St. Thomas opens its first Division I season with the debut of Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, a new 253,000-square-foot complex for basketball and hockey that also promises community access and renewed focus on diversity in athletics.
College basketball
Posted inOdds and Ends
Transfer portal, NIL add to the pressure on Black coaches
The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025.
Posted inCoaching while Black
Losing coach hopes for better days
Jazmone Turner’s first season as Delaware State WBB Coach was not without its ups and downs. It also can make a coach, even one as experienced as Turner, self-question what they are doing.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Blacklight On Sports: Kenneth Lowe brings defensive expertise to St. Thomas sidelines
In the latest episode of Blacklight On Sports, co-hosts Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, PhE., sit down with Kenneth Lowe, assistant coach for the University of St. Thomas (UST) men’s basketball team. Together, they explore his coaching journey, defensive philosophy, and life after professional basketball. From college standout to coaching strategist Lowe joined […]
Posted inOdds and Ends
Everything is go, go, go in this Gopher’s final season
Minnesota graduate student Alexsia Rose, who wears the number 0, has proven to be a valuable asset to the team, averaging 15 minutes per game and logging a season-high 10 points against Nebraska in December.
Posted inSports
March Madness Black college style
The 2025 HBCUAC women’s and men’s basketball postseason tournament will be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with Tuscaloosa being the home of the University of Alabama and the regional center of industry, commerce, health care and education for the area locally known as West Alabama.
Posted inReporter's Notebook
St. Thomas roll into Summit League first place
St. Thomas secured a 95-84 win over Omaha, moving the Tommies into first place in the Summit League and knocking Omaha out of first place, while also putting the team in history as the only team to transition to Division I and record 19 wins three straight seasons.
Posted inAnother View
UCLA’s first Black coach underappreciated
UCLA’s forgotten legacy: Kenny Washington, the first Black head coach in school’s women’s basketball history
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
Howard University men’s and women’s basketball teams continue winning streaks
The Howard University basketball teams are on a roll, with the women’s team extending their win streak to three and the men’s team ending a five-game losing streak, both improving their overall records and earning MEAC weekly honors.
Posted inCoaching while Black
Young coach does it all with enthusiasm
Wendale Farrow, the only Black male on the USC women’s basketball coaching staff, is dedicated to helping his players and the entire coaching team achieve success and provide value to the program.
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
MEAC basketball teams gear up for second round with eyes on tournament
The MEAC basketball teams are gearing up for the second round of the season, with each team focusing on one game at a time to secure the best seed possible in the post-season tournament.
Posted inGophers/College
Dawson Garcia Leads Gophers to Turnaround: A Scoring Streak for the Ages
Dawson Garcia’s impressive performance has led the Minnesota Gophers to a three-game winning streak, including an upset victory over No. 15 Oregon, and he is now in the conversation for Big Ten Player of the Year.
Posted inAnother View
After hoops, careers in medicine
Macalester College basketball players, Peyton Starks and Sydnee Smith, are balancing academic and athletic pursuits, with both planning careers in medicine after graduation.
Posted inAnother View
Defending Black coaches against ill-informed critics
Coach Coquese Washington has been criticized by the media and fans for her decision to bench a freshman player, while Coach Ben Johnson is facing criticism for his team’s struggles this season.
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
HBCUAC basketball awards: Four schools earn weekly honors
Four schools in the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) claimed this week’s women’s basketball awards, while a double winner and a couple of repeaters stood out in the men’s basketball weekly honors.
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
MEAC coaches recognize top performers for their outstanding contributions
The MEAC conference has announced top performers for the week, including Angel Jones, Kiarra McElrath, Destiny Howell, Julius Ellerbe III, Floyd Rideau, Drayton Jones, and Omar Croskey, who have all contributed significantly to their respective teams.
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
Black college basketball teams strive for conference success in MEAC
The MEAC men’s and women’s basketball teams are in conference play, with Norfolk State and South Carolina State leading the men’s standings and Norfolk State, Coppin State and Morgan State leading the women’s standings, while local players such as Joshua Strong and Kierra Wheeler are shining in the league.
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
College basketball’s snobs and SWAC teams’ scheduling
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have scheduled Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State, two Black schools from the SWAC and MEAC, respectively, and the SWAC has announced its postseason individual awards, with T.C. Taylor of Jackson State being named Coach of the Year.
Posted inSports
Sistahs dominate weekly honors
Diamond Johnson and Olivia Miles were named Women’s National Players of the Week, while Peyton Starks and Kierra Wheeler were named MIAC Women’s Basketball Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week respectively.
Posted inSports
Gopher reserves go where and when the team needs them
This week’s Gopher 100 features basketball players Niamya Holloway and Janay Sanders.