HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges And Universities) were the first to have live college football games broadcast on NFL Network. Now they’ll break the college basketball barrier on NBATV.
The Jackson State men’s and women’s basketball contest for Saturday against Grambling has been moved to Monday afternoon at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center, on the campus of Jackson State. Both teams will be featured as part of a double-header broadcast on NBATV with the women tipping off 2pm (CST) and the men following suit with a 4:30 pm (CST) tip-off.
On Monday, Feb. 22, the Tigers and Lady Tigers will be the first-ever college basketball teams to have games be broadcasted on @NBATV's network. #JSU_RYS21 https://t.co/Q3ykQrRYdM
— Jackson State U. (@JacksonStateU) February 20, 2021
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will be the first-ever college basketball teams to have games broadcasts on NBA TV’s network.
It’s the latest addition to what’s expected to be a huge weekend in Jackson, Mississippi. It will begin with the debut of Deion Sanders as the head football coach at JSU. The Tigers football team will take on Edward Waters in a home game to open their season at Mississippi Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
The following day the two basketball games will take on the JSU campus. The Jackson State men’s basketball program is currently 6-0 in the SWAC after beating Southern.
On Wednesday the school will be front and center when ESPN’s First Take highlights it. The Sports and Entertainment giant has been showcasing HBCU’s all month, beginning with First Take host’ Stephen A. Smith’s Alma Mater, the Winston Salem State Rams. They continued with stops at Howard University and Morehouse College, before coming to a close in Jackson.
This is a direct result of the Deion Sanders hiring in September. The Pro Football Hall Of Famer and 2-time Super Bowl Champion is a big personality who brings an aura and network of white power brokers to Jackson that most have never witnessed before. We know he can play the game and talk the game at the highest of levels now let’s see how he can lead a D1 program as the top “DAWG”.
