How Shelton State men's and women's basketball developed into national powers

The Shelton State men's and women's basketball teams will host the ACCC Tournament on Tuesday through Saturday at Umphrey Center. The women open play Tuesday at 7 p.m. and the men at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Lady Bucs (26-1) are ranked second in the NJCAA while the men (26-4) are ranked 15th.

"Our basketball programs are huge and very successful. Hosting this tournament will definitely help them win during the tournament and will be a nice sendoff to the national tournament," said Shelton State athletics director Cara Crosslin.

Crosslin has two former ACCC Coaches of the Year at the helm of the basketball programs.

"They do a great job from beginning to end, from recruiting to coaching and playing in the games," Crosslin said. "They are very professional and perfectionists in their own way. Their standards are super high, and they are super competitive."

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Lady Bucs coach Madonna Thompson is excited to play at home in front of Bucs fans and to keep the regular-season routine going through the conference tournament.

"We haven’t lost a game at home in a long time," Thompson said. "The kids love being able to go home and sleep in their own bed before games and eat food that we are familiar with eating."

Men's coach Joseph Eatmon believes Tuscaloosa is a great city to host the tournament.

"It’s a great revenue-generator for the city," said Eatmon. "We are bringing in teams that will stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and spend money here in Tuscaloosa."

Crosslin and her support staff have prepared all year for the event and are anxious for it to begin.

"We will have a program of every team with pictures and roster included," said Crosslin. "We have many hospitable volunteers ready to make this tournament successful, as well as many amenities for the teams that come here."

The Lady Bucs currently have 21 consecutive 20-win seasons. Under Thompson, the Lady Bucs have won 16 conference championships. In 2000, the Shelton State women made it all the way to the NJCAA Final Four, finishing fourth in the country.

Last season, the Lady Bucs finished the regular season with a 21-5 record, winning the ACCC Championship for the sixth season in a row. In the NJCAA Tournament, they advanced to the Elite Eight.

In Eatmon's five-year tenure, the Buccaneers have won the ACCC championship three times.