8 Catholic universities get ready to compete in NCAA men’s basketball tournament

CNA Staff, Mar 18, 2025 / 15:10 pm

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off March 18 and this year’s tournament includes eight Catholic universities competing for the championship title. They are: Creighton University, Gonzaga University, Marquette University, Xavier University, St. John’s University, Saint Mary’s College, Saint Francis University, and Mount St. Mary’s University.

Several of these Catholic institutions are making history with their participation in the tournament this year. 

The Red Flash from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, clinched their spot in the big dance when they beat the top team in their conference, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 46-43 on March 11. This victory earned them their first NCAA Tournament in 34 years.

During a crucial moment in the final seconds of the conference title game, Red Flash coach Rob Krimmel turned to his faith. 

According to CBS Sports, Krimmel had written on his play card three phrases: “audience of one,” “surrender,” and “thy will be done.” So, when CCSU tied the game with 17 seconds left, instead of calling for a timeout, Krimmel reminded himself of the phrases on his play card, encouraging his team to go make the plays they needed to make.

The Saint Francis Red Flash will be playing their first game of the tournament against the Alabama State Red Hornets on March 18.

Another team making history with their participation in March Madness is St. John’s University from New York. St. John’s Red Storm won the Big East Tournament title on March 15 for the first time in 25 years when the team beat Creighton University 82-66. 

Their first game in the tournament will be against the University of Nebraska-Omaha on March 20.

The Marquette Golden Eagles received their fourth consecutive invite to the big dance during the NCAA’s Selection Sunday on March 16. Senior guard Stevie Mitchell, who is preparing to play in his fourth March Madness, sees basketball as a tool to inspire the next generation and leave a lasting impact. Last summer, Mitchell hosted a free youth basketball camp at his high school in Pennsylvania. 

“To see how grateful they are for us, it really puts life into perspective. They don’t care how the game went,” he told the NCAA. “The kids who look up to us, they obviously want us to win, but they don’t really care how the game goes, they just see inspiration in us. And as long as we can live up to that night in and night out, we’ll be proud of whatever we do, whatever outcome may be, because it’s so much bigger than basketball.”

He continued: “The more time we spend in the community, the more we realize that and the more we’re just able to help give back and just make the place around us a better place. I think that’s the greatest thing you can do as a basketball player, or anybody really, is just make the world around you a better place,” he added. 

Marquette will face the University of New Mexico in their first-round game on March 21. 

The games for the other Catholic universities competing are: Creighton University will face the University of Louisville on March 20; Gongzaga will play the University of Georgia Bulldogs on March 20; the Xavier Musketeers will face off against the University of Texas Longhorns on March 19; Mount St. Mary’s will face American University on March 19; and the Saint Mary’s Gaels will compete against Vanderbilt on March 21.