HBCUs Should Not Complain about Playing-In To the Tournament

After winning the SWAC championship, Arkansas-Pine Bluff is making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Well, sort of.

For a reward, the Golden Lions will face the Big South champion Winthrop Eagles Eagles in Dayton, Ohio in Tuesday’s NCAA Opening Round game.

And considering that several power conference teams posted better records and wins against better competition, that’s the way it should be.

Some black college basketball fans may ask, why are historically black college and university programs like Arkansas-Pine Bluff even in this position at all after earning what is believed to be an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament year after year?

Alabama State, Hampton, Texas Southern, Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, and Coppin State have strapped it up in the game since its inception in 2001. Florida A&M has played in the event twice.

Maybe not being able to consistently stay competitive against Top 25 teams in the regular season is a factor.

Maybe suffering far too many blowouts in the NCAA Tournament at the hands of No. 1 and No. 2 seeds has something to do with it.

Maybe participating in leagues that rank at the bottom of the RPI and strength of schedule rankings in Division I basketball has something to do with it. Yeah, that 187 RPI does not look good on the resume come selection Sunday.

Hasn’t the thought that only one of  the previous six HBCU teams has ever won the opening round game crossed anyone’s mind?

Florida A&M's 72-57 win over Lehigh in the 2004 has been the only win by an HBCU program.

The Golden Lions did not post a single win against a Top 50 opponent this season. Sure, the team hung around against Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Georgia Tech. Close is just not good enough, considering Arkansas-Pine Bluff was defeated by a 2-29 Alcorn State team in January.

Some have suggested maybe at-large or bubble teams should have to make the untimely trip to Dayton each season instead of a conference champion from a mid-major.

But was Arkansas Pine-Bluff really better than Illinois, Virgina Tech, Memphis, and Mississippi State, who were competitive against quality competition all season from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and C-USA?

The Golden Lions did not even win the SWAC regular season title. That was captured by Jackson State who finished the season with a 17-1 conference record.

Arkansas Pine-Bluff's key wins were against all against SWAC foes. Not to mention starting the season 0-11 hurt tremendously as well. 

I am under the belief that if HBCU teams could steal a few wins here and there against elite opponents or make a run come March, the tournament committee might be willing to think more favorably of an HBCU unit down the road. 

Until then, HBCU basketball fans have no recourse to complain until a better product is placed on the floor.

The Golden Lions will try to be first SWAC school since 1993 to post a win the NCAA Tournament. If that happens, No. 1 seed Duke awaits them in the South Regional.