The Year of the Bison: Howard Sends Women’s and Men’s Teams to March Madness
With March in full swing and brackets ready to be filled out, it feels fitting to start my March Madness-based coverage with the Howard Bison, one of 30 schools to have both a women’s and men’s team in the Big Dance.
Having both teams in the tournament this year after winning the MEAC regular-season and conference tournament titles is a testament to the growth of the Howard basketball program.
The Bison are a shining example of how schools can build up and support both men’s and women’s basketball simultaneously.
Howard WBB
On the women’s side, Howard, led by MEAC Coach of the Year Ty Grace, dominated the MEAC in the regular season and postseason, giving the Bison a 26-7 record, zero losses at home, and a conference championship.
Howard enters the tournament as a No. 14 seed, where they will travel to play Ohio State in the first round.
The 2025-26 season is the second year in a row that the Bison have crossed the 20-win threshold, and their .788 winning percentage is the third-best mark in program history since the 1981-82 season.
On the floor, and in the season stats, the Bison are led by MEAC Player of the Year Zennia Thomas (15.2 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game) and Zoe Stewart (11.7 PPG), but consistently get contributions from a deep team.
In their 53-46 MEAC championship-clinching victory against Norfolk State, Howard had Nile Miller post a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Thomas added 15 points and eight rebounds, while five different players recorded a block, a sign of the activity this team brings on the defensive end.
According to Warren Nolan, the Bison are hovering around a top-20 team defensively based on opponent points per 100 possessions.
vs. Ohio State
Drawing a Big Ten team in the tournament is a tough task, so for the Bison to have a chance at an upset, they have to make things difficult for Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge and Chance Gray, one of the best backcourts in the nation.
Muddying the game defensively and playing with control and pace on offense will be key. Ohio State plays at one of the fastest paces in the nation and forces 11.7 steals per game on defense.
District of Buckets had the chance to see Howard’s opponent earlier this season when Ohio State played Maryland. With their pace, the Buckeyes are a team that can go on runs quickly, so Howard must do whatever they can to prevent a track meet.
Howard MBB
On the men’s side, Howard is led by DeMatha Catholic High School and Morgan Wootten disciple Kenneth Blakeney.
The Bison on the men’s side went 23-10, also won the MEAC outright, and capped off a strong season with a conference tournament win that they clinched 70-63 against NC Central.
Howard bounced back from a 12-20 season last year, and this marks the program’s third NCAA tournament appearance in four years.
Howard has four players averaging double figures in scoring, Bryce Harris, Cedric Taylor III, Cam Gillus, and Ose Okojie. The team’s winning pedigree is embodied by senior Bryce Harris, the recently minted MEAC Player of the Year.
Despite a strong year, the Bison head to Dayton for the First Four as a No. 16 seed.
While it’s great to be in the tournament, it would be even better to see the committee reward a MEAC school on the men’s side with a higher seed.
Howard takes on UMBC in a tournament “play-in” game tonight at 6:40 PM EST.
vs. UMBC
Examining both teams on paper, this matchup has the potential to be highly competitive. UMBC has looked just as dominant in its conference tournament as the Bison.
The Retrievers, led by guard DJ Armstrong Jr., can live and die by the 3-point shot, and Howard has the talent to match their shooting. In a First Four game where both teams leave it all on the floor, there’s potential for a back-and-forth, up-tempo battle.
A major separator will be on the boards. Between Cedric Taylor III and Bryce Harris, Howard may have the strongest presence, and if the Bison can force tougher looks and control possessions, they will have a window to win.
Overall, 2026 is a banner year for the Howard Bison. The program represents one of the largest brands in Washington, D.C., and demonstrates that investing in the right people across both programs can yield outstanding results.
