Bucs, Cougars might favor academics over postseason

After coming up one victory short of 20-win seasons, the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern might have opportunities to play in one of the two lower-tier men's postseason basketball tournaments.

Both schools have worthy resumes, but whether they are invited won't be known until late Sunday, after both the NCAA and National Invitation Tournament announce their fields. The College of Charleston is currently No. 110 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) while CSU is No. 169.

Charleston Southern coach Barclay Radebaugh, whose team lost to UNC Asheville in the Big South tournament semifinals to finish at 19-12, said his team would like to continue playing, but there are some caveats. The CSU coaching staff met with players Monday afternoon and Radebaugh cited missed time in the classroom as a big consideration.

College of Charleston interim coach Mark Byington said the Cougars are leaning toward not participating in a postseason tournament, and missed classes is a big factor.

"There are multiple reasons," said Byington, whose team also finished with a 19-12 record after losing to App State in the opening round of the Southern Conference tournament.

"(Cougars forward) Trent Wiedeman is probably going to have ankle surgery and I think there could be a long rehab in that. Our guys have missed an unbelievable amount of classes this semester. We probably would have to be a road team and that would mean more missed classes."

"We will have to see if it's in the best interest of our program," said Radebaugh. "I certainly feel like we deserve an opportunity. I feel like we've had a good year. But we have to gauge the interest of the players and see. They have to want to do it. The time we've missed in class already is certainly a consideration."

Charleston Southern has played in the postseason only once, facing UCLA in an opening-round game of the 1997 NCAA tournament.

The College of Charleston has played in the NCAA tournament four times, the last time in 1999. The Cougars have played in the NIT five times, including last year when they made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Wichita State. Charleston played in the CBI in 2009 and in 2010.