Season in Review // Live CNU Radio // Live Video // Live Stats
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University opens the 2023-2024 men's basketball season on Wednesday night, and for the first time ever the Captains will be playing as defending National Champions.
John Krikorian's squad travels to take on the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. at Fleet Gymnasium.
The Captains are ranked first in the nation by D3hoops.com heading into the new season after capturing their first National Championship last season. CNU went 30-3 and defeated Mount Union in the title game in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on March 15th. A dozen student-athletes from last year's team return to the squad, including pre-season All-Americans
Trey Barber and
Jahn Hines, who were key contributors to CNU's success a year ago.
Christopher Newport has advanced to seven straight NCAA Tournaments, and nine of the last 12 since Krikorian took over the program. The 30 victories last season matched the highest win total in program history. Christopher Newport is also ranked pre-season #1 in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference's poll of coaches, and Krikorian, who was named National Coach of the Year last year, has now recorded an overall record of 290-65 (.817) leading the Captains.
The road battle Wednesday night marks the start of the 56th season in CNU men's basketball history. The Captains are 42-13 all-time in season-openers, and began the year last year with a road win at Johns Hopkins, 74-61. The Blue Jays were ranked tenth in the nation at the time.
Hampden-Sydney is ranked eighth in the nation in the pre-season poll from D3hoops.com, and the Tigers are also coming off a successful season that saw them advance to the NCAA Tournament's second round. The Captains and Tigers met in NCAA play at Fleet Gymnasium on March 4th, and the Captains advanced with a 72-59 victory. Earlier in the year, H-SC defeated the Captains at the Freeman Center on December 13th, 85-70, one of just three losses suffered all season by Christopher Newport. Caleb Kimbrough's squad was 22-7 last year, and the Captains and Tigers will be meeting for the 16th time, with CNU holding a 9-6 edge in the all-time series.
Wednesday night's action will be broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning at 6:40 p.m. You can access the broadcast by clicking on the link provided at the top of the story. Hampden-Sydney will also be producing a video stream that can be seen by clicking above, as well as a live stats feed to follow the action.
Following Wednesday night's opener, the Captains will travel to Marietta, Ohio, for a two-day tourney on Friday and Saturday. CNU will play Kenyon College on Friday at 6:00 p.m., and then take on host Marietta College on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CNU will have its home opener next Wednesday, November 15th, against Randolph-Macon College at 7:30 p.m. at the Freeman Center.
