The First 79

During the 2019-2020 College Basketball Season, I started thinking. What would be a cool bucket list goal involving College Basketball? I came to the conclusion that it would be very unique to see all 358 College Division One Basketball teams. At this point, I have seen 79 teams. I will include a list down below (not in any order). Future blog posts will be dedicated to the new teams that I see. 

1. Michigan

2. Ohio

3. Western Michigan

4. Buffalo

5. Eastern Michigan

6. Central Michigan

7. Bowling Green

8. Youngstown State

9. Toledo

10. Northern Illinois

11. Akron

12. Kent State

13. Miami Ohio

14. Ball State

15. Michigan State

16. Northwestern

17. Iowa

18. Oklahoma

19. Penn State

20. Albany

21. Dayton

22. West Virginia

23. Bradley 

24. Davidson

25. SMU

26. Minnesota

27. Houston Baptist 

28. Illinois

29. Marquette 

30. Duke

31. Notre Dame

32. Pittsburgh

33. Kansas State

34. Purdue

35. Cal St Fullerton

36. Arkansas 

37. Butler

38. Ohio State

39. Nebraska

40. Wisconsin

41. Memphis 

42. Saint Louis

43. LIU Brooklyn

44. Georgetown

45. Belmont

46. San Diego State

47. North Carolina State

48. Northwestern State

49. Appalachian State

50. Arkansas Pine Bluff

51. St Bonaventure

52. Tennessee State

53. Marshall

54. Sam Houston State

55. Southern

56. Bryant 

57. Iona

58. Alabama A&M

59. Mount St Marys

60. Western Kentucky

61. Coppin State

62. Morehead State

63. UNC Greensboro

64. Indiana

65. Detroit 

66. Pacific

67. Eastern Illinois

68. Florida Gulf Coast

69. Providence

70. Umass Lowell

71. Milwaukee  

72. Green Bay 

73. Creighton 

74. Maryland

75. Rutgers 

76. Cleveland State

77. UIC

78. Chattanooga 

79. Oakland 

Unfortunately, I do not remember all of these games and moments that happened in each. I do want to touch on some notables games however.

Bradley @ Pittsburgh March 16, 2006

This is one of my earliest memories I have of college basketball. My dad friends scored us NCAA Tournament tickets to the 2nd Round at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Bradley was a 13 seed, Pitt was a 5 seed. Being my name is Bradley, there is no team that my 10 year old self would rather have seen. Bradley ended up pulling the upset to make the Sweet 16. 

Duke @ Notre Dame January 4, 2014

This was Notre Dame's first conference game as a member of the ACC. All hype in this game was around Jabari Parker. Notre Dame ended up upsetting Duke. Not many people can say they've only seen Duke lose.

Illinois @ Michigan March 14, 2014

I have also been very fortunate to attend a couple of Big 10 Tournaments. Growing up a huge Michigan Wolverine fan, I was so glad to see them as a one seed in the Big 10 Tournament. On this occasion, they played a back and forth game with Illinois. Jordan Morgan hit a game winning layup with a few seconds remaining to send Michigan to the Finals. 

Kansas State @ Marquette December 1, 2018

This was my first time ever seeing Marquette and being at Fiserv Forum. If you ever get the chance, visit this arena. Doesn't matter if it is a Bucks game or a Marquette game the arena is great. On this occasion, Kansas State was ranked 12th and Marquette was unranked. Markus Howard put together one of the best performances I have ever seen. At many points late in the 1st half, he had more points than the entire Kansas State team. He finished with 45 points and Marquette upset Kansas State. 

Villanova @ Marquette January 4, 2020

This was one of the final gamesI was able to attend in 2020 before the COVID lockdown. Villanova was ranked in the Top 10 at the time, Marquette had struggled early on that year. This game featured one of the most electric atmospheres that I have been apart of. Villanova trailed by as much as 20 at one point and lost by 11 to Marquette. Again, not many can say they've only seen Villanova lose. 

Thanks for reading,

Brad Hosmer