FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, has announced the 2024-25 schedule. The upcoming campaign features six out of conference opponents that advanced to the NCAA National Tournament.
Over the last three seasons, Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball has accumulated a record of 99-4, winning three consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, three consecutive NCAA South Region tournaments, and the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship.
“The Sunshine State Conference being ranked as the top conference in NCAA Division II and our non-conference schedule containing ranked teams from five different regions, this is by far the toughest and most challenging schedule I have faced in my coaching career,” stated Crutchfield.
The Sharks begin the 2024 season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, against Gannon University on Saturday, November 2nd before playing St. Thomas Aquinas College on Sunday, November 3rd. Both programs that NSU plays during the SCB Hall of Fame Classic qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2024, with Gannon advancing to the Elite Eight following the most impressive single season turnaround in Division II history with former Sharks Assistant Coach Jordan Fee running the program.
In the following weekend, Nova Southeastern travels to Montevallo, Ala., to take on the Montevallo Falcons (11/8) and the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (11/9). NSU hosts Walsh (OH.) on November 15th at the Rick Case Arena in the 2024-25 home opener before playing Florida National on November 20th.
Sunshine State Conference action begins on November 23rd, with the Sharks hitting the road to take on Rollins. Following a 10-day hiatus, NSU returns to action against the Lynn Fighthing Knights on December 4th. Nova Southeastern plays four consecutive home games, first against the University of Fort Lauderdale (12/9), then Barry for a Sunshine State Conference contest on December 14th. NSU closes the 2024 calendar against their fifth opponent that qualified for the NCAA Tournament, playing Emmanuel (GA.) on December 19th.
The remainder of the schedule is a full conference slate, as NSU returns to the court on New Years Day to take on Tampa. Following that contest, Nova Southeastern plays both Eckerd (1 / 4) and Palm Beach Atlantic (1/8) on the road before the Sharks are home for a pair of SSC games against Saint Leo (1/11) and Florida Southern (1/15). NSU wraps up January with three more conference games against Florida Tech (1/18), Embry-Riddle (1/22), and Lynn (1/29).
The final nine games of the regular season include conference contests against Barry (2/1), Tampa (2/5), Eckerd (2/8), Palm Beach (2/12), Saint Leo (2/15), Florida Southern (2/19), Florida Tech (2/22), Embry Riddle (2/26), before closing the regular season against Rollins on March 1st.
The Sunshine State Conference tournament begins on Tuesday, March 4th, with the quarterfinal game. The NCAA South Region Tournament, which the Sharks have hosted for three consecutive years, starts on March 15th and the Division II Elite Eight will be held in Evansville, Ind., at the Ford Center beginning on March 25th. Season tickets go on sale tomorrow, October 1st at 2pm. Use this link to access your combo men’s and women’s basketball season ticket.
