FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, the Nova Southeastern University Men's Basketball team, announced its 2025-26 schedule on Wednesday afternoon. The upcoming slate features three out-of-conference opponents that advanced to the NCAA National Tournament last season.
"What a way to start the season," said Head Coach Jim Crutchfield. "Two of the top teams in the nation from last year, Alabama-Huntsville and us, going head-to-head to open the season sets the tone right away. Montevallo returns nearly their entire roster from a regionally ranked team, and Assumption brings back the core of their Elite Eight squad, so both will be nationally ranked again this season. We had the toughest schedule in the country last year, and with the strength of the SSC and our non-conference opponents, there's a good chance we'll do it again in 2025–26."
Over the last four seasons, NSU has established itself as the premier program in Division II men's basketball. The Sharks have compiled an overall record of 135-5 since 2021-22, highlighted by four consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championships, four straight NCAA South Region titles, and national championships in 2023 and 2025. Last year's squad finished 36-1, leading NCAA Division II in scoring (101.7 points-per-game), scoring margin (+22.4), turnovers forced per game (18.4), assist/turnover ratio (2.21), and assists per game (23.3).
Nova Southeastern opens its title defense with a pair of home games at the Rick Case Arena, with an NCAA South Region Championship rematch against the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Friday, November 14th, and the University of Montevallo on Saturday, November 15th. Both programs competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, giving NSU an early test against two South Region programs.
Conference play begins on Saturday, November 22nd, when the Sharks host Tampa before a non-conference home matchup with Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on November 24th. NSU continues its home stretch into December with Sunshine State Conference battles against Barry (12/3) and Embry-Riddle (12/6). After traveling to Palm Beach Atlantic on December 13th, the Sharks return home to play Fort Lauderdale (12/16). Then they will square off in an Elite Eight rematch against Assumption University on Saturday, December 19th. NSU closes the calendar year on the road at Eckerd (12/31) in SSC play.
The 2026 calendar begins at home against conference foe Florida Southern (1/3) before the Sharks hit the road to face Rollins on January 10th. NSU then plays Florida Tech (1/14), Lynn (1/17), and Saint Leo (1/21) in a stretch of conference action. January closes with Palm Beach Atlantic (1/24), Eckerd (1/28), and Tampa (1/31), giving NSU six games in just 21 days.
February features a balanced slate, beginning with a road trip to Barry (2/4), followed by Lynn (2/11), Florida Tech (2/14), Embry-Riddle (2/18), and Saint Leo (2/21). The Sharks finish the regular season at home against Rollins (2/25) before closing the schedule at Florida Southern on February 28th.
The Sunshine State Conference Tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, March 3rd. The NCAA South Region Tournament, which NSU has hosted in each of the last four years, is scheduled for March 14th. The NCAA Division II Elite Eight will be held in Pittsburgh, PA., beginning on March 24th, and the NCAA Division II National Championship will be held in Indianapolis, IN., on Sunday, April 5th.
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men's Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.
