College of Charleston men’s basketball coach John Groce revealed the Cougars’ 2026-27 non-conference schedule on Sept. 17, giving fans their first look at how first-year head coach Groce plans to open his tenure at TD Arena.
The slate kicks off with a rivalry exhibition against crosstown foe The Citadel on Sept. 27 as part of the LinkU Invitational at Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island, an unusual early-season showcase that puts the two Charleston-area programs on the court together before the calendar even turns to October. From there, the Cougars host Furman in a second exhibition game on Oct. 25 at TD Arena before the regular season opens in earnest.
Charleston’s non-conference home schedule includes games against Newberry on Nov. 6, South Carolina State on Nov. 15, Voorhees on Nov. 25 and Davidson on Dec. 2, all at TD Arena, giving local fans a steady run of home dates to see Groce’s new roster take shape. The Cougars also travel to Temple on Nov. 11 and to Belmont on Dec. 6 as part of the non-conference slate before Charleston’s Cancun Challenge appearance in late November, where the team is set to face UTEP and either Eastern Michigan or Kennesaw State at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya resort.
Groce takes over a program that has been a consistent contender in recent years, and the schedule reflects an effort to blend manageable early wins with higher-profile non-conference tests before Colonial Athletic Association play begins. The Cougars’ full CAA schedule, including conference openers, will roll out separately once league scheduling is finalized.
The Sept. 27 exhibition against The Citadel is expected to draw strong local interest given the proximity of the two campuses and the natural rivalry between the programs, even though the game will not count in either team’s official record.
