After completing the 2024-2025 season at 10-22 and second-to-last in Sun Belt Conference (SBC) play, CCU’s men’s basketball team has nearly matched that record only halfway through the season. At 9-9 overall, the Chants are showing this season isn’t about survival, but progress.
Head coach Justin Gray emphasized the importance of the program’s preparation and consistency over outcomes.
“We work to try and be at a certain standard; the coaching staff does a great job prepping our guys and holding them to that standard. We try not to worry about the results as much as being at that standard,” Gray said.
While currently sitting at 10th in the SBC, the Chanticleers are looking to reestablish their program’s reputation and are proving themselves a worthy opponent. However, the Chants turnover rate, at an average of 10 per game, is compromising their offensive efforts.
“This team’s chemistry is through the roof, and we know we got enough to get the job done. It’s just that we have to work every day to get there and complete our goals,” guard Rasheed Jones said.
Much of the team’s progress, according to GoCCUSports, is credited to guard Joshua Beadle and Jones’ strong leadership skills on the offensive end of the court. Beadle is leading the team in points averaging 15.3 per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. Jones is right behind him, averaging 14.6 points per game while giving the Chants a strong and energetic offense to feed off throughout.
“It’s the way we play; coach put me and some other guys in good positions so having good guards is how we run our offense,” Beadle said. “We run a lot of transition; I feel like I’m pretty good in transition, which is where a lot of those points come from. Broken plays and pretty much playing in transition, and I think that caters to my game.”
Guard AJ Dancler averages 13.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds while forward Reggie Hill leads a rebounding average of 5.9 per game. Their ability to crash the glass without sacrificing transition defense limits fast-break chances and leads to easy points.
The work isn’t finished as the Chants conquer the remainder of the 2025-2026 season, hoping to make it in the postseason with hard work and determination.
