Long Island Sharks Make History

The Long Island Sharks secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament in an unusual fashion. They clinched the Northeast Conference's automatic bid by winning their semifinal game against Wagner 64-56, as their opponent in the championship game, Mercyhurst, is ineligible for the tournament while transitioning from Division II to Division I. This makes LIU the first team to officially punch their ticket to the 2026 Big Dance. This marks a historic first for the program under the unified "Sharks" banner, which was adopted in 2019 when Long Island University merged its Brooklyn and Post athletic departments. The last time any LIU team made the tournament was in 2018, when the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds fell to Radford in the First Four. The program is seeking its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, holding a historical 0-7 record in the event. The team is led by head coach Rod Strickland, a former 17-year NBA veteran who was an All-American at DePaul and led the NBA in assists in 1998. Hired in June 2022, Strickland has guided the Sharks to a 23-10 record this season. In their bid-clinching victory, Greg Gordon led the way with 19 points, while Jamal Fuller contributed 17 points and nine rebounds. Long before this recent success, the program was a national powerhouse in the 1930s and 40s under Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee. They won the prestigious National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1939 and 1941. However, the program was shut down in 1951 following a point-shaving scandal and did not return to Division I until 1968.