The Howard men’s basketball team is heading to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the MEAC Tourney, the Bison defeated South Carolina State 78-61 and North Carolina Central 70-63 in the championship game.
The Bison are 24-10 this season and on an 8-game winning streak.
Howard NCAA Tournament Appearances
In 2026, Howard basketball will make its fifth appearance in the Division I NCAA Tournament.
The Bison also reached the tourney in 1981, 1992, 2023, and 2024.
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Howard Basketball NCAA Tournament Wins
Howard has won one game in the Division I NCAA Tournament, defeating UMBC in the 2026 First Four.
The Bison have a 1-5 overall record in the Big Dance, losing to Wyoming in 1981, Kansas in 1992 and 2023, Wagner in 2024, and Michigan in 2026.
Howard Basketball Coach Kenneth Blakeney
Kenneth Blakeney has been the head coach at Howard since 2019, leading the Bison to MEAC Tournament titles in 2024 and 2026.
Blakeney’s coaching career goes back to 1995 at James Madison. He then spent time on the coaching staffs at La Salle, Delaware, St. Bonaventure, Marshall, Harvard, and Columbia before earning his first head coaching gig at Howard in 2019.
He played under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. Blakeney was a part of the 1991 and 1992 national championship teams, and he was a co-captain as a senior in 1995.
