March Madness: Local teams in the men’s, women’s NCAA tournament

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WTOP's Dave Preston, who is also an AP Top 25 voter, joined Ralph Fox for a deep dive into the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament brackets.

The NCAA tournament brackets for men’s and women’s college basketball are set — which means that March Madness is here.

This year’s No 1. seeds include defending champion Connecticut, Houston, Purdue and North Carolina on the men’s side. For the women’s tournament it’s South Carolina, Iowa, USC and Texas.

Here’s a look at the six local teams that made this year’s tournament.

<h3>Howard Bison</h3>
<p>The Howard Bison are back in the tournament for the second straight year after <a href="https://wtop.com/ncaa-basketball/2024/03/howard-downs-delaware-state-70-67-for-meac-crown-and-2nd-consecutive-trip-to-ncaa-tourney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeating Delaware State on Saturday to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament</a>. It will mark only the fourth time the team has made an NCAA Tournament appearance.</p>
<p>They will begin their tournament play against Wagner (No. 16) on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, in the First Four round.</p>

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Graduate guard Jordan Hairston (Fairfax, Va.) scored a season-high 24 points and junior guard Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) added 23 points to help the Howard University men’s basketball team run away to an 85-66 win over Delaware State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Burr Gymnasium. (MEAC)

Howard Bison

The Howard Bison are back in the tournament for the second straight year after defeating Delaware State on Saturday to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament. It will mark only the fourth time the team has made an NCAA Tournament appearance.

They will begin their tournament play against Wagner (No. 16) on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, in the First Four round.

<h3>James Madison Dukes</h3>
<p>The Dukes are returning to “the big dance” with the No. 12 seed for the NCAA Tournament after a record-setting win against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference on March 11.</p>
<p>James Madison will face Wisconson (No. 5) in Brooklyn, New York, in the first round after missing a championship draw for more than a decade.</p>
<p>The team’s last conference win was in 2013.</p>

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James Madison guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (5) takes an uncontested shot at the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern Mississippi, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Hattiesburg, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

James Madison Dukes

The Dukes are returning to “the big dance” with the No. 12 seed for the NCAA Tournament after a record-setting win against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference on March 11.

James Madison will face Wisconson (No. 5) in Brooklyn, New York, in the first round after missing a championship draw for more than a decade.

The team’s last conference win was in 2013.

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Virginia forward Jacob Groves (34) shoots against North Carolina State guard Breon Pass (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Virginia Cavaliers

It wasn’t always certain, but it’s clear now: the University of Virginia’s Cavaliers will make their way to Dayton, Ohio, for their First Four game this Tuesday against Colorado State.

Over the weekend, losses in the ACC Tournament Semifinals to No. 10 NC State prompted what some deemed a nerve-wracking two days for the team.

“I think we’ll get a shot, but it’s always an interesting time because you don’t truly know,” sophomore guard Isaac McKneely told reporters at Capital One Arena on Friday.

Cavaliers will need to beat Colorado before they can face their next challenge: a first-round game against top-seed Texas this Thursday.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 08: Brinae Alexander #5 of the Maryland Terrapins celebrate her three pointer against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Quarterfinal Round of the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center on March 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Maryland Terrapins

Maryland women’s basketball will be making yet another NCAA Tournament after earning bids to the championship for 14 straight seasons.

This year, the first round will pit the Terps (No. 10) against Iowa State (No. 7) on Friday in Palo Alto, California.

A victory will pit the Terrapins against the winner of a matchup between Stanford and Norfolk State.

<h3>Richmond Spiders</h3>
<p>The University of Richmond notched a No. 10 seed to face No. 7 Duke for the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Dayton, Ohio.</p>
<p>After their first-ever victory at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, the team is marking its first appearance since 2005. In the program’s history, Richmond has only snagged space on March Madness brackets a total of four times.</p>
<p>A victory for the Spiders would mark a historic championship title, a first for the team.</p>

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – MARCH 10: Grace Townsend #1 of the Richmond Spiders shoots over Sophia Vital #15 of the Rhode Island Rams in the second half during the A10 Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game at Henrico Sports & Events Center on March 10, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

Richmond Spiders

The University of Richmond notched a No. 10 seed to face No. 7 Duke for the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Dayton, Ohio.

After their first-ever victory at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, the team is marking its first appearance since 2005. In the program’s history, Richmond has only snagged space on March Madness brackets a total of four times.

A victory for the Spiders would mark a historic championship title, a first for the team.

<h3>Virginia Tech Hokies</h3>
<p>Hokies will have a lot to look forward to over the next few days.</p>
<p>The No. 4 seed women’s team will play host to Marshall (No. 13) for first-round play and also host the second round games at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.</p>
<p>A victory against Marshall would see Virginia Tech face the winner of a yet-to-be-determined match up between Baylor University (No. 5) and a First Four victor (either Vanderbilt or Columbia).</p>

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Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) celebrates during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia Tech Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)

Virginia Tech Hokies

Hokies will have a lot to look forward to over the next few days.

The No. 4 seed women’s team will play host to Marshall (No. 13) for first-round play and also host the second round games at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.

A victory against Marshall would see Virginia Tech face the winner of a yet-to-be-determined match up between Baylor University (No. 5) and a First Four victor (either Vanderbilt or Columbia).

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