A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON WINNING THE 2023 COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House is pleased to learn that the College of Charleston men's basketball team took top honors at the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Conference Tournament, held March 3-7, 2023, at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, after capturing the CAA title, the program's first since 2018, the College of Charleston men's basketball team finished 2022-2023 with a 31-4 overall record and an appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The team earned a No. 12 seed in March Madness, making the Cougars the CAA's highest-seeded team in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship since UNCW was also a No. 12 seed in 2017. The season ultimately came to an end with a 63-57 first-round loss to San Diego State, the runner-up in the 2023 tournament; and

Whereas, the Cougars went on a 20-game winning streak that included winning the Charleston Classic, an ESPN tournament, on their home court. Head Coach Pat Kelsey's program was ranked as high as No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll, where Charleston team members saw their name appear in the rankings for four consecutive weeks and received votes for a total of 16 weeks. Charleston ranked among the nation's best in bench points, offensive rebounds, and three-point attempts all season long; and

Whereas, the team was also the only CAA program to have three players, Ryan Larson, Dalton Bolon, and Pat Robinson, named CAA Player of the Week. Larson and Bolon also were named finalists for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year, which is awarded annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball; and

Whereas, in just his second year of leading the program, Pat Kelsey was named to the Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year late-season watch list and was selected as the USBWA and NABC District Coach of the Year; and

Whereas, five Cougars were named to the All-CAA teams. Bolon was tapped for the All-CAA first team, while Larson and Ante Brzovic earned spots on the All-CAA third team. Jaylon Scott was named to the league's All-Defensive team, while Pat Robinson III was named the CAA Sixth Man of the Year; and

Whereas, in addition, the Cougars shone in the classroom. Bolon and Larson were named to the CSC Academic All-District team. Bolon then went on to be named a First Team Academic All-Academic, an honor bestowed on only five Division I players in the country; and

Whereas, the members of the House value the pride and recognition the College of Charleston men's basketball players have brought to their school and State and eagerly look to hear of their continued accomplishments in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the College of Charleston men's basketball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them on winning the 2023 Colonial Athletic Association Conference Tournament Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Andrew T. Hsu, president, and Head Coach Pat Kelsey of the College of Charleston.

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