FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball team is preparing to defend their title and announces their 2023-24 schedule. Last season, the Sharks completed the sixth undefeated national championship season in NCAA Division II history.
Head Coach Jim Crutchfield has turned the Sharks Men’s Basketball program into a national powerhouse since his arrival in 2017. During his tenure, NSU has a record of 136-21, including a 67-1 mark over the last two seasons.
“We open our season with important games against regional opponents, as both Montevallo and Alabama-Huntsville are perennially nationally ranked. Later in the season, we also host former assistant Devin Hoehn (Bluefield State), who brings his high-scoring Bluefield State team into the Shark Tank,” stated Crutchfield. “We’re looking forward to the challenges of the season, with a roster full of newcomers and consistent performing returners, and it should be an exciting year for the Sharks.”
The Sharks welcomed several additions into the fold for the 2023-24 campaign, as Isaiah Fuller, Trey Doomes, Ryker Cisarik, MJ Iraldi, Jamie Qualley, Kidd Brizek, Camden Andrews, GianFranco Grafals and Ryan Walsh will all look to make an impact in their first season at NSU. Nova Southeastern also returns six players from the 2022-23 national championship season in Ryan Davis, Maxwell Gordon, Mike Moore, Tommy Sala, Alex Mangold and Shane Hunter.
Former Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball standout Nick Smith continues to make an impact for the program and was named the Assistant Coach following the national championship victory.
Nova Southeastern tips off their campaign against Montevallo, in a neutral site game, on November 10th, before taking on Albama-Huntsville – last season’s NCAA South Region Championship matchup – on November 11th in Miami Shores, Fla.
The Sharks welcome Southeastern for the home opener at the Rick Case Arena on November 15th. After a brief hiatus, NSU returns to the court with a matchup against Bluefield State on 11/26. Sunshine State Conference action begins on November 29th, with the Sharks taking on Lynn at home, before playing Barry on the road (12/2). Nova Southeastern’s longest homestand of the season begins on December 9th, with the Sharks facing off against Palm Beach Atlantic, then Keiser (12/13), Lake Erie (12/16), before closing out 2023 with a Sunshine State Conference game against Embry-Riddle (12/30).
NSU begins the 2024 slate of games on the road against Florida Southern (1/3), before returning to the Rick Case Arena to take on Tampa on January 6th. The following week, Nova Southeastern travels to play Rollins (1/10) and Florida Tech on January 13th. The Sharks continue SSC action with match-ups at Saint Leo (1/20), home against Rollins (1/31), at Eckerd (2/3), home versus Florida Tech (2/7), away against Embry-Riddle (2/10), and on the road versus Palm Beach Atlantic (2/17).
The final stretch of the 2023-24 season for Nova Southeastern includes three home games beginning with hosting Barry on February 21st and hosting Florida Southern on February 24th, before the Sharks travel to Tampa (2/28) and closing out the regular season with a home game against Saint Leo (3/2).
The Sunshine State Conference Tournament tips off on Saturday, March 2nd, as the Sharks look to win their third consecutive tournament crown. The NCAA National Championship tournament will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN., where the Sharks seek to return to see their 2022-23 national championship banner in the rafters.
Season Tickets for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball season can be purchased here. To stay up-to-date on NSU Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.
