TSU Men’s Basketball Hosts Second Pro Day

/in , /by

Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. Photo: Courtesy of TSU Athletics

For the second straight year, Tennessee State University (TSU) hosted a Pro Day for its men’s basketball team. Scouts from six NBA teams and agents from across the country ascended to the Gentry Center for the players to show their wares.

Players showcased their talents and were given feedback on what scouts are looking for at the next level. Grad student Jr. Clay was especially appreciative of the showcase.

“Being a grad student, this is my last go-round,” says Clay. “All of the things that Coach [Brian “Penny” Collins] is doing is why I came here. I never have been to a Pro Day, so this was fun. We have four grad students on the roster, so this was good for us and the other guys. This will also help us during the season.”

Collins is a coach that is always looking for opportunities to help his players. Last week during Homecoming, he hosted a concert that helped benefit his program. The Pro Day was just another opportunity for the players.

“These guys work hard, and they deserve this and more,” says Collins. “Power 5 schools have huge budgets, so we must be creative in what we offer. This was a great opportunity for guys to show what they can do. The season is around the corner so there is more work to do. I am excited about this team and what they will have in store for our fans.”

Sports International Group agent Jacquail Jacox attended the open practice to get a look at the star potential at TSU. Jacox played high school basketball locally at Maplewood High School.

“This was a good way for me to see some hidden talent,” says Jacox. “A lot of guys can play but I look at body language and how they take coaching. Having us come out what not only good for the players, but it was also good for us. I am proud of what Coach Penny is doing.”

College Corner: Vandy Baseball, TSU Basketball, Blue Raider Hall Of Fame

/in , , /by

Vanderbilt Baseball Ranked As Nation’s Top Program By D1Baseball

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt baseball has been ranked as the nation’s top program in D1Baseball’s bi-annual Top 100 rankings.

The Commodores, led by head coach Tim Corbin, receive their second No. 1 ranking since 2015. They were ranked second in both 2017 and 2019. They are the only team to have been ranked among the top two spots in each of D1Baseball’s lists. Vandy has posted two national titles across the last nine seasons, including four trips to the College World Series finals.

Vanderbilt has advanced to an SEC-best 16 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including seven NCAA Super Regionals in the last decade. The Commodores are the first school to reach the College World Series finals four times at TD Ameritrade Park and the first to capture multiple titles at the ballpark.

The top four programs on the list hail from the SEC, including Arkansas (No. 2), Mississippi State (No. 3) and Florida (No. 4). Oregon State rounds out the top five, followed by Louisville, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Stanford.

 

 

TSU Basketball Finalizes Coaching Staff Ahead Of 2022-23 Season

Tennessee State University (TSU) men’s basketball head coach Brian “Penny” Collins has finalized his staff for the upcoming season, naming alum Brandon Lockridge as the Director of Basketball Operations.

With the addition of Lockridge, Collins also promoted Josh Bone to Assistant Coach after spending the previous seasons as a video coordinator and Director of Basketball Operations. Collins also bumped up Assistant Coaches Russ Willemsen and Jerry Nichols to Assistants.

Lockridge previously served under former head coach Cy Alexander during the 2007-08 season after two seasons as a graduate assistant video coordinator. As a player, Lockridge served as a team co-captain his senior season and was regarded as one of the top 3-point shooters in the OVC. He finished his collegiate career 10th all-time in the TSU record books with 116 3-point field goals. Lockridge has a career night as a junior when he dropped 18 points in 24 minutes, connecting on 6-of-9 from downtown at Ohio State. He finished his junior season seventh in the OVC in 3-point shooting.

His coaching career began in 2014 on Collins’ staff at Columbia State where the duo led the Chargers to back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament appearances, including runs to the Elite Eight in 2014, Sweet 16, and Region 7 Championship in 2015.

 

Blue Raider Hall Of Fame Induction Set For Oct. 14

The Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class of 2022 induction ceremony is set for Friday, Oct. 14, in front of the Emmett and Rose Kennon Sports Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. CT. The ceremony, as always, will be open to the public and will feature refreshments prior to its start.

The Class of 2022 features alumni from four different decades of Blue Raider athletics, with inductees recognized for their on-the-field achievements and for being outstanding representatives of the MTSU community. The Class of 2022 includes:

  • Leslie (Clark) Vance (Volleyball, 2006-09): The volleyball program’s all-time assists leader that led the Blue Raiders to four NCAA Tournament appearances as a setter
  • Krystle Horton (Women’s Basketball, 2003-07): A dynamic two-way player that ranks in the top 10 for both points and rebounds as a Blue Raider, helping MTSU win three NCAA tournament games across her career
  • Kevin Kanaskie (Men’s Basketball, 2006-09): The all-time assists and minutes played leader; he is the only Blue Raider men’s basketball player with at least 1,200 points, 400 assists and 200 3-pointers
  • Sandy (McMillan) Neal (Women’s Tennis, 1973-76): The first female scholarship student athlete at MTSU that played on Court 1 for both singles and doubles, eventually leading the women’s tennis program to three OVC titles as a coach
  • Bryan Peck (Baseball, 1999-2000): A Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-American; the two-time All-OVC selection still ranks in the top 10 in career average, home runs and slugging percentage
  • Don Thomas (Football, 1985-88): An Associated Press First-Team All-American; started at linebacker for MTSU for four seasons, including the Blue Raiders’ 1985 11-0 regular season campaign

Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball Drops 2022 Non-Conference Schedule

/in , /by

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team has officially dropped its non-conference schedule the 2022-23 season.

The Commodores are scheduled to play 13 contests before the start of Southeastern Conference play in January, which include Memphis Temple and a trip to California to play in the Wooden Legacy tournament. Vandy will play two road games, as well as three neutral-site affairs.

“We are excited to release the non-conference portion of our schedule,” head coach Jerry Stackhouse says. “Our intention was to build a schedule that not only helped us prepare for SEC competition, but also provided our program with postseason resume building opportunities. We know we accomplished that with the competitive matchups we’ve set up in Memorial Gymnasium and in other unique and challenging environments across the country.”

Vanderbilt will welcome Memphis on Nov. 7 as the two teams will square off for the first time since 1997. The two teams have met 14 times prior, with the Commodores winning eight of those matchups. The first recorded meeting came during the 1925-26 season when Memphis won a 37-20 game in Memphis.

Led by head coach and former NBA star Penny Hardaway, Memphis went 22-11 last season, beating Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and nearly knocking off No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the second round.

Hardaway and Stackhouse were in the NBA at the same time from 1995-2008.

Vandy is 5-2 all-time against Memphis at home. The Tigers claimed the last meeting in the 2005 NIT in Memphis.

On Nov. 23 and 24, the Commodores will be one of four teams at the Wooden Legacy inside the Anaheim Arena in Anaheim, California. Vanderbilt will take on Saint Mary’s in the opener before facing either Washington or Fresno State on the second day.

Saint Mary’s was one of the best mid-major teams in 2021-22, going 26-8 last season, earning a No. 5 seed and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a win over Indiana. The Gaels had a NET ranking of 19 and notched a win over No. 1-ranked Gonzaga.

Vanderbilt is 3-0 in three previous meetings with Saint Mary’s, having last won an NIT matchup in March of 2015 in Moraga, California.

Another game to watch out for is Vandy’s first-ever matchup agains Wofford on Dec. 3. The Terriers went 19-13 a season ago and were invited to participate in The Basketball Classic postseason tournament but opted to withdraw.

Over the last five seasons, Wofford has averaged 20.8 wins per season headlined by victories over Georgia, North Carolina (2x), South Carolina and Seton Hall.

On Dec. 17 Vandy will head north to the Windy City to face North Carolina State at the United Center as part of the Legends of Basketball Showcase. The Wolfpack are led by projected first-round pick Terquavion Smith, who posted 16.3 points per game a season ago.

The Commodores are 3-2 all-time against NC State with the Wolfpack winning the last matchup 80-65 in a game played in Miami, Florida. Three of the previous five matchups have been played on a neutral court, with Vanderbilt’s last win coming in 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Vanderbilt Non-Conference Schedule:
Nov. 7 – Memphis
Nov. 11 – Southern Mississippi
Nov. 15 – at Temple
Nov. 18 – Morehead State
Nov. 23 – vs. Saint Mary’s (Anaheim)
Nov. 24 – vs. Fresno St./Washington (Anaheim)
Nov. 30 – at VCU
Dec. 3 – Wofford
Dec. 7 – Pittsburgh
Dec. 9 – Grambling State
Dec. 17 – vs. NC State (Chicago)
Dec. 22 – Alabama A&M
Dec. 30 – Southeastern Louisiana

College Corner: Bruin Local Exchange, TSU Football, SEC Nation

/in , , /by

Belmont Expands Partnership With INFLCR, Launches Bruin Local Exchange

Belmont, in partnership with INFLICR, has launched the Bruin Local Exchange–a platform where local and national businesses can connect and communicate with Belmont student-athletes to build and fulfill Name, Image, & Likeness (NIL) agreements.

“Expanding our partnership with INFLCR reinforces our commitment to Belmont student-athletes within the NIL landscape,” says Belmont University Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Corley. “INFLCR’s industry-leading technology will benefit our student-athletes while elevating our branding and storytelling efforts as a University.”

INFLCR offers athletic departments a place to send those interested in starting an NIL conversation with student-athletes and allows businesses to access a school-specific directory to filter and contact specific student-athletes by team, sport, and customized options. For student-athletes, all NIL business conversations can live in their INFLCR account with automated payments and streamlined reporting for tax purposes. Belmont student-athletes will also be able to take advantage of INFLCR’s VIP partnerships with companies such as Meta, TikTok, WWE, Campus, DigiSign, Subtext, Mike Slive Foundation and more as part of the INFLCR Global Exchange.

Inside the platform, companies can automate their reporting of transactions with student-athletes, and utilize INFLCR’s tools to identify, communicate, and transact with student-athletes who have opted in to be contacted for educational and NIL transaction opportunities.

Belmont and INFLCR are also broadening their partnership to include the INFLCR Verified product line for all 17 Belmont NCAA Division I athletic teams. Belmont activated INFLCR for men’s and women’s basketball in 2021-22.

 

 

Three TSU Players Named To Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List

Tennessee State University’s Draylen Ellis, Devon Starling, and James Green have been selected to the Black College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually by The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University.

Entering his first season at TSU after transferring from Austin Peay, quarterback Ellis was ranked among the FCS leaders and led the OVC in passing touchdowns (19), passing yards (2,625), yards per completion (13.7), and total offense (268.5 ypg). He became only the third Governors quarterback to record 2,500-plus passing yards in a season, and set program records for passing yards per game (262.5) and total offense per game (268.5).

Starling followed his OVC Co-Freshman of the Year honors by earning second-team All-OVC honors.  He was injured in the next-to-last game of the year, which limited him to 15 carries and 39 yards over the final two games, but still finished the year ranked 45th nationally with 800 total rushing yards and three touchdowns. Starling also caught 37 passes (for 312 yards) which was the most on the team, fifth most among all players in the OVC, and tied for 1st among all running backs. Against OVC champion UT Martin, he rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown and caught 12 passes for 117 yards; the 12 receptions was the most of any FCS running back in a game this season.

Green led the TSU defense with 77 total tackles (41 solo and 36 assists). He also had one sack, one interception (at Eastern Illinois), and one forced fumble/fumble recovery at Mississippi State. For his efforts at Eastern Illinois, Green was named the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. His INT against the Panthers moved TSU to the two-yard line—a return of 47 yards—which set up the first score of the contest.

 

 

SEC Network’s ‘SEC Nation’ To Visit Vanderbilt 

SEC Network’s SEC Nation presented by Johnsonville will broadcast from the Vanderbilt campus on Sept. 10 in advance of the football team’s home game against Wake Forest.

SEC Nation, which airs weekly on SEC Network before the start of the day’s college football action, is hosted by Laura Rutledge and includes Paul Finebaum, Tim Tebow, Roman Harper and former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers.

In addition to SEC Nation presented by Johnsonville, other popular shows Marty & McGee presented by Old Trapper and The Paul Finebaum Show presented by Johnsonville will also originate from campus that weekend. All three shows will be broadcasting live from The Commons in the heart of Vanderbilt’s campus.

This is the show’s first return to Nashville since the start of the 2019 season, when it was on campus for the Vanderbilt-Georgia game.

Weekend Schedule:

  • Friday, Sept. 9
    • The Paul Finebaum Show presented by Johnsonville, 2–6 p.m. CT
  • Saturday, Sept. 10
    • Marty & McGee presented by Old Trapper, 8–9 a.m. CT
    • SEC Nation presented by Johnsonville, 9–11 a.m. CT
  • Vanderbilt vs. Wake Forest kickoff, 11 a.m. CT (SEC Network)

Belmont Women’s Basketball Drops 2022-23 Non-Conference Schedule

/in , /by

After one of its best seasons ever, the Belmont women’s basketball team is right back at it, dropping its 2022-23 non-conference schedule featuring games against Louisville, Georgia and more.

Like always, head coach Bart Brooks tries to set up his team for the postseason by building one of the toughest schedules in all of college basketball. Belmont will face at least seven 20-win programs from last season. Nine of the known non-conference opponents combined for nearly 200 victories a season ago.

Belmont’s non-conference schedule also features five NCAA Tournament teams from 2021-22, four of which reached at least the Round of 32, with the possibility to face even more at the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida.

“I’m really excited for our program to have the opportunity to compete against some of the best players and coaches in the country this year,” says coach Brooks. “We have a great mix of local rivals and nationally-recognized programs on our schedule this season. I know our fans will love the opportunity to watch our team compete in some amazing environments against outstanding competition. We know our challenging non-conference schedule will help prepare us for the great competition that awaits us in our first season in the Missouri Valley Conference.”

The Bruins will welcome Louisville, a reigning Final Four team, and Georgia Tech at the Curb Event Center in two of the most highly anticipated games 0f the year.

Belmont will host two games in both November and December on the newly refurbished Rick Byrd Court inside the Curb Event Center beginning with its season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 9 versus the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Bruins will then face Louisville on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Cardinals went 29-5 in 2021-22 and were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They will represent the first-ever reigning Final Four team Belmont has hosted.

Renewing a local rivalry after last season’s matchup was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Bruins will take on 2022 WNIT semifinalist Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The Lady Raiders went 27-8 a season ago and won four games in the WNIT, including victories over Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.

On Sunday, Nov. 20, Belmont will travel to defending Big Ten Conference regular season and tournament champion Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes received a No. 2 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament after going 14-4 in Big Ten play and were one possession away from a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Iowa finished 24-8 on the season.

The Bruins will take part in one of the premier in-season college basketball tournaments when they make the trip to the Sunshine State for the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase, held Friday-Sunday, Nov. 25-27 inside Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. Belmont will see Villanova in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 25 at 12:30 p.m. CT with the winner advancing to play either Baylor or Saint Louis in the semifinals. The Wildcats went 24-9 last season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament after upsetting sixth-seeded BYU as a No. 11 seed.

The semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase will take place on Saturday, Nov. 26 and the championship will be held on Sunday, Nov. 27. The tournament bracket also includes consolation matchups with the Bruins guaranteed three games across Thanksgiving weekend.

Returning to Nashville, Belmont will host another NCAA Tournament team from last season when Georgia Tech visits on Sunday, Dec. 4. The second ACC team to play in the Curb, the Yellow Jackets went 21-11 in 2021-22 and were a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The 76th Battle of the Boulevard versus Lipscomb is set for Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the opposite end of the boulevard inside Allen Arena. Following an 11-day break from game action, the Bruins will head to Athens, Georgia, to face Southeastern Conference mainstay Georgia on Saturday, Dec. 17. The Bulldogs posted a 21-10 record last season and reached the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed. Belmont has defeated an SEC team on the road each of the last two seasons.

Wrapping up their non-conference slate, the Bruins will welcome defending Sun Belt Conference regular season champion Troy to the Curb on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The Trojans went 24-9 last year and qualified for the WNIT.

Six of Belmont’s set non-conference opponents finished in the top 70 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings last year led by No. 5 Louisville, followed by No. 14 Iowa, No. 29 Georgia, No. 33 Georgia Tech, No. 57 Middle Tennessee and No. 70 Villanova. The Bruins ended last season ranked No. 45 in the NET.

Belmont, who returns seven of its top nine players including its top three scorers, reached its second consecutive NCAA Tournament Round of 32 as a No. 12 seed last March with a thrilling, double-overtime victory over fifth-seeded Oregon (73-70). The Bruins became only the second program in Division I women’s basketball history to win NCAA Tournament games in back-to-back seasons as a No. 12 seed or lower.

Former Belmont Coach Rick Byrd Named To NIT Committee

/in , /by

Rick Byrd. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Former Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) committee.

Byrd was the Bruins head coach for 33 years where he accumulated with 805 career victories and ranks 13th all-time among NCAA Division I head coaches. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame this past November and received the 2022 John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching honor by the Los Angeles Athletic Club in April.

A current Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction candidate and Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Byrd systematically led Belmont to national prominence in both NCAA Division I and NAIA. In 1996, Belmont made the unprecedented decision to jump from NAIA to NCAA Division, which Byrd led to eventual success.

The Knoxville, Tennessee native led Belmont to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) and 17 conference championships (10 regular season, seven tournament) in his final 14 years, and national top 25 poll votes in eight of his last nine years.

Moreover, for programs with at least six decades of history, Byrd retired first among NCAA Division I head coaches when ranked by percentage of schools’ all-time wins, accounting for a staggering 62.4 percent of Belmont’s total victories. A 14-time district or conference coach of the year, Byrd’s career conference winning percentage of .797 (447-114) ranks second in NCAA Division I, behind only Mark Few of Gonzaga.

Under Byrd’s leadership, the Bruin program was one of only nine NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games each of his final 14 seasons.

College Corner: Nick Muszynski, TSU, Vanderbilt Baseball

/in , , /by

Belmont Basketball Star Nick Muszynski Signs Professional Deal In Poland

Nick Muszynski. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont men’s basketball graduate Nick Muszynski has signed a professional contract with Enea Astoria Bydgoszcz in Poland.

Muszynski just completed one of the most decorated  careers in program history, including being selected to participate in the 2022 NABC Reese’s Division I College All-Star Game and the 2022 Portsmouth Invitational.

Upon completion of his eligibility, the 6-11 center ranked 11th among all active frontcourt players in scoring with 1,886 points. His 105 career double figure scoring games ranked second among all active frontcourt players, trailing only Richmond’s Grant Golden.

The Pickerington, Ohio native was one of only nine players over the last 30 years with at least 1,800 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists and 200 blocked shots, and joined the likes of Tim Duncan (Wake Forest), David West (Xavier), Nick Collison (Kansas) and John Wallace (Syracuse) to reach the standard.

Posting a career record of 104-25, Muszynski led Belmont to three conference regular season championships, two NCAA Tournament bids and the 2022 Postseason NIT. He joined NBA Champion Ian Clark as the second Belmont player in the NCAA Division I era named all-conference four consecutive seasons.

 

 

TSU Athletics Launch New Mobile App

Tennessee State University is launching the TSU Tigers official mobile app, powered by SIDEARM Sports, to help better connect fans to their favorite teams. Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, game day details and more, the new app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

“As a department, we are always looking for new ways to engage our fans and enhance their game day experience, and this app accomplishes both goals,” says Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen. “This digital platform provides an easy and convenient way for our alumni, fans, and supporters to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, and original content surrounding their favorite teams.”

Through the app, TSU fans will enjoy a personalized mobile experience with the ability to manage tickets, shop for official merchandise, receive breaking news, and score notifications for the teams they follow. Additionally, it includes links to video and audio streams of live games, in-game stats, and team social media feeds.

 

 

Commodores Set to Open Next Season At Globe Life Field

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Vanderbilt baseball team will open the 2023 season in the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field—home of the Texas Rangers.

This will be the Commodores first appearance in the third annual tournament, which is scheduled for Feb. 17–19 and features six of the nation’s top programs. Vanderbilt will be joined by Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas. The inaugural tournament in 2021 was one of the highest attended college baseball tournaments in the NCAA.

“It goes without saying that these are privileged opportunities for our players, school and university,” says head coach Tim Corbin. “We are grateful to the Texas Rangers and their ownership for their beautiful facilities and inclusion in this event. With Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker’s recent addition to this organization, we hope our team can add favorably with our representation in these games.”

Five of the six programs in the 2023 showdown lineup played in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, with the Commodores making their 16th consecutive postseason appearance.

All games of the 2023 College Baseball Showdown will be streamed live by FloSports, the exclusive broadcast partner for the tournament. Tickets for the 2023 College Baseball Showdown will go on sale later this year.

Belmont Women’s Basketball To Play In Gulf Coast Showcase Over Thanksgiving Weekend

/in , /by

After their most historic season, Belmont’s women’s basketball team will play in the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase. The tournament will be held over Thanksgiving Weekend from Nov. 25-27 inside Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida, and will feature six NCAA Tournament teams from last season.

Joining the Bruins in southwest Florida will be Air Force, three-time national champion Baylor, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Saint Louis, South Florida and Villanova. Michigan reached last year’s Elite Eight, while Belmont, Baylor and Villanova all appeared in the Round of 32. Georgia Tech and South Florida also made the NCAA Tournament field this past March.

Seven of the eight participants in this year’s event made national postseason play in 2021-22, while half the tournament field won at least one game in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

“This year’s Gulf Coast Showcase field is deep with six teams from last year’s March Madness field and some of the top coaches in the game,” says Gulf Coast Showcase Women’s Tournament Director and CBS/ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli. “The Bears may enter as the favorite but there are some great teams, led by some outstanding coaches in this year’s field, so any of these eight could go home with the hardware on Sunday night.”

Belmont will face Villanova in the Gulf Coast Showcase quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 25 at 12:30 p.m. CT with the winner advancing to play either Baylor or Saint Louis in the semifinals. This matchup is the first-ever meeting between Wildcats and the Bruins.

The tournament bracket also includes consolation matchups with all teams guaranteed three games across the weekend.

Belmont reached its second consecutive NCAA Tournament Round of 32 as a No. 12 seed this past season with a thrilling, double-overtime victory over fifth-seeded Oregon. The Wildcats upset sixth-seeded BYU 61-57 in the First Round as a No. 11 seed.

Past Gulf Coast Showcase champions include UConn (2014), Stanford (2015), Baylor (2016), Notre Dame (2017), Texas (2018), Gonzaga (2019) and Iowa State (2021).