One of the great things about college basketball’s NCAA tournament is that it gives just about everybody a sense of local pride.
Whether it’s a national powerhouse or a small-time mid-major, the chances are high that there’s at least one school in the field within driving distance of where you live.
The Washington, D.C. metro area is no exception, as a few of the universities whose colors are proudly worn in the DMV will be competing in the big dance.
Virginia (25-7, South No. 4 Seed)
With Georgetown at an all-time low, the premier local basketball program for D.C. fans right now resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tony Bennett has built the Cavaliers into a force in the ACC over the past decade, and this squad might be his best one since winning the national championship in 2019.
Only one player remains from that team — super senior Kihei Clark, who was a freshman when he was involved in this famous play — but it doesn’t seem to matter who suits up for UVA, they always compete.
The Cavaliers will face Furman in the first round, in the South region’s 4-13 matchup.
Maryland (21-12, South No. 8 Seed)
Kevin Willard has done an admirable job in his first year as Maryland’s head coach after coming over from Seton Hall. He’s taken a program that missed the tournament last season and landed a berth rather handily after the Terps were projected to finish 10th in the Big 10.
Jahmir Young leads a balanced scoring attack in which four different players are averaging double figures. Maryland is an 8 seed in the South region, and will face off against West Virginia in the first round.
Speaking of which…
West Virginia (19-14, South No. 9 Seed)
Morgantown, WV technically isn’t part of the DMV, but then again neither is Charlottesville. So we’ll include the Mountaineers here, who have their fair share of supporters in the D.C. area.
After a down season last year, longtime people’s champ Bob Huggins — now the winningest active coach in college basketball — has rallied his troops for another run. They’re led by senior sharpshooter Erik Stevenson, who has all the makings of a March Madness cult hero.
As mentioned above, 9-seeded WVU’s first round game will be against Maryland.
VCU (27-7, West No. 12 Seed)
VCU is no stranger to March Madness lore, having made the Final Four as an 11-seed back in 2011. This year they’re a No. 12, as champions of the Atlantic 10, and they should be a popular upset pick to win at least one game.
The Rams, led by Ace Baldwin, will face off against Saint Mary’s in the bracket’s West region.
Howard (22-12, West No. 16 Seed)
There’s only one team in the NCAA tournament located within the confines of the District of Columbia, and it’s Howard University. The Bison are in the big dance for only the third time in program history and the first time since 1992.
They’re a 16 seed, and will play defending champions Kansas in the first round, so their odds of winning a game are very slim. But anything is possible, as another underdog D.C. area team memorably proved in 2018.
