, a series of incidents began to make both local and regional headlines regarding academic and ethical violations by both players and coaches of the team.[4] By the start of the 2009–10 campaign, six players had been kicked off the team from problems stemming back to the 2008–09 season, and head coach Kevin Broadus was suspended. Despite these handicaps, the 09–10 team led by interim head coach Mark Macon managed to finish fifth in conference play with a .500 record and recorded a 13–18 overall record. Towards the end of the basketball season the SUNY system produced an audit outlining the failures of the previous administration in running the basketball team. Due to these failures, Binghamton withdrew itself from the 2010 America East men's basketball tournament.[5] Numerous coaches and Binghamton staffers were fired as a result of the scandal.

Since then, Binghamton has been barely competitive. The 2011–12 Bearcats set a school record after beginning the season on a 26-game losing streak and finishing 2–29 for the worst winning percentage in program history. The team has yet to record a winning record in either conference or overall play.

NCAA tournament results

Binghamton has been to the tournament one time. Their combined record is 0–1.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
2009No. 15First roundNo. 2 DukeL 86–62

Records

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Al Walker (America East) (2001–2007)
2001–02 Al Walker 9–196–106th
2002–03 Al Walker 14–139–74th
2003–04 Al Walker 14–1610–85th
2004–05 Al Walker 12–178–10T–5th
2005–06 Al Walker 16–1312–42nd
2006–07 Al Walker 13–166–10T–6th
Al Walker: 78–94 (.453)51–49 (.510)
Kevin Broadus (America East) (2007–2009)
2007–08 Kevin Broadus 14–169–7T–4th
2008–09 Kevin Broadus 23–913–3T–1stNCAA tournament first round
Kevin Broadus: 37–25 (.597)22–10 (.688)
Mark Macon (America East) (2009–2012)
2009–10 Mark Macon 13–188–85thIneligible
2010–11 Mark Macon 8–234–12T–8th
2011–12 Mark Macon 2–291–159th
Mark Macon: 25–70 (.263)13–35 (.271)
Tommy Dempsey (America East) (2012–2021)
2012–13 Tommy Dempsey 3–271–159th
2013–14 Tommy Dempsey 7–234–12T–7th
2014–15 Tommy Dempsey 6–265–117th
2015–16 Tommy Dempsey 8–225–116th
2016–17 Tommy Dempsey 12–203–13T–8th
2017–18 Tommy Dempsey 11–202–149th
2018–19 Tommy Dempsey 10–235–117th
2019–20 Tommy Dempsey 10–194–129th
2020–21 Tommy Dempsey 4–144–109th
Tommy Dempsey: 71–194 (.268)33–109 (.232)
Levell Sanders (America East) (2021–present)
2021–22 Levell Sanders 12–178–106th
Levell Sanders: 12–17 (.414)8–10 (.444)
Total:221–400 (.356)

      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

Head coaches

No. Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1 1946–1947 Bert Broder 1 7–4 .636
2 1947–1951 Gene Welborn 4 37–46 .446
3 1951–1952 Richard Powell 1 5–18 .217
4 1952–1956 John Natale 4 12–57 .174
5 1956–1972 Frank Pollard 16 92–164 .359
6 1972–1983 John Affleck 11 100–158 .388
7 1983–1991 Dave Archer 8 87–118 .424
8 1991–1996 Dick Baldwin 5 82–51 .617
9 1996–2000 Jim Norris 4 52–53 .495
10 2000–2007 Al Walker 7 92–108 .460
11 2007–2009 Kevin Broadus 2 37–24 .607
12 2009–2012[lower-alpha 1] Mark Macon 3 23–70 .247
13 2012–2021 Tommy Dempsey 9 72–194 .271
14 2021–present[lower-alpha 2] Levell Sanders 2 25–35 .417
Totals 14 coaches 77 seasons 723–1,100 .397
Records updated through end of 2022–23 season
Source[9]
  1. Macon was named interim head coach of the Bearcats on October 14, 2009, after Kevin Broadus was placed on indefinite leave.[6] He was named permanent head coach in February of 2011.[7]
  2. Sanders was initially named interim head coach, but was named permanent head coach in February 2022.[8]

References

  1. "Athletics Brand Colors – Binghamton University". Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  2. Archived February 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Mushnick, Phil (2009-09-27). "Binghamton goes, falls, big time | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  5. Thamel, Pete (11 February 2010). "Report Faults Binghamton's Leaders in Scandal". The New York Times.
  6. "Binghamton Bearcats basketball coach Kevin Broadus put on indefinite paid leave of absence". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 14, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  7. Austin, Kyle (February 10, 2011). "Former Buena Vista basketball standout Mark Macon gets contract extension at Binghamton". MLive.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  8. Russo, Jacob (February 17, 2022). "Levell Sanders named permanent Binghamton MBB head coach after strong 21-22 season". WBNG-TV. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  9. "Binghamton Men's Basketball Media Guide 2022-2023" (PDF). Binghamton Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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