UNC Wilmington Seahawks: A History of NCAA Tournament Appearances
The UNC Wilmington Seahawks, representing the University of North Carolina Wilmington, have a noteworthy history in NCAA Division I men's basketball. As a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, the Seahawks have made seven appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, marking significant milestones in the university's athletic program. In addition to their NCAA Tournament presence, the Seahawks have also participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) twice, the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) once, where they were champions in 2022, and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) once.
Early Years and Tournament Debut
UNC Wilmington began its journey in Division I NCAA basketball in the 1976-77 season. It wasn't until the year 2000 that the Men's Basketball team won the CAA Championship, which marked their first-ever entry into the NCAA Tournament. During this inaugural trip, the Seahawks faced the 2nd seeded Cincinnati, which resulted in a loss of 64 to 47.
Memorable Moments and Games
The Seahawks have had several memorable moments in the NCAA Tournament. In 2002, during their second trip to the tournament, the 13th seeded Seahawks achieved a significant upset by defeating the 4th seeded USC Trojans with a score of 93-89 in overtime. Unfortunately, their journey ended in the second round with a 76-66 loss to Indiana. The following year, in 2003, the Seahawks faced Maryland in a game that went down to the wire. Maryland secured a 75-73 victory with a near-half-court buzzer-beater 3-point shot. Despite the loss, freshman John Goldsberry set an NCAA Tournament record by making all eight of his 3-point shot attempts.
Recent Tournament Appearances
The Seahawks earned a 9th seed in 2006, which remains their highest ever seed in the NCAA Tournament. They played against the #8 seed George Washington Colonials. Unexpectedly, GW was expected to get a #4-#7 seed, so the Seahawks had a tougher 1st round opponent than most #9 seeds. Despite a strong first half, the Seahawks couldn't withstand a second-half surge by GW and lost in overtime with a score of 88-85. After a dismal 7-22 record in 2007, the Seahawks continued to strive for success in subsequent years.
Since 2014, UNC Wilmington has made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Their most recent appearance was in 2025. However, they haven't been able to advance beyond the first round in any of these appearances.
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Here's a breakdown of their performances:
2025* Seed: 14
- Overall record: 0-1
- How far they went: First Round
- Who they lost to: No. 3 Texas Tech, 82-72
2017* Seed: 12
- Overall record: 0-1
- How far they went: First Round
- Who they lost to: No. 5 Virginia, 76-71
2016* Seed: 13
- Overall record: 0-1
- How far they went: First Round
- Who they lost to: No. 4 Duke, 93-85
Team Information and Coaching
The UNCW athletic teams, known as the Seahawks, compete in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and are members of the NCAA's Division I. The university has 19 varsity athletic teams for both men and women. Currently, Takayo Siddle coaches the Seahawks men's basketball team.
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