Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson, WSG Sports Editor

With March Madness in full effect, we laud the accomplishments of HBCU programs whose conference championships punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament—an achievement worthy of celebration even in the face of daunting odds.

On the women’s side, the Southern University Jaguars, champions of the SWAC and a No. 16 seed, drew the unenviable assignment of facing the South Carolina Gamecocks, led by Dawn Staley. The result—a 103–34 rout—highlighted the stark disparity in resources and depth between elite programs and smaller HBCUs. Similarly, the Howard Bison fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 75–54, in a game that followed a familiar script. Home court advantage is earned by being one of the top 16th seeds.

Similarly with the men, 15th seeded Tennessee State Tigers, champions of the Ohio Valley Conference, were overmatched by the Iowa State Cyclones, losing by 34 points.

The  Howard men, guided by head coach Kenneth Blakeney, secured a historic First Four victory over the UMBC Retrievers—the program’s first NCAA Tournament win. Their reward was a matchup with the No. 1 seed Florida Gators, where reality set in via a 104–80 defeat. Still, the victory carries tangible benefits: approximately $344,000 to the program and an estimated $2.1 million distributed across the MEAC. Beyond dollars, the win fuels alumni pride, boosts student morale, and strengthens recruiting pipelines.

Likewise, the Prairie View A&M Panthers earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, edging the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 86–83. Financial gains will follow, though SWAC – with 12 members – means revenue distribution is smaller based on the per-school share compared to smaller conferences.

Which brings us to a lingering question: why is there no separate championship structure in Division I basketball similar to the FCS model in football? Programs at the FCS level compete for their own national title, creating more realistic pathways to success. In basketball, however, mid-majors and HBCUs are thrust into a single-elimination gauntlet dominated by power conferences. A parallel “FCS-style” tournament could enhance competitive balance, increase financial opportunities, and elevate the national profile of under-resourced programs.

Consider this: HBCUs have appeared in 30 of 42 First Four or opening-round games—roughly 71 percent. From 2001 to 2010, they participated in eight such contests, going 1–7. The pattern is clear. Structural inequity persists, and a reimagined postseason could offer meaningful change.

Off the court, controversy surrounds Benjy Taylor of Tuskegee University, who was publicly handcuffed following a postgame incident involving Morehouse College personnel. Taylor now seeks legal recourse, citing reputational damage and emotional distress.

Meanwhile, the tenure of Hubert Davis with the North Carolina Tar Heels appears increasingly tenuous after a second consecutive first-round exit, this time at the hands of the VCU Rams.

In the NIT, a bright spot: the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks captured their first-ever postseason victory, defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 59–48.

In the NBA, the Miami Heat continue to struggle, dropping their fourth straight game—the most recent on this past Monday at home to the surging San Antonio Spurs, led by the electrifying Victor Wembanyama.

Looking ahead, the Miami Marlins open their season at home Friday night, offering fans a fresh start and a reminder: sports, at its best, remains a welcome reprieve from the travails of the world.