Hofstra, LIU Aim to Become NCAA Tournament Cinderellas

New York mid-major teams look to pull off upsets in March Madness

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:07pm

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Hofstra and Long Island University, two New York mid-major basketball teams, are hoping to become Cinderella stories in this year's NCAA Tournament. Hofstra, making its first tournament appearance since 2001, faces a tough challenge against fourth-seeded Alabama, while LIU takes on top overall seed Arizona. Both teams are guard-driven and led by experienced coaches looking to pull off big upsets.

Why it matters

Hofstra and LIU represent the hopes of mid-major programs across the country to crash the party and make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, which is traditionally dominated by power conference teams. Their success, or lack thereof, could inspire other small schools to believe they can compete with the big boys on the biggest stage.

The details

Hofstra, led by CAA Player of the Year Cruz Davis and coach Speedy Claxton, earned an automatic bid by winning the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament. They'll face an Alabama team that is the highest-scoring Division I squad for the third straight year. LIU, making its first tournament appearance since 2018, is led by a trio of senior guards and coach Rod Strickland, a former NBA player. They'll have their hands full against a dominant Arizona team that won the loaded Big 12.

  • Hofstra and LIU will both play their first-round games on Friday, March 22, 2026.
  • Hofstra takes on Alabama at 12:15 p.m. ET in Tampa, while LIU faces Arizona at 4:10 p.m. ET in San Diego.

The players

Cruz Davis

The CAA Player of the Year, Davis leads Hofstra in scoring at 20.2 points per game and shoots 39.9% from 3-point range. He began his college career at Iona before transferring to Hofstra.

Speedy Claxton

A Hofstra alum and seven-year NBA veteran, Claxton is in his fifth season as the Pride's head coach. He has led the team to a 105-62 record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.

Jamal Fuller

One of three LIU seniors averaging over 14 points per game, Fuller is a key part of the Sharks' guard-driven attack.

Rod Strickland

The Bronx-born head coach of LIU, Strickland had a 17-year NBA career and is overseeing a remarkable turnaround, improving the Sharks' win total in each of his four seasons.

Brayden Burries

The star guard for top overall seed Arizona, Burries is a potential lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

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What they’re saying

“We're not just one of those teams that's happy to be here. We fully expect to win.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach (CBS Sports Network)

“Hofstra's good. I can't say I love the draw. They have very good guards. … I think Cruz Davis is one of the best mid-major guards in the country.”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach (N/A)

“We worked hard for this. It's been a long time coming, not just for myself but the program, the university, the community. This means everything to us.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach (CBS)

“I know they've got a good coach, and he was heck of a basketball player. I grew up a Portland Trail Blazer fan, and Rod had a great stretch of his career in Portland.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Head Coach (N/A)

What’s next

If Hofstra were to upset Alabama, they would face the winner of No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 12 Akron in the second round. LIU's path would be even more daunting, as the winner of their game against No. 1 Arizona would take on the victor of No. 8 Villanova and No. 9 Utah State.

The takeaway

Hofstra and LIU's March Madness appearances represent the hopes of mid-major programs across the country to pull off Cinderella runs and prove they can compete with the sport's traditional powerhouses. While the odds are stacked against them, their success or failure could inspire other small schools to dream big and believe they can make deep tournament runs.