Appalachian State: Basketball School Or Not?

is appalachian state a basketball school

The Appalachian State Mountaineers are the athletic teams of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The university has varsity teams in 17 sports, 7 for men and 10 for women. The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, in 1979, 2000, and 2021, and in the National Invitation Tournament in 2007 and 2024. The women's basketball team was one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, winning six SoCon tournament titles and six regular-season championships in a 26-year span. So, is Appalachian State a basketball school?

Characteristics Values
Number of varsity teams 17
Number of varsity teams for men 7
Number of varsity teams for women 10
Number of sports played 17
Basketball team's home ground George M. Holmes Convocation Center
Basketball team's coach Dustin Kerns
Number of appearances in the NCAA tournament 3
Years of appearance in the NCAA tournament 1979, 2000, and 2021
Number of appearances in the National Invitation Tournament 2
Years of appearance in the National Invitation Tournament 2007 and 2024
Number of appearances in the NAIA Tournament 5
Combined record in the NAIA Tournament 5-5
Number of appearances in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament 1
Year of appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament 2010
Number of former players who have played in the NBA 1

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Basketball team history

Appalachian State University, located in Boone, North Carolina, is home to the Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team. The team competes in the Sun Belt Conference, having transitioned from the Southern Conference in 2014. The Mountaineers play their home games at the Holmes Center and have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times—in 1979, 2000, and 2021—and in the National Invitation Tournament in 2007 and 2024. They also reached the semifinals of the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

The Mountaineers have notable rivalries with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and the Georgia Southern Eagles. East Tennessee State has dominated the series with Appalachian State over the past two decades, winning 14 games to Appalachian State's 3 wins. However, since transitioning to the Sun Belt Conference, Appalachian State has been more competitive against the Georgia Southern Eagles, holding a 6-7 record against them and winning the last four meetings between the two teams.

The university's basketball team has produced at least one NBA player, and the program has had several notable coaches, including Buzz Peterson, Press Maravich, and Bobby Cremins. The university boasts impressive athletic facilities, including the Kidd Brewer Stadium and the neighbouring Ricks Athletics Center, which provides training and academic areas for all varsity sports. The athletics program at Appalachian State University prioritises academic excellence alongside athletic performance, with student-athletes consistently achieving high GPAs and graduation rates.

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Basketball coaching staff

Appalachian State University (App State) has a strong basketball programme, with separate teams for men and women. The men's basketball team has a coaching trio of Dustin Kerns, Frank Young, and Bradley Fey. Kerns, a 2002 Clemson graduate, is the 22nd head coach in App State men's basketball history. He was named to the position in March 2019 and has led the team to 54 wins and three consecutive winning records in his first three seasons. Kerns has also guided the team to 35 Sun Belt victories and 17 true road wins, the most for a coach in his initial three seasons since the 1940-41 and 1941-42 seasons. The team has also recorded 18 comeback wins from halftime deficits during his tenure, tying for third place nationally.

Prior to his promotion, Frank Young was an assistant coach for five years and has been a part of Kerns' staff for all seven years of his head coaching career. Young has worked with multiple NBA first-round picks, including Moses Moody and Jaylin Williams. Bradley Fey, meanwhile, previously served as Kerns' director of basketball operations for six years and played a crucial role in the team's day-to-day operations. This will be Fey's first assistant coaching job at the collegiate level, bringing his four years of Division I experience to the role.

In addition to the men's team, the women's basketball team also competes at the NCAA Division I level, contributing to the university's athletic excellence.

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Basketball facilities

Appalachian State University boasts some of the finest athletics facilities in collegiate sports. While Kidd Brewer Stadium and the neighbouring Ricks Athletics Center are the crown jewels of the university's athletic facilities, there are several other facilities that cater to basketball players.

The Varsity Gym, which cost $2 million to build, was North Carolina's largest indoor athletic facility west of Charlotte and Winston-Salem when it was completed in 1968. Varsity Gym served as the home of App State basketball for 32 years until the 1999-2000 men's and women's basketball seasons. Today, it is used by the men's and women's basketball teams as an alternate practice facility. The gym is also used by the volleyball, men's and women's golf, and track and field programs for practice. The Mountaineer's pole vaulters practice on the second level, and workouts are also held on the Mondo track.

The Student Recreation Center (SRC) is another facility that basketball players can make use of. It features a 50-foot climbing wall, cardio theatre, weight room, indoor track, and a 50-metre swimming pool.

Appalachian State University also has a Golf Performance Lab in the basement of Varsity Gym. The lab, which was renovated in 2018, features two Skytrak Golf Simulators and two impact screens accompanied by televisions, projectors, and computers. There are also two separate rooms designed for indoor chipping and putting practice that simulate green-like surfaces.

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Basketball team achievements

Appalachian State University is home to a variety of athletic programs, including basketball. The Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team is the college basketball team at the university, based in Boone, North Carolina. The team has had notable past coaches, including Buzz Peterson, Press Maravich, and Bobby Cremins.

The Mountaineers have had several notable achievements over the years. They compete in the Sun Belt Conference, having transitioned from the Southern Conference in 2014. This conference change marked a shift in the team's performance, as they began to excel in the new league.

One of their notable achievements was qualifying for the NCAA tournament three times, in 1979, 2000, and 2021, showcasing their consistency over several years. They also reached the National Invitation Tournament in 2007 and 2024, demonstrating their ability to consistently perform at a high level.

In addition to tournament appearances, the Mountaineers reached the semifinals of the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, showcasing their potential to make deep runs in competitions. Their performance in the Sun Belt Conference has been impressive, with a record of 6-7 against rivals Georgia Southern since the transition, winning the last four meetings.

The team's achievements extend beyond the court. The Appalachian State student-athletes have excelled academically, maintaining a GPA above 3.0 for 16 consecutive semesters, with the fall 2022 semester ending with a 3.13 GPA. The university also earned the Sun Belt Conference's Institutional Graduation Rate Award in 2015 and 2017, highlighting the academic success of its student-athletes.

Appalachian State University's basketball team has a rich history, with notable coaches and players, and a strong academic standing. The Mountaineers have consistently performed well in their conference and have made appearances in prestigious tournaments, making them a competitive force in collegiate basketball.

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Other Appalachian State sports

Appalachian State University, represented by the Appalachian State Mountaineers, offers a wide range of sports other than basketball. The university's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and were part of the Southern Conference from 1972 until their move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.

The Mountaineers field varsity teams in 17 sports, with 7 for men and 10 for women. Aside from men's and women's basketball, other notable sports include baseball, football, and wrestling, for which admission is charged. The wrestling team remains a part of the Southern Conference as the Sun Belt Conference does not sponsor the sport.

Appalachian State's football program has enjoyed considerable success, with the Mountaineers claiming three consecutive national championships from 2005 to 2007. They are the only team in North Carolina to achieve this feat. The university's baseball team, which first took the field in 1903, has also excelled, winning several conference titles and tournaments.

The women's field hockey team, formerly part of the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac), joined the Mid-American Conference in 2017 after the demise of their previous league. The Mountaineers wrestling team has produced notable wrestlers, including former Olympians Al Crawford, Herb Singerman, Ike Anderson, and Dale Oliver.

Appalachian State University boasts impressive athletic facilities, including the Kidd Brewer Stadium and the Ricks Athletics Center, which provides training and academic spaces for all 17 varsity sports. The university's athletic programs prioritize not only sporting excellence but also academic achievement, with student-athletes consistently maintaining high GPAs.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Appalachian State University is a basketball school. The Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team is the college basketball team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, United States. The women's basketball team was one of the top teams in the Southern Conference and has won several SoCon tournament titles and regular-season championships.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are members of the Sun Belt Conference.

The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament three times (1979, 2000, and 2021) and the National Invitation Tournament twice (2007 and 2024). Their combined record in the NCAA tournament is 0-3, and they have a 5-5 record in the NAIA Tournament. The women's basketball team won the Southern Conference regular-season title in 2011 and has claimed six SoCon tournament titles and six regular-season championships.

Appalachian State University fields varsity teams in 17 sports, with 7 men's teams and 10 women's teams. The football program has been particularly successful, with the Mountaineers winning three straight NCAA Division I national championships from 2005 to 2007. The university also boasts strong wrestling, field hockey, and baseball programs.

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