I remember the first time I walked into Burr Gymnasium back in 2018, the air thick with decades of basketball history yet somehow feeling like Howard University's program was starting from scratch. The bleachers were half-empty, the energy tentative, and the team's record spoke volumes about the challenges ahead. Fast forward to today, and you'll find something entirely different brewing in Washington D.C.—a genuine basketball renaissance that's got the entire NCAA taking notice. What's particularly fascinating about Howard's rise isn't just the improved win column but how they've managed to build something sustainable from what appeared to be barren ground.

Let me take you through what I've observed over these past few seasons. When Kenny Blakeney took over as head coach in 2019, the Bison were coming off a 5-29 season that felt even worse than the numbers suggested. The program had only made one NCAA tournament appearance in its history back in 1992, and most casual basketball fans probably couldn't name a single Howard alum who'd made it to the NBA. The turnaround started slowly—just four wins in Blakeney's first season, then eight the next. But something was shifting beneath the surface. I attended a game against Norfolk State in 2021 where despite the loss, you could see the defensive principles starting to take root. Players were communicating, fighting through screens, showing a level of engagement that hadn't been there before. Then came the 2022-23 season where everything clicked—they finished 18-13, their first winning record in over a decade, and earned a spot in the CIT tournament. This past season they pushed even further, challenging powerhouse teams like Rutgers in early non-conference games and finishing with 21 wins against just 11 losses.

The real story behind Howard University Basketball's rise in the NCAA rankings goes beyond X's and O's though. I've spoken with several people around the program over the years, and the cultural transformation strikes me as the most significant factor. There's a particular mindset they've cultivated that reminds me of something I once heard from a Filipino coach about team spirit. He said, "Ngayon, from the 0-9, 'NSD' spirit should also be there going into the NCAA. We really need that, especially bata 'yung team." That notion—carrying the "NSD" or "never say die" spirit regardless of your record—perfectly encapsulates what Howard has built. When your team is young and inexperienced, that relentless mentality becomes your foundation. I've watched Howard players dive for loose balls while up by twenty points with three minutes left, seen them celebrate defensive stops in practice like game-winning shots. That cultural bedrock has allowed them to weather the inevitable rough patches that come with building a program.

What's impressed me most is how they've addressed their historical weaknesses without sacrificing their identity. Howard used to be known as a team that would fold under pressure—if their offense stalled, their defense would follow. Now they've developed what I'd call "defensive amnesia"—the ability to forget a bad offensive possession and lock down on the other end. Their defensive efficiency ranking improved from 328th nationally in 2019 to 142nd last season, a massive leap that doesn't happen by accident. They've also nailed their recruiting strategy, focusing on retaining local DC/Maryland/Virginia talent that might have previously overlooked them. Getting five-star prospect Makur Maker in 2020 was the headline grabber, but the real success has been in finding under-the-radar players like sophomore guard Elijah Hawkins who developed into MEAC Player of the Year candidates.

From my perspective as someone who's followed mid-major basketball for fifteen years, Howard's blueprint offers lessons that extend far beyond their campus. Too many programs try to shortcut the process through transfer portal band-aids or playing a style that doesn't fit their personnel. Howard took the harder but more sustainable route—they established a culture, developed players over multiple seasons, and built an identity that recruits now want to be part of. I'm particularly bullish on their backcourt development; the way they've turned three-star recruits into all-conference guards should be studied by coaching staffs across the country. Their offensive system—built around spacing, ball movement, and hunting three-pointers—perfectly suits the modern game while maximizing their talent.

Looking ahead, I genuinely believe Howard has the potential to become the next Gonzaga—not in terms of national championships necessarily, but as a program that consistently outperforms its resources and conference affiliation. They've got the academic prestige to attract serious student-athletes, the location to draw recruits, and now the coaching stability to sustain success. The MEAC will become more competitive as other programs try to emulate their rise, but Howard has that crucial head start. When I look at their incoming recruiting class and player development pipeline, I'd predict they'll crack the top-100 in NET rankings within two seasons and potentially earn an at-large NCAA tournament bid within three years. That might sound ambitious, but I've learned never to underestimate a program that's built its foundation on that "never say die" spirit. The days of empty bleachers at Burr Gymnasium are firmly in the past—Howard basketball has arrived, and something tells me they're just getting started.