Every day this week I am profiling one local team and their history in the NCAA Tournament. Today we are looking at the Alcorn State Braves, who have not played in the Tournament since the 2001-02 season.
NCAA Tournament Appearances
6 (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1999, 2002)
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1 (1980)
NCAA tournament
3-6
NIT Appearances
4 (1979, 1985, 2022, 2023)
Alcorn State’s basketball program rose to prominence under the legendary coach Davey Whitney, who led the team from 1969 to 1989 and again from 1996 to 2003. Whitney, often referred to as the “Godfather of SWAC Basketball,” the Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer guided the Braves to six NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
(Above: Davey Whitney guided Alcorn State for 27 seasons and coached the Braves during all six of their Tournament appearances)
The Braves’ most notable NCAA Tournament run occurred in 1980 when they became the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. The Braves defeated South Alabama (70-62) in the first round, making history and paving the way for other HBCUs to compete at the highest level in all sports. The 1979-1980 season was a remarkable one for Alcorn State. The Braves finished the regular season with an impressive 27-1 record, including an undefeated run in SWAC play.
(A game program from the 1979-80 season)
After beating South Alabama the Braves advanced to face LSU, the No. 1 seed in their region. Despite a valiant effort, Alcorn State fell to LSU 98-88. Alcorn State had one of college basketball’s top players from 1976-1980 in Larry Smith. The talented big man nicknamed “Mr. Mean” averaged an impressive 18 points and 13 rebounds per game, earning recognition as a two-time SWAC Player of the Year in 1979 and 1980. After college, he was selected in the second round of the 1980 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. Smith went on to have a successful 13-year NBA career, playing for the Warriors, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. He earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors in 1981 and became one of the league’s top rebounders during the 1980s.
(#13 Larry Smith from the Golden State Warriors guarded by Larry Bird. Smith played for Alcorn State from 1976-1980 and was their greatest player.)
Davey Whitney would guide the Braves four more times before retiring in 1989. In 1983 Alcorn State would get another Tournament win in the First Four Round by beating Xavier. In the first round, Alcorn State faced a tough opponent in Georgetown University, a No. 5 seed led by the legendary coach John Thompson and future Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. Despite a valiant effort, the Braves fell to Georgetown 68-63. The next year the Braves would return to the Tournament once again playing in the First Four. The Braves would defeat Houston Christian and then match up with #5 Kansas in the First Round. The game was a nail-biter, with the Braves pushing Kansas to the brink. Despite their valiant effort, Alcorn State narrowly lost to Kansas by a score of 57-56.
Whitney would come out of retirement in 1996 and guide the Braves to two more Tournament appearance although both were losses (1999 and 2002). In 1999 the Braves lost to Stanford in the First Round. And in 2002 when they could not advance past the First Four, where they would lose to Siena. In 1993 the University would name the basketball arena on campus the Davey Whitney Complex.
(Above: The Davey Whitney Complex on campus. It holds 7,000 and was opened in 1975.)
The Braves’ success has brought attention to HBCUs and highlighted the talent and potential of student-athletes from these institutions. The Braves’ historic achievements in the NCAA Tournament remain a source of pride for the university and its supporters.
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