Grambling State Tigers men's basketball
The Grambling State Tigers men's basketball team represents Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. The school's team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Grambling State has never qualified for the NCAA Division I Tournament since transitioning from Division II. They currently play their home games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
Grambling State Tigers | |||
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University | Grambling State University | ||
Head coach | Donte Jackson (6th season) | ||
Conference | SWAC | ||
Location | Grambling, Louisiana | ||
Arena | Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center (Capacity: 7,500) | ||
Nickname | Tigers | ||
Colors | Black and gold[1] | ||
Uniforms | |||
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NCAA tournament Elite Eight | |||
1958* | |||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
1958*, 1976* | |||
NCAA tournament appearances | |||
1958*, 1976* *at Division II level | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1987, 1989, 2018, 2023 |
History
The glory years of the Tigers were led by Fred Hobdy, who led the Tigers to eight SWAC regular season titles (five outright) during his coaching tenure. Hobdy went 572-288 as head coach from 1957 to 1986, which saw them play in NCAA Division II and the NAIA. They reached the Elite Eight of the Division II tournament in 1958 and won the NAIA title in 1961. Notable players during this time were Willis Reed, who was an NAIA All-American before becoming drafted by the New York Knicks; Reed was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. [2][3]
The Tigers advanced to the final round of the SWAC men's basketball tournament for the first time in program history in 2011 but lost to Alabama State. The 2012–13 team became the eighth NCAA Division I team to finish a season winless. They are one of only two teams of the SWAC to have never qualified for the NCAA Division I Tournament along with one of three SWAC teams to have never won the SWAC Tournament. The Tigers returned to the SWAC Tournament title game in 2023 to compete against Texas Southern for the right to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Postseason results
NIT results
The Tigers have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1980 | First round | Mississippi | L 74–76 |
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) results
The Tigers have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 0–1.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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2019 | First round | Texas–Rio Grande Valley | L 73–74 |
NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Tigers have appeared in two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1958 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight | South Carolina State North Carolina A&T Saint Michael's | W 104–79 W 88–73 L 76–84 |
1976 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Missouri S&T Nicholls State | W 67–61 L 89–90 |
NAIA Tournament results
The Tigers have appeared in seven NAIA Tournaments. Their combined record is 15–6 and were NAIA national champions in 1961.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1959 | First round Second Round | Christian Brothers Lenoir-Rhyne | W 81–70 L 78–88 |
1960 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals | Central Connecticut Thomas More Texas State | W 92–68 W 113–97 L 68–76 |
1961 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Linfield Peru State Anderson (IN) Westminster (PA) Georgetown (KY) | W 107–85 W 80–60 W 62–54 W 45–44 W 95–75 |
1963 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National 3rd-place game | Arkansas Tech Athens State Carson-Newman Texas–Pan American Fort Hays State | W 76–59 W 56–45 W 79–70 L 83–90 W 107–86 |
1964 | First round Second Round | Quincy Saint Mary's (TX) | W 75–72 L 66–72 |
1969 | First round | UNC Asheville | L 74–86 |
1971 | First round Second Round Quarterfinals | Mansfield Rowan Kentucky State | W 88–78 W 77–75 L 81–93 |
References
- Grambling State University Logos and Marks (PDF). January 28, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- "Fredrick C Hobdy".
- "Ex-Grambling Athletic Director Dies". Associated Press.