Buccaneers to Face Fisk in First Round of the HBCUAC Tournament
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, February 22, 2026 –The University of the Virgin Islands' (UVI) Buccaneer men's basketball team is set to face the Fisk University Bulldogs in the opening round of the 2026 Hope Credit Union Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Basketball Championship. The weeklong tournament will take place at the Birthright Alumni Hall on the campus of Stillman University in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from February 24 to March 1.
UVI(3-13) enters the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Western Division and will face the Bulldogs, who secured the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Division. Although the Buccaneers are recognized as a member of the HBCUAC, they were not required to participate in conference games and instead competed as an independent institution, automatically receiving their seeding in the Conference Tournament.
UVI and Fisk have not yet faced each other this season and will rely on scouting reports for their upcoming neutral-site matchup. The last encounter between the two teams was also at a neutral site on December 13, 2024, during the HBCUAC Crossover at Wilberforce University. In that contest, the Buccaneers delivered a dominant performance, securing a 91-65 victory.
The key to victory for the Buccaneers is to focus on containing Fisk's potent offense, which averages 80.2 points per game on 44.8% shooting from the field and 36.1% from three-point range. However, there is also an opportunity for the Buccaneers to enhance their offensive output, as the Bulldogs allow an average of 81 points per game defensively.
Head Coach Kevin Sheppard emphasized the importance of the upcoming games, stating, "From this point forward, it's a one-and-done scenario. As tournament time approaches, every team will be prepared, but I am confident in our capabilities at this stage of the season. Our team is strong in many areas, and as long as we play Buccaneer basketball the way we know how, we will succeed. The journey ahead is long and challenging, but our focus must remain on one game at a time. This is about earning respect for the University of the Virgin Islands at this point, and I believe this team is capable of achieving that."
The University of the Virgin Islands is seeking its first HBCUAC tournament victory after being eliminated in the first round for the past two seasons. The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:00 a.m. CST on February 24. The Buccaneers' game, along with all other HBCUAC Tournament games, will be streamed live on www.Urbandedgenetwork.com.
