EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
East Tennessee State University's 19-8 basketball squad competes from the 5,100-capacity Freedom Hall in Johnson City, where coach Brooks Savage has built an offense averaging 78.3 points per game this season. The Buccaneers' 13-3 home record demonstrates their dominance in front of their crowd, though their road struggles at 6-5 have limited conference advancement to a 6-3 mark in Southern Conference play. With a 15-player roster working behind a defense holding opponents to 68.1 points per game, Savage's program represents a core group executing within a 230-student-athlete commitment at the 13,483-student institution founded in 1911.
ETSU's 19 wins have been powered by careful roster management and defensive discipline, as evidenced by their 10-point scoring differential despite uneven road success. The Freedom Hall advantage—producing a plus-seven home-road record differential—underscores how Savage has established an environment where Southern Conference opponents face measurable challenges coming to Johnson City. Southern Conference positioning depends on finishing the season strong on the road, where the Buccaneers must reverse their 6-5 away pattern to compete for postseason tournaments that value conference tournament placement and late-season momentum.
KEY FACTS
| School | East Tennessee State University |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Johnson City, Tennessee |
| Venue | Freedom Hall (TN) |
| Head Coach | Brooks Savage |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Blake Barkley | F |
| 25 | Joseph Carter | G |
| 14 | Brayden Crump | F |
| 3 | Maddox Huff | G |
| 2 | Maki Johnson | G |
| 55 | Milton Matthews III | G |
| 35 | Jordan McCullum | F |
| 15 | Cam Morris III | F |
| 30 | Henry Sisemore | F |
| 21 | Gabe Sisk | G |
| 4 | Jaylen Smith | G |
| 5 | Allen Strothers | G |
| 24 | Isaiah Sutherland | F |
| 11 | Brian Taylor II | G |
| 23 | Frederico Whitaker Jr. | G |
SEASON RECORD
23-11
Overall
15-5
Home
8-6
Away
9-6
Conference
77.6 PPG / 69.3 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Converse Valkyries | W 102-50 |
| Nov 8 | Presbyterian Blue Hose | L 64-68 |
| Nov 13 | Northern Kentucky Norse | W 75-63 |
| Nov 15 | North Alabama Lions | W 78-74 |
| Nov 22 | Morehead State Eagles | W 77-62 |
| Nov 23 | UL Monroe Warhawks | W 97-55 |
| Nov 29 | Central Arkansas Bears | W 80-57 |
| Dec 3 | Dayton Flyers | L 71-88 |
| Dec 6 | South Alabama Jaguars | W 91-65 |
| Dec 7 | Tusculum Pioneers | W 78-62 |
| Dec 13 | Austin Peay Governors | L 75-76 |
| Dec 17 | North Carolina Tar Heels | L 58-77 |
| Dec 20 | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | L 75-81 |
| Dec 30 | The Citadel Bulldogs | W 74-49 |
| Jan 3 | Mercer Bears | W 77-71 |
| Jan 8 | VMI Keydets | W 81-67 |
| Jan 10 | UNC Greensboro Spartans | W 86-60 |
| Jan 14 | Western Carolina Catamounts | L 68-72 |
| Jan 17 | Samford Bulldogs | W 76-75 |
| Jan 22 | Chattanooga Mocs | W 67-66 |
| Jan 24 | The Citadel Bulldogs | W 84-55 |
| Jan 30 | Western Carolina Catamounts | L 88-90 |
| Feb 2 | Wofford Terriers | W 86-72 |
| Feb 5 | Furman Paladins | W 75-71 |
| Feb 7 | VMI Keydets | W 87-70 |
| Feb 12 | Chattanooga Mocs | W 73-61 |
| Feb 14 | Samford Bulldogs | L 72-82 |
| Feb 18 | Furman Paladins | W 78-69 |
| Feb 21 | UNC Greensboro Spartans | W 87-75 |
| Feb 26 | Wofford Terriers | L 69-72 |
| Feb 28 | Mercer Bears | L 76-82 |
| Mar 7 | The Citadel Bulldogs | W 83-76 |
| Mar 8 | Western Carolina Catamounts | W 69-67 |
| Mar 9 | Furman Paladins | L 61-76 |
ANALYTICS
+8.3
Pt Diff
L1
Streak
55.7%
SOS
#174
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.4674
106.2
Adj O
107.4
Adj D
OTHER SPORTS AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS
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Tennessee Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does East Tennessee State Men's Basketball compete in?
- East Tennessee State Buccaneers Men's Basketball competes in the Southern Conference conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does East Tennessee State play men's basketball home games?
- East Tennessee State Men's Basketball plays home games at Freedom Hall (TN) in Johnson City, TN.
- Who is the head coach of East Tennessee State Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of East Tennessee State Buccaneers Men's Basketball is Brooks Savage.
- When was East Tennessee State Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for East Tennessee State Men's Basketball is not currently available.