With March Madness here and other tournaments ahead, this is an exciting time for men’s and women’s basketball teams at many local institutions and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) alike.
With the popularity continuing to grow in men’s and women’s college sports, new post-season tournaments have been added and players are now getting an opportunity to continue competing and vying for a championship.
The Big Dance, featuring the top-rated teams in the country, draws a lot of attention. However, there are national invitationals, where teams that did not make the Big Dance, can have a chance to extend their seasons. More than 80 men’s and women’s teams will be competing.
As a result of the expansion, it provides local teams and HBCUs with an opportunity to showcase their programs.
“Postseason basketball is awesome no matter what,” one social media user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Advancing to the NCAA Tournament
Many local teams are hoping to continue playing in the postseason.
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland men’s team (25-8) will be looking to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
While the Terrapins lost a heartbreaker at the buzzer to the University of Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, Maryland still qualified for the NCAA Tournament as a result of the team’s impressive season. Maryland faces Grand Canyon Friday (March 21) in the opening round.
American University
One of the biggest surprises of the season in college basketball has been the success of the American University Eagles. Second-year head coach Duane Simpkins took the program to the Patriot League tournament championship to earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs for the first time in years.
A graduate of DeMatha and the University of Maryland, Simpkins was recently named to the prestigious Coach’s Watch List for National Coach of the Year consideration.
The Eagles will take on Mount Saint Mary’s in the first round.
HBCUs in the NCAA Tournament
The HBCUs will also be represented. Norfolk State (24-10) won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship over South Carolina State ( 66-65) to earn the automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans, the No. 16 seed, will face off against the University of Florida, the No. 1 seed in that region.
In the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Alabama State (19-15) defeated Jackson State for the conference tournament championship; thus, earning the right to take on St. Francis in the NCAA play-in game.
Men’s Teams Compete in National Invitational Tournament
George Mason came up just short in a loss to VCU in the A-10 finals, but because of their impressive resume under second-year head coach Tony Skinn, the Patriots will host Samford in the first round of the NIT.
As a result of solid seasons, both Georgetown and George Washington had fine seasons and still got another chance to extend their respective seasons despite not making the NCAAs. The two have been invited to play in the Inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.
There are 16 of the top teams in the country who have been invited.
The Hoyas (17-15) will take on Washington State on March 31. The Revolutions (21-12) will play Boise State later that day.
Women’s Teams Take on March Madness
For the women locally, the University of Maryland Terrapins will be playing in their 15th straight NCAA tournament. The Terrapins (23-7) will host Norfolk State (30-4) in the opening round in College Park, Maryland on Friday (March 21).
George Mason (26-6) had one of its best seasons in recent history under Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, winning the Atlantic 10 tournament to earn the automatic bid. The Patriots will take on Florida State. Like Simpkins, Blair-Lewis is a finalist for the Coach’s Watch List for Coach of the Year consideration.
Among the HBCUs, Norfolk State won its third straight MEAC tournament title with a win over Howard in the MEAC final. The Spartans (30-4) won 30 games for the first time in school history. Norfolk State comes in with a 15-game win streak and the highest seed (13) in the history of the program.
This will be the third straight NCAA appearance for the Spartans.
The Women’s National Invitational Tournament, HBCU All-Star Game
North Carolina A&T has been invited to play in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WBIT). A member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the North Carolina Aggies take on Virginia Tech from the ACC.
Navy women, who finished 19-11, will be in the WBIT, along with Howard (21-11), which received an automatic bid after finishing as the MEAC runner-up.
The Bison will host Siena College Friday (March 21) inside Burr Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
Texas Southern (16-15), Alabama A&M (21-10) from the SWAC, and Coppin State (18-14) from the MEAC, round out the women’s teams that have qualified for post-season play.
The Texas Southern Jaguars will face off against St. Mary’s College on March 20 in Houston at H&PE Arena, while Alabama A&M will play at Chattanooga on March 22.
Also on March 22, the Eagles of Coppin State will take on Colgate in Hamilton, New York at 6 p.m.
In addition, Coppin State‘s Laila Lawrence will appear in the first-ever Women’s HBCU All-Star game on April 6.
“Congratulations [Laila Lawrence],” Coppin’s women’s basketball team wrote on X, “another well deserved honor!”