Grambling State reacts to first NCAA Tournament trip in program history
Grambling State makes it into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Tigers joined the NCAA in the 1950s.
The Tigers won the Southwest Athletic Conference for the first time ever to get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers will potentially be the 16-seed to take on one-seed Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In order to get there, they will have to beat Montana State in the First Four round.
Even with the automatic bid, the Tigers had a great reaction, even with knowing they were already in.
That feeling when you find out who you’re playing in your first trip to the Big Dance!#GramFam | #ThisIsTheG🐯 pic.twitter.com/hCK05yElBT
— Grambling State Men’s Basketball (@gsutigers_mbb) March 17, 2024
Grambling State had a solid season, especially when it came to conference play. The Tigers went 20-14 overall but went 14-4 in conference play and won three straight games as the one-seed in the SWAC Tournament.
The Tigers won six of their last seven games to claim to the one-seed heading into the SWAC Tournament. The closest game they had was their first one against eight-seed Alabama State where they won 56-50, but it was smooth sailing from there on out to get their bid.
Grambling State is another team that will come out of the "never made it to the tournament" group as this is their first time ever making it to the Big Dance. They still have work to do to make it to the round of 64 with thier matchup against Montana State.
We’re out of the “Never Made it to the Tourney” club! Good luck to all the other teams working hard to make it to the Big Dance💯 https://t.co/aBYMcls1lg pic.twitter.com/QIWr9kWNFL
— Grambling State Men’s Basketball (@gsutigers_mbb) March 17, 2024
However, if they win that matchup, they could look to become just the third 16-seed to beat a one-seed if they can send Purdue home packing for the second straight year in the first round.