HBCU National Champions selected for NAIA, NCAA D-II and D-I levels

2021 HBCU Women's Small School National Champions

The Tuskegee Golden Tigers women’s basketball team finished the season ranked first in the BCSN Small School Rankings, earning recognition as BCSN’s 2021 HBCU Small School Women’s National Champion.  Head coach Trelanne Powell led Tuskegee to a 12-2 record, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division-II playoffs. It was the first NCAA tournament appearance for the Golden Tigers since 2008. Tuskegee lost to 23-ranked Tusculum 77-63 in the opening round. 

Tuskegee is a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The SIAC did not sponsor a championship this past season which would have granted an automatic bid to the NCAA D-II tournament. Schools from the SIAC were given an opportunity to play a schedule with the minimum required games (11) to be eligible for the national tournament.

FINAL Top Five Small School Women’s Rankings:

1. Tuskegee, 12-2
2. Xavier (La.), 13-7
3. Talladega, 15-3
4. Rust, 12-2
5. Edward Waters, 12-5

2021 HBCU Women's Large School National Champions

Jackson State University women’s basketball can add another championship to their trophy case for the 2020-21 season as the Lady Tigers finished the season ranked first in the BCSN Large School Rankings, earning recognition as BCSN’s 2021 HBCU Large School Women’s National Champion. Coach Tomekia Reed led JSU to a record of 18-6 overall and 14-1 conference, a second consecutive regular season Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship, and a SWAC conference tournament championship with a thrilling victory over Alabama State. JSU ended the regular season with a 16-game winning streak against SWAC opponents. The Lady Tigers earned a 15-seed in the NCAA Tournament and played 2-see Baylor Bears.

FINAL Top Five Large School Women’s Rankings:

1. Jackson State, 18-6
2. North Carolina A&T State, 14-3
3. Alabama State, 16-4
4. Howard, 15-4
5. Morgan State, 12-4

2021 HBCU Men's Small School National Co-Champions

Unfortunately, the selection of the small school men’s national champion could not be decided on the court. The season accomplishments of Stillman College and Talladega College were so good that each school earned recognition as BCSN’s 2021 HBCU Small School Men’s co-National Champion. 

Stillman did not begin their season until January 5th with a minimal non-conference schedule, yet they finished the season 17-4, 12-2 conference. Picked fifth in the preseason conference polls, the Tigers were the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) West Division champions and SSAC conference tournament runner-up. Under the leadership of Coach John Teasley, Stillman made their fourth consecutive trip to the NAIA tournament and earned a bye in the opening weekend of the NAIA national tournament as one of the Top 16 ranked teams.  Stillman defeated Keiser University 72-64 to advance to the Round of 16 as an 8-seed. The Tigers were narrowly defeated in the final moments of the game 69-67 by 9-seed University of St. Francis (Ill.).  In the final NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches Top 25 poll, Stillman finished ranked 14th.

Talladega's greatest achievement this year may have come in the number of games they were able to schedule, play and win this year from a non-conference perspective.  The Tornadoes were members of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) and teams only played each other once to determine seeding in the conference tournament. Talladega finished the regular season 6-0, were the GCAC regular season champions and conference tournament runner-up. They finished the season 25-5, earned their third consecutive NAIA Tournament appearance under head coach Chris Wright. It was the program's sixth appearance in the last seven years.  The Tornadoes won their opening round game in the NAIA tournament 77-68 against LSU-Alexandria, but were unable to overcome the top-seeded team in their tri-pod Loyola University, 78-55. In the final NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches Top 25 poll, Talladega finished ranked 9th.

Final Top 5 Small School Men’s Rankings:

T.1 Stillman, 17-4

T.1 Talladega, 25-5

3. Xavier (La.), 14-5

4. Miles, 10-1

5. Edward Waters, 12-8

2021 HBCU Men's Large School National Champions

For the first time since 2012, Norfolk State University won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season, a conference tournament championship and won a game in the NCAA tournament. The accomplishments add up to the Spartans earning the award as BCSN’s 2021 HBCU Large School Men’s National Champion. 

The Spartans had a 17-8 overall record, 8-4 conference record, won the MEAC North Division then proceeded to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a victory over fellow North Division rival Morgan State 71-63. Norfolk State was paired up against Appalachian State as a 16-seed versus 16-seed matchup in the tournament’s First Four game. Coach Robert Jones was an assistant coach in 2012 when the Spartans defeated No.2 seed Missouri as a 15-seed in the NCAA tournament. Now as the head coach, Jones led the Spartans to a 54-53 victory a few hours after SWAC champion Texas Southern defeated their First Four opponent in the same building. It was a historic first as two HBCUs won a tournament game in the same round. Norfolk State’s next opponent would be top overall seed Gonzaga University, who was the National Runner-Up.

Final Top 5 Large School Men’s Rankings:

1. Norfolk State, 17-8
2. Texas Southern, 17-9
3. Prairie View A&M, 16-5
4. Morgan State, 14-8
5. Jackson State, 12-6