Before we go any farther, I didn’t pick Kansas to win the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball championship. In fact, I have the Jayhawks being shocked by Michigan State in a Round of 32 game on Sunday.
I’m a tried and true Jayhawk, but when it comes to winning NCAA bracket pools, one must never let their heart guide their head.
While the opening round games will feature known basketball powers taking on tiny schools with no real chance of winning, it offers the underdogs exposure the universities welcome – especially HBCUs.
Jerry Crawford II, associate professor of journalism at the University of Kansas, said Tuesday that Texas Southern of the Southwest Athletic Conference and North Carolina Central of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will share a stage that gives them a much-needed national audience – even if there is a blowout.
While educational segregation is no longer official policy, Crawford says, “HBCUs face many challenges, including declining enrollment, financial pressures and accreditation difficulty.”
“The NCAA tournament is possibly the first time these teams will play a Power 5 conference school on a neutral floor,” Crawford said.
“Normally, HBCUs have to play these schools as what is considered a ‘pay for play’ game, at the larger school’s facility. So, from my experience, HBCU teams are happy for the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”
There is always the chance for an upset, and the longer the HBCU stays close in a game, the larger the TV audience will become. Also, the financial windfall is precious, according to Crawford, a nationally recognized author and analyst on HBCUs, including financial challenges2, the importance of journalism programs at HBCUs3 and accreditation challenges4.
“No matter their win-loss record, no matter if they win their conference regular season and the conference tournament title, the best they can hope for is a number 15 seed,” Crawford said.
“However, the exposure in the ‘Big Dance’ does allow for great recruiting opportunities, and who knows, this year’s MEAC champion, possibly playing (Midwest Region) number 1 Kansas, would provide a match-up with legendary KU alum and Hall of Famer John McLendon’s NCCU Eagles Friday night.”
To advance to the KU showdown, NCCU must have beaten the University of California-Davis in a play-in game on Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio. The Eagles were favored by odds makers by three points.
SWAC champion, Texas Southern, earned a 16 seed and will play North Carolina.
Lest you think these teams stand no chance against a basketball power, three of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history belong to HBCU schools.
On March 16, 2012, Norfolk State entered its game with No. 2 seed Missouri a 21.5-point underdog. Behind Kyle O’Quinn’s 26 points and 14 rebounds, the Spartans shocked the Tigers 86-84. Many a Mizzou fan will never forget that fateful late afternoon game, because it ended a season in which many pundits had picked the Tigers to reach the Final Four. ESPN lists this as the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
Tiny Coppin State University pulled an upset for the ages when it toppled two-seed South Carolina 78-65 on March 14, 1997. After entering the game an 18.5-point underdog, the Eagles fell behind by seven points in the first half. Game over, right? Nah. Coppin went on a 38-18 run with about 12 minutes left in the game and won 78-65. It was the first tournament win for Coppin State and the MEAC conference.
Iowa State was a 15.5-point favorite over Hampton University on March 15, 2001 and held a 10-point advantage before the Pirates climbed back into the game. The crowd in Boise, Idaho sensed an upset and Hampton’s small contingent of fans soon had thousands of other fans from other schools on their side.
Hampton hung on to win 58-57, and the on-court celebration is one that NCAA fans still remember.
My Final Four
While a lot of drama will take place over the next few days, and there will certainly be a shocker or two in the NCAA Tournament, there is not a lot of surprise in my Final Four.
Look for St. Louisan Jayson Tatum and the Duke Blue Devils to take on Arizona in one national semifinal. North Carolina will play Louisville in the other semifinal. North Carolina will avenge last year’s heartbreaking loss to Villanova in the title game by topping Arizona in the championship game.
The best play
Two seasons ago, the Seattle Seahawks battled the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. After a hard-fought game, a crazy reception left the Seahawks just five yards from a game-winning touchdown. One running play later, the Seahawks were at the 1-yard line.
Regardless of how it all got to that moment, the best play was the simplest play. Instead of doing what was prudent, Seattle somehow decided to pass the ball. There was an interception and Seattle lost.
Leading up to the Democratic Primary on March 7, one team narrowed its focus and playbook to one game plan and basically one play.
The other team had several plays and formations and basically couldn’t get out of its own way. Yet, it found itself at the one yard line with plenty of time left in the game. It just had to eliminate some plays and stick with the one that would work.
Tishaura O. Jones was the running play that would have won. The other black candidates were the passing plays that lost the game. Sometimes, it’s as simple as that.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
