NSU men’s basketball’s home winning streak could continue on Saturday in South Regional
The Sharks got the record.
They have the Sunshine State Conference regular-season and postseason titles, too.
Now, they want the big one – the NCAA Division II men’s basketball national title.
The Nova Southeastern University Sharks (30-1) found out late Sunday night that they will again host the South Region championships, starting with Saturday’s game against Savannah State (18-11). Tip-off is at 5 p.m..
NSU, which broke the Division II record on Sunday with its 81st consecutive home win, will be heavily favored over Savannah State.
After all, NSU is the nation’s second-ranked team, and Savannah State is unranked.
If the seeds hold up, the Sharks would play the nation’s 13th-ranked team, Valdosta State (25-6), in the region semifinals on Sunday. The Blazers rank second in the nation in fast-break points, fifth in steals and fifth in total points per game.
However, Valdosta State will have to get past Boca Raton-based Lynn University (20-8). The Fighting Knights rank second in the nation with 13.3 3-pointers per game.
If the seeds hold up on both sides of the bracket, the Sharks would play Alabama-Huntsville (30-1) in the South Region final on Tuesday March 18.
Huntsville is on the longest active win streak in the nation -- 30 games. The Chargers’ only loss came in the season opener, when NSU traveled to Alabama and beat Huntsville 105-104 in overtime.
The other side of the South Region includes two teams NSU beat in the SSC tournament – Florida Southern (25-8) and Tampa (20-10). Montevallo (20-10) is the other team in that side of the bracket, and the Falcons are seeded just sixth out of eight teams in this field.
However, Montevallo lost by just two points, 81-79, to Valdosta State in the Gulf South Conference semifinals.
NSU, which leads the nation in scoring at 105.0 points per game, is hoping to repeat its feat of 2023, when the Sharks won the only national title in program history.
The Sharks, coached by Jim Crutchfield since March of 2017, finished second in the nation last year.
This year’s Elite Eight national tournament is set for March 25-29 in Evansville, Indiana.
Two teams who are expected to make it to the Elite Eight are Daemon and West Liberty.
Daemon (27-0) is the only undefeated team in the nation. The New York-based school is ranked No. 1 in the nation.
West Liberty (27-4) is Crutchfield’s former team. Beyond that, West Liberty – located in West Virginia -- runs a high-powered offense, which includes a 162-106 win over Salem last month.
Meanwhile, NSU’s women’s basketball team (25-6) is seeded third in the South Region, which will be hosted by Union (Tennessee). The Sharks will play sixth-seeded Alabama-Huntsville in the first round on Friday at noon.
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU’s football team on Tuesday will start its first full week in pads as spring practice continues for the Panthers. “Hopefully our mentality won’t change,” FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt said. “Now, we’ll find out who puts their face in the fan and who doesn’t.”
▪ Barry University’s women’s tennis team (10-1) has shut out five straight opponents. They are ranked third in the nation in NCAA Division II.
▪ St. Thomas University’s freshman 174-pounder Kris Ketchum lost in the championship round of the NAIA wrestling finals in Wichita, Kansas. STU swimmers Stella Warborn (200 breaststroke), Mireya Bonilla (3-meter diving) and Haley VanBuskirk (800 free) won national titles at Elkhart, Indiana.
▪ Florida Memorial won a conference title in competitive cheer on Saturday in Decatur, Alabama.
▪ Miami Dade College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will both play Chipola in the state playoffs. The MDC women (21-9) will play on Wednesday. MDC’s men (18-12) will play on Thursday.
This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM.