Sola Adebisi, a player for The Citadel basketball team, recently spoke with Dave Friedman on the Field of 68 podcast about the team’s development during Southern Conference play. Adebisi highlighted how trust and connection among teammates have grown as the season has advanced.
“Honestly, everybody’s just trusting each other and trusting the system that coaches put in,” Adebisi said. “We’ve just been able to work it out.”
The Bulldogs’ progress has been evident through comeback victories, overtime games, and important road wins. According to Adebisi, these improvements are due to internal growth, increased defensive effort, better communication, and a shared sense of purpose in key moments.
Adebisi pointed out that experience from close losses last season helped returning players mature. “It was definitely pretty frustrating,” he said of those games. “We’d go into every game believing we had a chance, and we had multiple opportunities that could have gone our way. Me and the other returners were able to use those experiences and learn from them to help us win this year.”
He recalled his first conference win—an overtime victory against Western Carolina—as an emotional milestone. “I was pretty emotional after the game because that’s something I hadn’t done in my time here, win a SoCon game,” he said. “It was a great feeling, and I knew we’d be able to carry that momentum.”
The team’s performance in January stood out as they secured five wins—the most for The Citadel in January since 2008–09 when they recorded seven victories in that month.
During an away game at VMI, Adebisi contributed eight rebounds and two blocks while helping set a physical tone early on. This composure was tested again against Furman when The Citadel came back from a 19-point deficit in the second half. Adebisi scored a career-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and made a three-point play with under ten seconds left to tie the game before winning 77–75 in overtime—a comeback marking the program’s second-largest ever.
“That was another emotional game,” Adebisi said. “Coach told us to keep sticking with it. Knowing anything can happen in college basketball, we kept fighting and were able to get it done.”
Four of The Citadel’s games this season have required overtime. Adebisi noted their depth gives them confidence during extended contests: “Coach always emphasizes how physical we play and getting into the other team’s legs,” he said. “If the game goes into overtime, we feel like we’re at an advantage, especially with the depth this team has. We have 10 or 11 guys who can really play in our rotation. We know we’re the fresher team.”
A road win at Chattanooga also demonstrated progress for the Bulldogs after narrowly losing there last year.
“That was a great feeling,” he said. “Last year we had a close game with them and lost by two or three points. It was nice to be able to go back in there and get a win this time.”
As their improvement continues on both offense and defense, Adebisi credited team cohesion: “We’re playing a lot more connected on offense and defense,” he said. “Our defense has picked up. We’re able to pressure teams and make them do things they don’t want to, and on offense we’re taking more balanced shots. Everybody’s connected, and we’re all just playing as one.”
He attributed much of this unity to head coach Ed Conroy: “Coach Conroy is really passionate,” Adebisi said. “He’s energetic, and that energizes the team.” He added that Conroy’s intensity extends beyond games into practices and preparation.
Reflecting on his arrival at The Citadel, Adebisi felt immediately comfortable with both coaches and teammates: “The coaches were genuine, and when I met the players you could tell the group was tight,” he said.
Off court life has also contributed positively for him: “When I have free time, I like to go to different food spots,” he said about Charleston life.
Adebisi acknowledged balancing basketball with cadet responsibilities creates strong bonds among teammates: “There’s a lot that comes with what they do every day,” he said.
Recent success has led to increased support at home games: “Coach Conroy told us when we start winning McAlister Field House will start to fill up,” Adebisi observed.
Looking ahead toward postseason play in Asheville’s Southern Conference tournament—with hopes for earning a first-round bye—Adebisi expressed optimism: “That would mean a lot,” he said of earning favorable seeding for his team.
He also praised several teammates for their contributions throughout the season: “Braxton Williams has been scoring the ball consistently,” he noted along with Carter’s impact inside; Logan Applegate’s shooting off bench; Simeon’s rebounding strength; but emphasized overall group effort as key.
As they approach tournament time focused on trust, toughness and togetherness—Adebisi summarized their outlook simply: keep building and competing while representing The Citadel well.
