By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama A&M and Howard are projected as No. 16 seeds in early NCAA Tournament bracket forecasts as both programs battle for conference titles. (Photo: Alabama A&M Athletics)
With conference tournaments approaching, Alabama A&M and Howard are gaining national attention in the latest NCAA women’s basketball bracket projections.
Alabama A&M sits atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) standings and is riding a Division I program-record 14-game winning streak. The Bulldogs can clinch the regular-season championship with a win over rival Alabama State, strengthening their postseason outlook.
In the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Howard and defending champion Norfolk State are separated by just half a game, setting up a tight finish for the regular-season crown.
If both programs secure automatic bids, projections place them on the No. 16 seed line.
ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projects Alabama A&M in the First Four against Chattanooga, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 seed South Carolina. Lunardi slots Howard as a No. 16 seed matched against top-seeded Texas.
CBS Sports similarly places both teams on the No. 16 line, with Alabama A&M in the First Four and Howard facing reigning national champion UConn. Her Hoop Stats also projects both programs in First Four matchups.
Howard last made the NCAA Tournament in 2022, winning a First Four game before falling to South Carolina. Alabama A&M has not appeared in NCAA postseason play since 1997, when it competed in Division II.
As March approaches, both programs remain focused on finishing strong and securing their place in the tournament field.