The NSU men’s basketball team has won 76 straight home games and are four games away from tying the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball record for most consecutive home-court victories.
The Sharks have not lost a home game since Feb. 15, 2020 when they lost to rival Florida Southern College.
“I remember that game,” said RJ Sunahara, men’s basketball team member from 2019- 2023 and current assistant coach for the team. “It was a tough loss but helped us in the long run in seeing that we really got to protect home court.”
Coach Sunahara and fellow assistant coach Nick Smith have both contributed to this streak as players and coaches, with Smith playing for the Sharks from 2017-2022.
“It is unbelievably cool to see how far this program has come. Once upon a time, seven or eight years ago, this school was not known for men’s basketball, and I think more people are definitely familiar with us now,” Smith said.
The program itself has grown in recognition, along with how they play the game.
“I think we’ve established our style of play on a national level. There are very few schools in the country where you associate that school with a certain style of basketball, the way they play the game,” said men’s basketball head coach Jim Crutchfield. “That’s what we’re trying to achieve as a team that plays harder than everybody else, and we’ve managed to establish that as our reputation, which I am really most proud of.”
The team’s style of play is a key part of how the Sharks have been able to successfully use home-court advantage for almost five years.
“Our brand of basketball is fun to watch. I think back to my freshman year when we had 15- 20 fans, and people started to catch on, coming to the games and realizing that we play really hard with a fun style, so we have a great crowd and atmosphere to play in,” Smith said.
The Sharks’ home court mentality is also a part of the team culture.
“This program really takes pride in being at home and playing in front of our own fans, and we all kind of just know that we don’t lose at home,” Sunahara said.
The team would both tie and break the NCAA record during the Sunshine State Conference tournament.
The Sharks, however, remain unfazed by the looming record break and are focused on their goal for the remainder of the season.
“Playoff games are so important that the record won’t even be on my mind. In the moment, we’re looking at a conference title and a win that might help us get a better seat in regionals. Ten years from now, I’m sure the record will mean a lot to me,” Crutchfield said.
For more information:
To keep up with the men’s
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and X @nsu_mbasketball.
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