Mehki Williams
Sports Editor
The East Stroudsburg University men’s basketball team misses the big dance despite having a remarkable season.
After finishing the regular season with a 25-5 record, the third highest winning season in program history, ESU shockingly wasn’t chosen to participate in the Division II NCAA Tournament.
On Sunday evening, the team awaited the news of whether their season would survive or end during the NCAA Selection Show. The NCAA committee chooses 68 teams to participate in the tournament, evaluates them, and ranks them.
Supporters of the ESU Warriors disagree with the NCAA’s decision to snub the men’s basketball team from the tournament. The 25-5 regular season record is the best season the program has seen since 2017-18. That year, the program finished 27-6 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
During the 2013 season, the Warriors had a number of impressive achievements, including a program record of 30-2. But why was the team not selected for this year’s NCAA Basketball Tournament?
A hard-fought battle against Millersville last Wednesday ended with a 74-66 loss. The ESU men’s basketball team advanced to the PSAC quarterfinal round to face Millersville after defeating Mansfield in the first round.
The game featured 12 lead changes, and both teams displayed high-level basketball on both sides of the court. Late in the game, ESU held the lead in scoring but couldn’t maintain the lead due to costly turnovers and fouls.
With only a little under three minutes left in the fourth-quarter, ESU led the game 66-65 with a chance to advance to the next round of the PSAC Tournament.
Millersville’s defense held ESU scoreless for the last three minutes of the contest, sinking six free throws and a crucial three, ending the Warriors season. The Marauders have already punched their ticket to be in the NCAA Tournament.
The team’s leading scorer, Lakeem McAliley, racked up 22 points and 8 rebounds. Nasir Griffin was aggressive from the opening tip, posting 17 points (4-6 3PT), and 7 rebounds.
Although ESU is still finishing the season with a 25-5 record, the loss to Millersville decreased the chance of ESU competing for a national championship.
There are few situations in which you see a basketball program with as many wins as the Warriors not even getting the chance to play on the big stage. On the road, they finished with a 12-3 record, maintaining the same mentality they had at home with a 12-2 record.
ESU concluded its 2023–24 campaign as one of the top teams in the PSAC with an 18-4 conference record.
People understand that the Warriors could have done nothing more, the entire team had high hopes of competing against other top teams.
Subjectivity is the main factor in selection; any team, no matter how incredible you are, is not guaranteed a spot in the national bracket. Despite being one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the nation, the committee did not call on the Warriors to be in the tournament.
The 2023–24 ESU men’s basketball season will be remembered as one of the best in program history, regardless of NCAA Tournament selection.
Email Mehki at:
mwillia118@live.esu.edu