2025 CIAA tournament storylines to watch on and off the court

For the fifth year in a row, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament will attract thousands to downtown Baltimore to immerse themselves in the culture of historically Black colleges and universities.

Here is what to expect from this year’s tournament, which tips off Tuesday.

CIAA marks a milestone: The oldest historically Black athletic conference will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its women’s championship basketball tournament during this year’s competition. The conference will show its support for its female athletes by using the hashtag #PaintingHerStory. The conference also will host female-focused events such as the EmpowerHER Town Hall, Women’s Empowerment Brunch and the CIAA Hall of Fame Breakfast, which will spotlight leaders in women’s sports.

Keep your eyes on Fayetteville State: Fayetteville State’s men’s basketball program (21-7 overall, 12-4 CIAA) wants redemption after losing last year’s championship game to Lincoln University 54-51. This year, the Broncos will enter the CIAA tournament as the top team in the Southern Division. They played Lincoln on Jan. 7 and came up short again, losing 58-57, but are seeking their first tournament championship since 2022 with the help of guards Tairell Fletcher and Caleb Simmons, who currently rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in the conference in scoring.

On the women’s side, Fayetteville State, the reigning CIAA tournament champion, is looking to win a second consecutive conference title. The top team in the Southern Division is led by junior forward Talia Trotter, who is averaging 13.6 points per game. The team (18-7 overall, 13-3 CIAA) is entering the tournament on the heels of a six-game winning streak.

Virginia State-Virginia Union women’s basketball rivalry heats up: Separated by just 25.6 miles, the local CIAA rivals’ fight for the No. 1 spot in the Northern Division came down to the final game of the regular season, in which they played each other. In January, Virginia State defeated Virginia Union 67-60 in the Freedom Classic and also won the rematch Saturday, beating Virginia Union 82-68 to claim the top seed. It has been several years since either program has won a CIAA tournament: Virginia Union (20-6 overall, 13-3 CIAA) last won in 2019, while Virginia State’s (21-5 overall, 14-2 CIAA) last championship came in 2015.

St. Aug’s will miss the action: The CIAA will be missing a key member during this year’s tournament. St. Augustine’s University (SAU), which has been a member of the CIAA for eight decades, won’t make the trip to Baltimore this season after having issues with its accreditation. After St. Aug’s announced it wouldn’t sponsor football and volleyball for the fall of 2024, the CIAA suspended all sports competition for the university through the end of the 2024-25 academic year. However, former SAU coaches and athletes will be in attendance at the CIAA tournament competing with their new institutions, such as former women’s basketball coach Ebony Tanner, who is now leading Elizabeth City State.

New look for the Rams: Winston-Salem State’s roster and sideline look very different than they did a year ago. In July 2024, the Rams hired head coach Corey Thompson to replace longtime head coach Cleo Hill Jr. after he departed for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Under Hill, the Rams won two CIAA tournament titles in the last five years. In Thompson’s first year, the Rams finished 5-21 overall and 2-13 in conference play, and the team will enter the CIAA tournament as the sixth seed in the Southern Division.

Missing Mr. CIAA: This will be the first CIAA tournament in decades where Abraham Mitchell, known affectionately by fans as “Mr. CIAA,” won’t be seen on the sidelines sporting his signature suits while cheering on the teams. Mitchell, who earned the “Mr. CIAA” moniker for his commitment to attending CIAA basketball games and the postseason tournament in color-coordinated suits that represented the teams he was supporting, died in January at age 95.