Sacred Heart Pioneers men's basketball
{{Short description|College basketball team}}
{{Infobox CBB Team
|current = 2024–25 Sacred Heart Pioneers men's basketball team
|name = Sacred Heart Pioneers
|logo = Sacred Heart Pioneers logo.svg
|logo_size = 175
|university = Sacred Heart University
|conference = Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
|location = Fairfield, Connecticut
|coach = Anthony Latina
|tenure = 12th
|arena = William H. Pitt Center
|capacity = 2,062
|nickname = Pioneers
|NCAAchampion = 1986*
|NCAAfinalfour = 1977*, 1986*
|NCAAeliteeight=1977*, 1978*, 1982*, 1983*, 1984*, 1986*, 1989*
|NCAAsweetsixteen=1977*, 1978*, 1981*, 1982*, 1983*, 1984*, 1985*, 1986*, 1987*, 1989*
|NCAAtourneys = 1971*, 1972*, 1975*, 1977*, 1978*, 1981*, 1982*, 1983*, 1984*, 1985*, 1986*, 1987*, 1989*
*at Division II level
}}
The Sacred Heart Pioneers men's basketball team represents Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They play their home games at the William H. Pitt Center. During their time as members of the NCAA Division II, they were national champions in 1986.
History
In 1983, Keith Bennett became the school's leading career scorer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Sandy-Sulzycki-The-Week-That-Was-March-3-2013-4323432.php|title=Sandy Sulzycki: The Week That Was |first=Sandy|last=Sulzycki|date=March 2, 2013|website=Connecticut Post}} He was named a National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-American in 1981, 1982, and 1983, and Regional Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shubigred.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/releases/201305172uf1t4|title=New England Basketball Hall of Fame Elects Three Pioneers|date=May 17, 2013|website=Sacred Heart}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nabc.com/awards/all_america/division_II/1980|title=NABC Division II All-America Teams|website=NABC}}
2014–15 was the 50th season of Pioneer basketball. Sacred Heart's first year of competition was the 1965–66 season under coach Don Feeley. Sacred Heart joined NCAA Division I in the 1999–2000 season.
=Classification=
| class="wikitable" |
| Years
! Classification ! National Tournaments ! Seasons |
|---|
| 1999–2000 to Present
| 0 appearances | {{age|1999|3|1 |
|-
| 1965–66 to 1998–99
| 13 appearances
| 34
|}
=Home court=
| class="wikitable" |
| Years
! Venue ! Seasons |
|---|
| 1997–98 to Present
| {{age|1996|11|1 |
|-
| 1965–66 to 1996–97
| Memorial Hall
| 32
|}
=Conference affiliation=
| class="wikitable" |
| Years
! Conference ! Seasons |
|---|
| 1999–2000 to Present
| {{age|1998|11|1 |
|-
| 1981–82 to 1996–97
| New England Collegiate Conference
| 16
|-
| 1965–66 to 1980–81, 1997–98 to 1998–99
| Division II Independent
| 18
|}
Postseason
=NCAA Division II Tournament results=
The Pioneers have appeared in 13 NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 22–15. They were national champions in 1986.
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Sacred Heart Pioneers|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
| align="center"
| 1971 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Assumption Stonehill | L 83–106 W 86–81 |
| align="center"
| 1972 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd Place | Assumption Bridgeport | L 82–112 L 89–107 |
| align="center"
| 1975 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd Place | Assumption Hartford | L 95–111 L 91–102 |
| align="center"
| 1977 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd-place game | Assumption Merrimack Towson State Chattanooga North Alabama | W 83–78 W 110–104 W 85–82 L 81–95 L 77–93 |
| align="center"
| 1978 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Bridgeport Merrimack Cheyney | W 73–70 W 84–83 OT L 57–59 |
| align="center"
| 1981 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Stonehill Southern New Hampshire | W 89–86 L 80–81 |
| align="center"
| 1982 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Springfield Southern Connecticut Kentucky Wesleyan | W 66–61 W 78–67 L 85–88 |
| align="center"
| 1983 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Assumption American International District of Columbia | W 113–108 4OT W 72–68 L 38–45 |
| align="center"
| 1984 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | American International South Dakota State Saint Augustine's | W 72–69 2OT W 88–81 OT L 92–107 |
| align="center"
| 1985 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Bridgeport American International | W 47–45 L 74–80 |
| align="center"
| 1986 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | Springfield Southern New Hampshire Norfolk State Florida Southern Southeast Missouri State | W 76–74 2OT W 83–67 W 84–74 W 86–80 W 93–87 |
| align="center"
| 1987 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Saint Anselm Southern New Hampshire | W 82–80 L 67–73 |
| align="center"
| 1989 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | Bentley Bridgeport North Carolina Central | W 103–88 W 69–67 L 57–58 |