Alcorn State made history in the early 1980s when it won the first-ever opening round game in NCAA tournament history. Since then, HBCUs have played in 27 out of the 38 opening round or First Four games (71 percent). From 2001-2010, an opening round, play-in game was added to the men’s March Madness bracket. HBCUs played in nine of the 10 games, finishing with a 1-7 record. The First Four began in 2011. HBCU have played as the No. 16 seed in the First Four games 17 out of the 26 possible games (65 percent).
Now, let’s dive in to the past performance of the HBCU programs during the First Four and opening rounds.
School Breakdown
Texas Southern has the most First Four and opening-round appearances of any HBCU men’s basketball program, winning three of its six games. The Tigers last appeared in a First Four game in 2023 and last won a First Four game in 2022. (READ MORE)
(SOURCE: NCAA.COM)