Duke agrees to home-and-home with HBCU power
NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb and head women's basketball coach Jermaine Woods have reached an agreement for a home-and-home series with nationally ranked Duke, bringing a major HBCU matchup to life over the next two seasons.
The Spartans will travel to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 12, 2025. The following season, the Blue Devils will make their first-ever visit to Echols Hall. Tipoff times for both games will be announced later.
'This is a landmark moment for our women's basketball program and our university,' Webb said. 'Hosting a nationally ranked team like Duke highlights our commitment to raising the profile of Norfolk State Athletics. It also provides our student-athletes and fans with a chance to experience top-tier competition on our campus.'
The two programs have met only once before. In 2002, Duke defeated Norfolk State 95-48 in the NCAA Tournament's first round, shortly after NSU won its first MEAC Tournament Championship.
The 2026 visit by Duke will be the first time an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent plays at Norfolk State, marking a historic milestone for the HBCU. The Blue Devils finished last season 29-8 and reached the Elite Eight, ending the year ranked No. 7 nationally.
'I appreciate Coach Kara Lawson's willingness to set up this series,' Woods said. 'Collaborations like this help HBCUs gain national visibility. Her return to Norfolk will benefit our program, university, and the community.'
Norfolk State enters the 2025-26 season after winning its third consecutive MEAC Tournament title and earning a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament - the program's highest seeding to date.
For more information on Norfolk State Athletics, follow @nsuspartans on X, @NSUAthletics on Instagram and YouTube, and visit nsuspartans.com.
The post Duke agrees to home-and-home with HBCU power appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball reportedly set to announce home-and-home series with in-state rival
Ohio State basketball reportedly set to announce home-and-home series with in-state rival For years, the Ohio State basketball program has kept its in-state brethren within arm's length of playing during the regular season. Reasons aren't fully known, but many believe it's because the Buckeyes have nothing to gain by playing the likes of Cincinnati, Dayton, or Xavier -- three other programs in the state that could take away the mantle of being the so-called best hoops program in the Buckeye state. We've seen OSU play that trio before, but more often than not, it's been because it was forced to through special events or postseason tournament play. It seemed like a far-fetched idea that Ohio State would enter into any kind of agreement to play on another in-state basketball school as a part of a nonconference, regular-season game willingly. Until now. Though further details are still to materialize, NCAA basketball insider Jon Rothsten has announced that Ohio State and Dayton have agreed to a home-and-home series beginning this year, with the first game being at UD Arena in Dayton. There has not been an announcement by the Ohio State or Dayton athletic programs as of yet, but Rothsten is usually on point with these sorts of things, so expect something to be made official from the universities soon with a real, live date and time. Crazy enough, the Flyers and Buckeyes have only met twice, with the last meeting being a classic in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. That contest was won by the Flyers on a layup with under four seconds remaining to end OSU's postseason run. The win also evened up the all-time series at one victory each. OSU won the only other matchup 74-63 in an NIT quarterfinal in 2008. I'm all about this sort of scheduling and think it is long overdue. In fact, while we are on it, why don't we start a little Buckeye state annual event with all four of these programs doing battle? How fun could that be? We'll have more details as they are made available.
Business Upturn
9 hours ago
- Business Upturn
From film sets to sports stadiums, Bollywood actors are changing the game
When it comes to ambition, Indian film stars are no strangers to reinvention. And now, a growing number of them are making headlines not for their roles in films, but for their strategic forays into the high-stakes world of professional sport. This isn't about a passing passion or publicity stunt — it's a savvy business decision that's reshaping how India consumes both entertainment and sport. Of course, it helps that today's sports presentation is slicker than ever before. Anchors, presenters, and commentators have evolved into celebrities in their own right. Nikita Anand, who first made her mark as Miss India Universe and an actor, has emerged as the most articulate and celebrated presenter in Indian sports broadcasting. She has been a part of major shows like the Indian Super League on Star Sports and Cup Tak on Star News. Her work consistently garners appreciation on Instagram, where fans praise not just her fluency but also the emotional intelligence she brings to her presentation. 'Presenting sport isn't just about stats and scores,' she says. 'It's about capturing the moment, connecting with the energy, and giving the audience something real to hold on to.' Which is exactly what India's actors-turned-sports-investors are doing. Whether it's a stadium full of fans or a streaming audience at home, they're building experiences. They're building brands. And more than anything, they're betting on the future of Indian sport. This shift has taken centre stage over the past decade. It began, unmistakably, with the Indian Premier League. Cricket has always been more than just a game in India — it's religion, celebration, and business rolled into one. When Shah Rukh Khan picked up ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, alongside Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, it wasn't just a glitzy endorsement. It was a business masterstroke. 'Sport is no longer operating in a silo. It's entertainment, it's performance, and it's powerful storytelling. Those familiar with cinema instinctively understand these elements — which is why the connection with sport comes so naturally,' says Nikita. Take Preity Zinta, who made headlines as the co-owner of Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Or Shilpa Shetty, whose involvement with Rajasthan Royals gave the team an extra sheen of stardust in the early IPL seasons. Their investment was financial, sure, but equally emotional and promotional — the fans followed, and so did the sponsors. But cricket is only one chapter. The new story is being written in football, kabaddi, and beyond. Abhishek Bachchan jumped into the action with Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League. John Abraham made his move with NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League, showing a genuine commitment to building football in a region rich in sporting potential. Ranbir Kapoor took co-ownership of Mumbai City FC, which has gone on to make impressive strides on the pitch and off it. 'There's real involvement here — participating in team decisions, engaging with strategy, meeting fans, and promoting sports at the grassroots. It's star power and substance,' Nikita explains. What's emerging is a pattern. Indian actors are no longer waiting for scripts — they're writing their own, and sport is proving to be an exciting new plotline. The shift is being driven by more than just passion. Sport is one of India's fastest-growing industries. With a young population, increasing urbanisation, and rising media consumption, the commercial upside is vast. Ticket sales, merchandise, broadcasting rights, streaming content — it's a complete entertainment ecosystem. 'Understanding audience psychology plays a huge role — knowing how to build loyalty, how to sell a moment, and how to turn emotion into energy. That's what great sport is all about too. The synergy is undeniable,' adds Nikita. From cricket fields to kabaddi courts, from football turf to business boardrooms, these stars are stepping into new arenas. Not to perform, but to participate — to shape what comes next. As Nikita Anand puts it, 'The stage has changed, but the showmanship, the intent and drive remain.' And now, it's game on.
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
UTSA-UCLA baseball live updates: Start time, TV for NCAA Super Regional game
UTSA-UCLA baseball live updates: Start time, TV for NCAA Super Regional game Show Caption Hide Caption 5 men's NCAA baseball tournament players to watch The Mongomery Advertiser's Adam Cole and The Tennesseean's Aria Gerson break down the top players to watch in the men's NCAA baseball tournament. UTSA baseball looks to continue its Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament with its first super regional win. In order to continue that magic, the Roadrunners will need to find a way past No. 15 UCLA in Los Angeles. UTSA and UCLA are scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch in Game 1 of the Los Angeles Super Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles on June 7. Stream UTSA baseball vs. UCLA with ESPN+ Both teams are coming off regional sweep, with UTSA winning the Austin Regional as its No. 2 seed. The Roadrunners beat Kansas State then downed No. 2 national seed Texas twice to advance, while UCLA won its own regional with wins over Fresno State, Arizona State and UC Irvine. UTSA is the first appearance in the super regionals, while it is the seventh overall trip for UCLA and the first for the Bruins since 2019. USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates, scores and highlights of Game 1 of the Los Angeles Super Regional. Follow along below. UTSA vs UCLA baseball live score This section will be updated during the game TEAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F UTSA — — — — — — — — — — UCLA — — — — — — — — — — REQUIRED READING: NCAA baseball tournament bracket: Super regional matchups, schedule, pairings for CWS UTSA vs UCLA baseball super regional live updates This section will be updated closer to first pitch The Roadrunners are making their first trip to the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament, and their fourth trip to the postseason overall. UTSA picked up its first NCAA baseball tournament win on May 30 against Kansas State in a 10-2 win in the Austin Regional. The Roadrunners then picked up back-to-back wins against No. 2 national seed Texas to advance one step closer to the College World Series. Here's a full look at UTSA's history in the NCAA baseball tournament: 1994: 0-2 in Central Regional 0-2 in Central Regional 2005: 0-2 in Waco Regional 0-2 in Waco Regional 2013: 0-2 in Corvallis Regional 0-2 in Corvallis Regional 2025: 3-0 in Austin Regional What time does UTSA vs UCLA baseball start? Date: June 7 June 7 Time: 7 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET Where: Jackie Robinson Stadium (Los Angeles) UTSA and UCLA are scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles for Game 1 of the Los Angeles Super Regional. What TV channel is UTSA vs UCLA baseball on today? TV channel: ESPNU ESPNU Streaming options: ESPN app | ESPN+ Game 1 of the Los Angeles Super Regional between UTSA and UCLA on June 7 will be carried on ESPNU. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service. NCAA baseball schedule The 2025 NCAA baseball tournament began on May 30 with the regional round of play. The tournament has since advanced to the super regionals, which began June 6 and will run no later than June 9. The College World Series is the next stage of the tournament, and will begin on June 13. It will run through June 22 or 23, depending on whether the championship series requires two or three games. Here is more detailed look at the latest college baseball schedule and NCAA Tournament bracket update.
