Ayrton Oneill
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The team currently competes in the America East Conference and the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Bulldogs have appeared twice in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2025. In 2008, Bryant began the transition to Division I with former Ohio University coach Tim O'Shea. The 2012–13 season marked the first year Bryant was eligible for the postseason, in which they qualified for the College Basketball Invitational.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | I |
| University | Bryant University |
| Team Name | Bulldogs |
| Head Coach | Jamion Christian |
| Home Ground | Chace Athletic Center |
| Conference | America East Conference |
| Previous Conference | Northeast Conference (NEC) |
| First Year of Eligibility for Postseason | 2012-13 |
| First Appearance in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament | 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I
- The team currently competes in the America East Conference
- The Bulldogs have appeared twice in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- In 2008, Bryant began the transition to Division I with coach Tim O'Shea
- The Bulldogs play their home games at the Chace Athletic Center
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I
Bryant University began its transition to Division I in 2008 with former Ohio University coach Tim O'Shea. The 2012-13 season marked the first year that Bryant was eligible for the postseason, and they qualified for the 2013 College Basketball Invitational. In 2015, assistant coach Chris Burns came out as gay, making him the first openly gay coach in Division I men's basketball.
The Bulldogs have appeared twice in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2025. Bryant University previously competed in the NAIA as an independent program from 1963 to 1976 as the Bryant College Indians. The college then became a member of the NCAA Division II level in 1977.
Bryant University is a Division I member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), with men's varsity teams competing in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. More than 20% of undergraduate students at Bryant participate in varsity sports, and the athletes excel both on the field and in the classroom, with a 95% graduation rate.
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The team currently competes in the America East Conference
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The team currently competes in the America East Conference, having transitioned to Division I in 2008 under former coach Tim O'Shea. Led by head coach Jamion Christian, the Bulldogs play their home games at the Chace Athletic Center.
Bryant University is a member of the America East Conference, which is home to 25 NCAA DI teams. The Bulldogs have appeared twice in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2025. The team qualified for the postseason in the 2012-13 season, making their first appearance in the 2013 College Basketball Invitational.
The Bulldogs have a strong tradition of success in the America East Conference. Under the leadership of coach Jared Grasso, who took over in 2018, the team's performance improved significantly. In the 2019-20 season, the Bulldogs rose to 15 victories, including a win over Fordham in December. Grasso's contributions were recognised, and he was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year Award.
The Bryant Bulldogs basketball team has a dedicated fan base and boasts some of the finest athletic facilities in New England. The team's success and the competitive mindset of its athletes have contributed to thriving careers, both on and off the court. The athletes excel academically as well, with a dedicated academic advisor supporting them. As a result, student-athletes at Bryant University have achieved an impressive overall graduation rate of 95%, which is five points above the national average.
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The Bulldogs have appeared twice in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The team currently competes in the America East Conference. They are led by head coach Jamion Christian and play their home games at the Chace Athletic Center.
The 1966-67 season was Bryant's most successful during their time in the NAIA. The team achieved an undefeated regular season, with a record of 22-0, before losing the final two games in the District 32 Tournament. This 22-2 record stood as their best overall performance during the NAIA years.
Bryant began its transition to Division I in 2008 with coach Tim O'Shea, who retired after the 2017-18 season. Jared Grasso was named as his replacement and led the team to a significant improvement, reaching 10 wins, including a victory over Fordham. The Bulldogs continued their upward trajectory in the 2019-20 season, racking up 15 wins and solidifying their place among the top Division I teams.
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In 2008, Bryant began the transition to Division I with coach Tim O'Shea
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I men's basketball. In 2008, Bryant began its transition to Division I with former Ohio University coach Tim O'Shea. O'Shea was named head coach of the Bryant men's basketball program in April 2008, arriving from Ohio University, where he had spent seven seasons as head coach.
O'Shea had a clear vision for what it would take for Bryant's basketball program to succeed at the Division I level. And succeed they did. In his first nine seasons in Smithfield, O'Shea transformed the Bulldogs into a premier program in the Northeast, taking Bryant to three consecutive NEC Tournaments from 2012 to 2015, as well as a national postseason appearance in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
The 2012–13 season marked the first year Bryant was eligible for the postseason, in which they qualified for the College Basketball Invitational. Under O'Shea's leadership, Bryant achieved back-to-back double-digit wins in the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons, the first time in Division I history. In 2014–15, O'Shea led the Bulldogs to their first postseason win at the Division I level, a double-overtime 91–85 victory over Sacred Heart in the NEC Quarterfinals.
O'Shea retired following the 2017–18 season, leaving behind a Bulldogs team that had improved significantly during his tenure.
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The Bulldogs play their home games at the Chace Athletic Center
The two-tiered pricing system at the Chace Athletic Center offers affordable entertainment, with bleacher seats sold for $15 and chairback seating for $25. Free parking and inexpensive concessions, including a small concession stand outside the gym, make it a cost-effective option for fans. The Bryant Athletic Hall of Fame, located in the lobby, displays the team's trophies and an interactive electronic display for visitors to explore.
The fans consist primarily of local hoops enthusiasts, alumni, and families. The student section can vary in attendance and enthusiasm, depending on the opponent, Bryant's record, and the day of the week. Despite the team's efforts, the Chace Athletic Center is known for being welcoming to visiting fans.
The Bulldogs have experienced success in recent years, with head coach Jared Grasso leading the team to back-to-back Northeast Conference Championship games in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and winning the NEC regular-season championship in 2022. This success has contributed to the growing interest in the team and the development of a solid fan base in Rhode Island.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bryant University is a Division I member of the Northeast Conference (NEC).
Yes, Bryant University has both a men's and women's varsity basketball team.
The Bryant Bulldogs play in the America East Conference.
In 2008, Bryant began the transition to Division I with former Ohio University coach Tim O'Shea.
The head coach of the men's basketball team is Jamion Christian.
