HIGH POINT – High Point University twice saw its name among the top basketball teams in the country.
The Panthers, as automatic bids after winning the Big South Conference tournaments, were included in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament selection shows. A packed house in the Qubein Center watched along with the teams.
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“It’s just a feeling of pride,” said Aaliyah Collins, a graduate guard on the women’s team. “It’s our hard work being shown. But it’s pretty cool.”
“It’s awesome to see our name up there, for our little school so to speak,” said Anna Hager, a senior guard. “To be on the screen like that, it’s awesome.”
In the men’s tournament, High Point – reaching 30 wins for the first time in both program history and Big South Conference history – received the No. 12 seed in the West. It will face fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the first round Thursday at 1:50 p.m. in Portland, Oregon.
In the women’s tournament, High Point – with its best season since joining the Division I ranks – received the No. 15 seed in the Fort Worth regional. It will take on second-seeded Vanderbilt in the first round Saturday at 7 p.m. in Nashville, Tennessee.
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“This is not normal, the support we have. That part’s unbelievable,” men’s coach Flynn Clayman said. “We really want to get a win for these fans in this tournament. That’d take it to a whole ‘nother level.”
Both teams captured their conference tournament for the second year in a row and improved upon their seedings.
Last year, the men were a 13 seed and fell 75-63 against fourth-seeded Purdue, while the women were a First Four selection and 16 seed, matched against another 16 seed in the opening games, and lost 69-63 against William & Mary.
The women were also a 16 seed in their first appearance in 2021 against top-seeded UConn.
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“My initial thought was I’m definitely happy that we weren’t a 16 seed,” women’s coach Chelsea Banbury said. “We put together a really good nonconference showing this year. And that was kind of our goal. Every year we want to move up in the NCAA Tournament and put ourselves in as good a position to win a game.”
Looking at the NET rankings, Wisconsin is No. 25 while High Point is No. 75. So, it will be an uphill battle. But the Panthers shouldn’t be overlooked – they’re No. 3 in the country in scoring offense (90.0 points per game) and No. 1 in steals (10.9 per game).
“It’s going to be nice to have us be the underdog for once,” Clayman said. “The 12 matchup, it does upset people a lot. We know that historically in the tournament. But it’s going be nice to shoot our shot and not be the top dog in the game.
“Every single one – 34 games straight now – we’ve been favorites, and I think our group’s ready to go shoot our shot. … There’s no settling. We’ve got guys who’ve been to this tournament and advanced. A ton of confidence from our guys.”
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The No. 12 seed beating the No. 5 seed is one of the most common first-round upsets – two occurred in last year’s tournament. So, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that High Point could win its first NCAA Tournament game.
“That’d be big,” senior guard Rob Martin said. “We just want to go out and play High Point basketball like we have all year. We hope to go on a run and just execute the game plan Coach gives us. That’d be huge. That’s the plan for sure.”
“We’re not just trying to win a game – we’re trying to make a real run,” graduate guard Terry Anderson said. “We were there last year and went out the first round. We lost so quick – it didn’t feel like we really made it. So we’re going to try to push that run.”
The women also have a challenge ahead – Vanderbilt is No. 7 in the NET rankings, while the Panthers are 142. Mikayla Blakes leads the country in scoring at 27.0 points per game, while the Commodores are eighth in scoring offense (84.7 ppg).
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And no 15 seed has ever beaten a 2 seed in the women’s tournament – but that isn’t dissuading the Panthers from trying to be the first.
“It’s March – anything’s possible, right?” Banbury said. “No matter who you’re going to play – if it’s the conference championship, if you’re in the NCAA Tournament – they’re going to be the best of the best. They’re a good team. So, it’s exciting.
“This is why we play. Every team’s goal going into the season is to make it to March and play in the NCAA Tournament and play in March Madness. So we’re going to savor it. We’re going to be excited. But, at the same time, we’re here for business.”
