Tag: Tennessee State Basketball

What’s Next for Tennessee State After Its March Madness Return?

Brandon King

Tennessee State’s season ended with a tough loss, but the bigger picture tells a far more important story: the Tigers are back in the business of winning basketball. Now comes the hard part — staying there. The gap between Tennessee State and a program like Iowa State was clear. Size, depth, and physicality all tilted heavily in favor of the Cyclones, underscoring just how much work remains for the Tigers to become not just a tournament team, but a competitive one. Addressing the Frontcourt If Tennessee State is serious about…

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Nolan Smith Named BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year

Brandon King

In a season defined by dominance and historic milestones, Nolan Smith has been named the BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year after a remarkable debut campaign at Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball. Taking over the program for the first time, Smith orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent HBCU basketball history. He led the Tigers to both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships — a feat the program had not accomplished since 1994. Tennessee State finished 15-5 in conference play, marking the highest OVC win…

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Tennessee State’s Historic Run Ends in Blowout Loss to Iowa State

Brandon King

Tennessee State’s long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament proved to be a harsh reality check. Back in the Big Dance for the first time in 32 years, the Tigers were overwhelmed by Iowa State in a 108-74 loss that brought their historic season to a close. From the outset, the Cyclones imposed their will with size, strength, and relentless pressure on both ends of the floor. Iowa State dominated the glass 43-29 and stifled Tennessee State from beyond the arc, holding the Tigers to just 23.8% (5-of-21) from three-point range.…

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Tennessee State Tigers earn No. 15 seed, set to face Iowa State in NCAA Tournament

Brandon King

The Tennessee State Tigers became the first team to punch its ticket to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 7 after capturing the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament championship. On Selection Sunday>, it was revealed that Tennessee State earned the No. 15 seed in the Midwest Region and will take on the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball, the region’s No. 2 seed, in St. Louis on Friday, March 20. The 2025–26 season has been a historic campaign for Tennessee State basketball. Under first-year head coach…

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Here are five key takeaways from Tennessee State’s dominant championship performance

Brandon King

Image via Tennessee State Basketball Here are five key takeaways from the historic victory by Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Game. The dominant win not only delivered the Ohio Valley Conference tournament title for Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball, but also ended a three-decade championship drought for the program. Under first-year head coach Nolan Smith, the Tigers’ run to the conference crown represents one of the most significant seasons in recent program history and sends Tennessee State University back to the NCAA Division I…

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Hot shooting from beyond the arc propels Tennessee State to OVC title and NCAA Tournament bid

Brandon King

Image via the OVC Red-hot shooting from three-point range powered Tennessee State to a dominant 93–67 victory over Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Game, punching the Tigers’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers came out firing on all cylinders, particularly on the offensive end, where they connected on six of their first seven attempts from beyond the arc. A Tennessee State team that normally shoots just 31.9 percent from three-point range caught fire early, knocking down an incredible 12 of its 15 attempts from deep in…

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OVC Championship Preview: Tennessee State and Morehead State set for rubber match

Brandon King

Preview The Tennessee State Tigers and Morehead State Eagles men’s basketball will meet Saturday night with the Ohio Valley Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth on the line. The teams split their regular season meetings. Tennessee State won the first matchup 105-100 in overtime on January 15, in Nashville, while Morehead State responded with a 94-86 victory at home on February 14. The matchup features one of the conference’s most dynamic guards in Aaron Nkrumah against a Morehead State team known for physical play and rebounding dominance. Keys to…

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Defense powers Tennessee State past UT Martin into OVC Championship

Brandon King

The defense of Tennessee State Tigers proved to be the bane of the UT Martin Skyhawks offense, as Tennessee State secured a 68–55 victory to advance to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Game. The Tigers held UT Martin to just 55 points while limiting the Skyhawks to 38 percent shooting from the field and 29 percent from three-point range—each below their season averages of 69.8 points, 42.1 percent shooting, and 30.4 percent from beyond the arc. Tennessee State’s offense was efficient throughout the contest, shooting 47.3 percent from the field,…

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Tennessee State Is Back: Aaron Nkrumah Wins OVC Player of the Year, Nolan Smith Named Co-Coach of the Year

Brandon King

Tennessee State basketball isn’t just improving — it’s ascending. On the heels of one of the most successful seasons in program history, Aaron Nkrumah has been named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, while head coach Nolan Smith earned OVC Co-Coach of the Year honors. And for the Tigers, this feels like something bigger than awards. Nkrumah’s Breakout Year The Worcester, Massachusetts native was the engine behind Tennessee State’s surge to the top of the OVC standings. Nkrumah averaged 17.7 points per game — leading the Tigers and finishing…

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Tennessee State Lady Tigers pull upset in season finale over UT Martin

Brandon King

Image via Tennessee State Athletics Although this season didn’t pan out as hoped, the Lady Tigers of Tennessee State University, powered by a decisive 21-0 run, were able to finish the 2025-26 campaign on a positive note with a 67-60 victory over UT Martin.  Tennessee State was able to turn UT Martin over 25 times, which turned into TSU points. Tennessee State also cleaned the offensive class, outrebounding Martin 13 to 7, and winning the second chance points battle 14 to 8. Though their offense was not firing on all…

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