While the NCAA Tournament captivates the nation this week, Charlotte is preparing to host another significant collegiate basketball event: the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship (BCIC).

The four-day tournament featuring teams from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) begins Thursday at Bojangles Coliseum, with 16 teams each in both men's and women's brackets competing for the championship title. Charlotte's own Johnson C. Smith University is among the participating schools.

"This is HBCU March Madness," said Dr. Wes Bellamy, organizer of the tournament. "These HBCUs deserve to be able to play postseason basketball."

Bellamy organized the event to showcase HBCU athletic programs on a prominent stage in a major metropolitan area. He explained that the decision to select Charlotte was strategic.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/charlotte-nc-black-college-invitational-championship-3-19-2025/275-d20a307c-b5e4-43cb-9312-86e7c804106b

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