Tuscaloosa, Alabama once again will be the NAIA Black college basketball epicenter when the southern city of over 111,000 hosts the 2025 HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships February 25 through March 2 at Stillman College’s Birthright Alumni Hall.
Stillman College is the newest HBCUAC member and served as host of last season’s post-season tourney.
“This event is about more than basketball. It’s about community and building strong bonds in the cities where we host our championships,” said Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes during the January 22 press conference that featured herself, Stillman College President Dr. Yolanda Page and other city and school officials.
Said Page, “We continue to be excited about this partnership between Stillman College, Visit Tuscaloosa, and the HBCU Athletic Conference. This vision demonstrates the strength and the visionary efforts of women leading Stillman, leading Visit Tuscaloosa, and leading the HBCU Athletic Conference who are very strong, visionary women.”
After successfully hosting the 2024 basketball tournament, the conference announced that Visit Tuscaloosa, the city’s tourism and sports organization, had been awarded the bid to host the tournament for the next two years.
The MSR recently talked to Dr. Baker Barnes on Zoom. “We’re excited this year that we’ll be looking at launching a couple of new initiatives as a part of the championship experience,” noticed the commissioner.
These new initiatives include the Inaugural HBCUAC Cheer and Dance Showcase, where fans will be treated to captivating halftime performances, and the inaugural Family Reunion Community Tailgate, a new tradition introduced and designed to amplify school spirit and community involvement.
“We are really, really excited about these two elements, and what we believe it is going to do in terms of elevating the brand in the community,” said Baker Barnes.
The HBCU Athletic Conference is the only all-HBCU conference in the NAIA. Under Baker Barnes’ leadership, the league has grown from six schools in 2022 to 13 now.
“As our conference has grown to 13 member schools, it was critical to ensure our basketball championship evolves into a family-centered celebration,” she added.
Tuscaloosa has proven to be an ideal place to host the six day tournament and related events.
The commissioner said, “You want to have a place that’s intimate enough for you to be able to build community. We’ve talked about trying to host all of our championships and spaces where we have at least one or two institutions. Our newest member is in Tuscaloosa.
“I was talking to someone about what I call my ‘5Cs’ — it’s a city, a conference and a college collaborating for the community,” stressed Baker Barnes.
More importantly, the post-season basketball tournament will be a boost to the area’s economic fortunes. “We’re bringing 26 teams — 13 men’s basketball teams, 13 women’s basketball teams — to the city for a span of six days,” she stressed. “We’re staying in the hotels. We’re spending money.”
In a couple of weeks, all eyes will be heading south as the HBCUAC kicks off this year’s March Madness, Black college style.
“I’m excited,” said Baker Barnes. “[Stillman College has] a fantastic facility that…we want to pack out. We want to sell the place out. We want people in the stands to watch some really good basketball, and we’re so excited about it and looking forward to all that comes with championship play.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.