New Orleans Privateers men's basketball

New Orleans Privateers men's basketball
University of New Orleans · Public domain · source
Name	New Orleans Privateers men's basketball
University	University of New Orleans
Conference	Southland Conference
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana
Coach	Mark Slessinger
Arena	Lakefront Arena
Capacity	8,933
Nickname	Privateers
NCAA	1996

New Orleans Privateers men's basketball is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team competes in the Southland Conference and plays home games at Lakefront Arena. The program has produced NCAA Tournament appearances, NBA players, and conference championships while navigating conference realignment and program transitions.

History

The program began play under the banner of the University of New Orleans and evolved through eras defined by figures such as coach Mike Vining and coach Mark Slessinger. Early seasons intersected with regional competitions involving schools like the Tulane Green Wave, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech, and Southern University while engaging with tournaments such as the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and the National Invitation Tournament. During the 1990s the Privateers roster featured talent that drew attention in matchups against UAB, Cincinnati, UConn, and Kentucky. Program milestones include the 1996 NCAA Tournament berth and conference crowns in the American South Conference and Sun Belt Conference eras. The program weathered challenges including Hurricane Katrina disruptions and conference realignment that connected it to leagues like the Southland Conference and conversations with the American Athletic Conference. Administrative decisions by the University of New Orleans Board of Trustees and athletic directors such as Trevor Harris influenced coaching hires and facilities investments. The Privateers have played non-conference schedules featuring opponents such as Texas A&M University, Texas, Memphis, and North Carolina.

Home Arena

Home games are staged at Lakefront Arena, an on-campus facility in New Orleans, Louisiana that hosted concerts by artists linked to venues like the Smoothie King Center and events involving entities such as the New Orleans Pelicans and the Tropical Bowl. Lakefront Arena has hosted conference tournaments and neutral-site contests involving teams from the Sun Belt Conference, Southland Conference, American Athletic Conference, and Conference USA. The venue sits near Lake Pontchartrain and has been a focal point for campus engagement, alumni events tied to the University of New Orleans Foundation, and civic partnerships with organizations like Greater New Orleans, Inc. and the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.

Conference affiliations and rivals

Conference history for the Privateers includes membership in the Independent ranks, the American South Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Southland Conference. Historic rivalries have developed with regional programs such as Tulane Green Wave, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, and Southeastern Louisiana. Non-conference competitive threads link the Privateers with institutions like Southern University and Nicholls State, while marquee non-conference matchups against UAB, Memphis, and Cincinnati have influenced recruiting battles involving prospects from parishes across Louisiana and neighboring states.

Season-by-season results

Season records reflect transitions between conferences and postseason qualifications. Notable seasons include the 1995–96 schedule that culminated in an NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament appearance and conference regular-season titles during the Sun Belt Conference era. The program’s year-by-year performance shows wins and losses accumulated in contests against teams such as UTSA, ULM, Arkansas State, and Texas State. Coaching tenures—spanning Mike Vining, Joe Pasternack, and Mark Slessinger—correlate with variations in offensive and defensive efficiency measured against peer institutions including Stephen F. Austin, McNeese State, and Lamar University.

Postseason appearances

Postseason history includes an NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament berth in 1996 and invitations to the National Invitation Tournament in other seasons. Conference tournament runs in the Sun Belt Conference and the American South Conference yielded automatic-bid opportunities that sent the Privateers into national postseason play alongside programs like Old Dominion, Western Kentucky, and Tulsa. The team’s postseason footprint also intersects with midmajor postseason events and invitational tournaments that featured matchups with Marshall, South Alabama, and Florida International.

Notable players and coaches

The roster and staff have included players who advanced to professional ranks and coaches who influenced midmajor basketball. Notable alumni and staff connections link the program to names associated with the NBA and international leagues, including individuals who played against future stars from Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina. Coaches from the Privateers’ past have gone on to roles at institutions such as Arizona, Indiana, Florida, and LSU. Players have entered professional pathways alongside contemporaries from Clemson, Auburn, and Virginia.

Retired numbers and honors

The program recognizes player achievements through retired numbers, hall of fame inductions, and jersey honors coordinated with the University of New Orleans Athletics Hall of Fame and regional halls like the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Individual awards have placed Privateers among conference all-star lists in the Sun Belt Conference and Southland Conference, and alumni have earned honors that connect them to award histories at institutions such as Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Georgia.

Category:University of New Orleans athletics