March Madness Takes Hold at Naval Academy

Both Navy men's and women's basketball teams earn top seeds and host quarterfinal games in Patriot League Tournaments

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

March Madness has taken hold at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, with both the men's and women's basketball teams earning top seeds and hosting quarterfinal games in the Patriot League Tournaments that send their champions to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

The Naval Academy's basketball programs have enjoyed tremendous success this season, with the men's team winning the Patriot League regular season title outright for the first time since 1997 and the women's team clinching the top seed. This marks an exciting time for the academy and its sports teams.

The details

The Navy men's team, which posted a 17-1 record in league play (25-6 overall), will host a quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 5th against #8 Bucknell. The Navy women's team, which finished the regular season with a 20-7 record (15-2 in the Patriot League), will host a quarterfinal game on Monday, March 9th against the winner of the #8-#9 first-round matchup.

  • The Navy men's team will host a quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 5th at 7pm.
  • The Navy women's team will host a quarterfinal game on Monday, March 9th at 7pm.

The players

Austin Benigni

Navy senior guard who was named the Patriot League Player of the Year.

Aidan Kehoe

Navy 6-11 senior center who was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

Jon Perry

First-year head coach of the Navy men's basketball team, who was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Naval Academy's basketball programs have enjoyed tremendous success this season, with both the men's and women's teams earning top seeds in the Patriot League Tournaments and hosting quarterfinal games. This marks an exciting time for the academy and its sports teams, as they look to continue their strong performances and potentially earn bids to the NCAA Tournament.