MBB Fan Guide: Yale

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The 2026 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) begins for UNCW on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when it opens postseason play at No. 3 seed Yale at the John J. Lee Amphitheater on ESPN+.

GAME COVERAGE
UNCW Seahawks (26-6, 15-3 CAA) at #3 Yale Bulldogs (24-5
Gametime: 7 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 95.9 The Breeze
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click here

UNCW AT THE NIT
The Seahawks will play in the NIT for the third time after appearing in the 1998 and 2001 editions under Jerry Wainwright.

UNCW fell to Wake Forest in 1998 before dropping a contest at Dayton in 2001. Both schools are the top two seeds in the Winston-Salem bracket, which is anchored by the top-seeded Demon Deacons.

SEAHAWKS IN THE POSTSEASON
UNCW will enter postseason play for the 12th time, all since 1998, and third time under head coach Takayo Siddle, who guided the school to the 2022 CBI Championship and a berth in last season's NCAA Tournament.

This marks the first time the Seahawks have appeared in back-to-back postseason tournaments since UNCW went to three straight postseason events (CIT and two NCAAs) from 2015-17 under former coach Kevin Keatts.

Siddle carries a 4-1 career mark into Tuesday in the postseason.

DOWN THE STRETCH
UNCW closed the regular season with wins in seven of its last eight contests, outscoring opponents by 10.1 points over the span. Seven Seahawks averaged better than seven points, highlighted by a trio of Seahawks in double-digits: Patrick Wessler (13.8), Christian May (13.6) and Nolan Hodge (11.6)

Wessler averaged a double-double over the stretch with 10.5 boards per game, including 3.8 offense getbacks.

The Seahawks earned a share of the CAA regular season following a Jan. 26 win vs. North Carolina A&T and secured the outright title in the regular season finale at Elon.

UNCW then dropped an 85-70 contest in the CAA Quarterfinals to Campbell. Wessler and Madison Durr paced the Seahawks with 21 points apiece.

FOUR SEAHAWKS EARN CAA POSTSEASON AWARDS
UNCW men's basketball head coach Takayo Siddle was honored as the Coastal Athletic Association Coach of the Year, while senior guard Madison Durr claimed Sixth Man of the Year honors following a vote of the league's 13 head coaches as announced on Friday morning.

Redshirt junior Patrick Wessler became the 23rd Seahawk (third under Siddle) to earn All-CAA First Team honors, while senior leader Nolan Hodge's breakout campaign cemented his status on the All-CAA Second Team.

Full Story

NOW AIRING: TIDAL RISING
Seventy-five seasons ago, a vision for basketball in Wilmington began with little more than belief. From modest beginnings to the rise of Trask Coliseum and the battles that followed, UNCW men's basketball has been shaped by moments of growth, resilience, and expectation.

Tidal Rising, presented by Southeast Mortgage, is a documentary series that traces that journey; the people, the places, and the seasons that built the program while looking ahead to a future still driven by momentum. The tide has been rising for decades, and the story is far from finished.

Click here to watch.

NOW AIRING: THE SEAHAWK BASKETBALL SHOW

The Seahawk Basketball Show featuring Takayo Siddle is now airing on the UNCW Athletics YouTube channel. The coaches show features game highlights, player profiles, weekly honors and a preview of the upcoming schedule.

Stay up-to-date on all things UNCW Athletics by visiting UNCWSports.com and subscribing to the UNCW Athletics YouTube channel.

Click here to watch.

NEW AT TRASK
Several amenities and concession enhancements will welcome fans to Trask Coliseum as the UNCW men's and women's basketball programs open the 2025-26 season.

Improvements have been made with the fan experience in mind, highlighted by an upgraded lighting system and improved Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the coliseum. More concession speed lines will be available throughout the building to reduce wait times and get fans back to the gameday action.

In addition, several new concession options will be available this year, including select discounted concessions up to 30 minutes prior to tip-off, souvenir cup options, specialty items and a kids meal.

Click here to read more.

MEN'S HOOPS CELEBRATES 75 SEASONS
No one could have imagined the heights the UNCW men's basketball program has experienced when William J. "Bill" Brooks was hired as Wilmington College's first athletic director, basketball coach, baseball coach and chairman of the health and physical education department in September of 1951.

Now, as the program prepares for its 75th season since the hiring of Coach Brooks, reflections on memorable moments and milestones, highlighted by Tidal Rising, a historic men's basketball documentary series presented by Southeast Mortgage, will be celebrated throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

Click here to read more.

ON THE DOCKET
The winner of Tuesday's contest will move on to play the winner of Dayton and Bradley on either Mar. 21 or 22. Dates, times and locations will be announced following the conclusion of Tuesday and Wednesday's NIT First Round contests.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge: G; 6' 7"; Senior

#1 Madison Durr: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#2 Patrick Wessler: F; 7' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#8 Christian May: G/F; 6' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

#1 Madison Durr
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#2 Patrick Wessler
: 7' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#8 Christian May
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G/F

UNC Wilmington Athletics

Scoreboard

Events/Results

MBB Fan Guide: Yale

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge

#1 Madison Durr

#2 Patrick Wessler

#8 Christian May

Players Mentioned

#4 Nolan Hodge

#1 Madison Durr

#2 Patrick Wessler

#8 Christian May