The Chicago State University Cougars Men’s Basketball team is a Division I program that competes in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Cougars are one of the few Division I programs in the state of Illinois and the only one in the city of Chicago. The team has been competing in Division I since the mid-1980s and has experienced some success in recent years.
History of Chicago State University Basketball
The Chicago State University Cougars basketball program was founded in the mid-1950s and began competing in Division II in 1978. The team then moved up to Division I in the mid-1980s and has since been a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The team had some success in the early 1990s, making two NCAA tournament appearances in 1993 and 1994. After that, the team went through a period of decline, but in the past few years, the Cougars have been back on the rise.
Recent Success
The Cougars have experienced some success in recent years, winning the WAC championship in 2017 and making their third NCAA tournament appearance in 2018. The team has also been to the second round of the WAC tournament in both 2016 and 2017. The team has been led by head coach Lance Irvin, who has been at the helm since 2014. Under his leadership, the Cougars have become a force to be reckoned with in the WAC, and they have been in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth in each of the past three years.
Players to Watch
The Cougars have a number of talented players on their roster, including senior guard Xavier Johnson, who is the team’s leading scorer. Johnson is a dynamic scorer who can get his points from all over the floor. He is also an underrated defender and is a leader for the team. Other players to watch out for include senior forward EJ Dickson, who is a consistent double-double threat, and junior guard Anthony Harris, who is a consistent scoring threat from beyond the arc.
Future of the Program
The Cougars have been in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth for the past three years, and that trend looks likely to continue in the future. The team has a number of talented players and has the potential to make some noise in the WAC and possibly beyond. Under the guidance of head coach Lance Irvin, it looks like the Cougars have a bright future ahead of them.
Conclusion
Chicago State University is a Division I program that competes in the Western Athletic Conference. The team has experienced some success in recent years, winning the WAC championship in 2017 and making their third NCAA tournament appearance in 2018. The Cougars have some talented players on the roster, including senior guard Xavier Johnson, and have the potential to make some noise in the WAC and possibly beyond. With head coach Lance Irvin at the helm, the future looks bright for the Cougars.