Helena Frye
The UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team has competed in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports, including baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. The Retrievers have appeared in The Basketball Classic once, and have also participated in the NCAA Division II tournament twice. In 2018, the UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team made history by defeating the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers, marking the first time a 16th seed had beaten a top seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Retrievers have a rich athletic heritage, with their mascot, True Grit, often seen at basketball games, and a new $85 million arena built to host their basketball games, along with other community events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the team | UMBC Retrievers |
| Name of the mascot | True Grit |
| Year the mascot was chosen | 1966 |
| Year of the debut of UMBC's alma mater | 2006 |
| Year UMBC opened a new arena and events center | 2018 |
| Name of the new arena | Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena |
| Year the Retrievers men's basketball team defeated the #1 ranked Virginia Cavaliers | 2018 |
| Number of appearances in The Basketball Classic | 1 |
| Number of appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team
The UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team has competed in the NCAA Division II tournament twice and appeared in The Basketball Classic once, although they withdrew from the tournament due to health concerns and insufficient players, resulting in a 2-0 win for Merrimack. The team's record in The Basketball Classic is 0-1.
In the 2024-25 season, the UMBC Retrievers finished with a record of 13-19, placing 8th in the America East Conference. They faced tough competition, including a loss to Vermont, who were led by TJ Hurley's impressive 23 points.
The Retrievers have a dedicated following, and their games are often exciting and competitive. While their record may not always reflect consistent success, the team has shown potential and continues to strive for improvement.
UMBC's men's basketball team has a bright future, and with continued hard work and dedication, they can achieve greater success in the highly competitive world of college basketball. The team's fans and supporters eagerly anticipate their progress in the upcoming seasons.
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The Basketball Classic
The UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team has appeared in The Basketball Classic once, withdrawing from the tournament due to health concerns and a lack of players. This resulted in a 2-0 win for Merrimack.
The inaugural tournament in 2022 was won by the Fresno State Bulldogs, who defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 89-77 in the final. The tournament has quickly gained popularity, providing an exciting platform for teams to showcase their talent and compete on a national stage.
While UMBC has only participated in The Basketball Classic once, their presence in the tournament highlights their commitment to the sport and their ambition to compete at the highest level.
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NCAA Division II tournament
The UMBC Retrievers men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament two times. The NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament, or "Championship", is an annual tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II. These are generally smaller schools in the United States (plus one in Canada). The tournament was established in 1957, immediately after the NCAA subdivided its member schools by size into the University Division (now Division I) and College Division.
In 1974, the College Division was further split into the limited-scholarship Division II and the non-scholarship Division III. The "Men's" designation was added in 1982 when the NCAA began sponsoring a Division II women's championship. The Division II tournament normally involves 64 teams, with 23 automatic bids and 41 at-large bids. The bids are allocated evenly among eight NCAA-designated regions. The finals of the Division II tournaments consist of eight teams, instead of four in the other two divisions. The eight survivors of regional play meet in the Elite Eight at a predetermined site.
The Division II tournament semi-finals are broadcast on CBS Sports Network, and the final is aired on CBS as part of the NCAA March Madness package. The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19, and the 2021 tournament was reduced to 48 teams when nine all-sports conferences chose not to compete.
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Retrievers' soccer team
The UMBC Retrievers men's soccer team represents the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college soccer competition. The Retrievers compete as members of the America East Conference.
The Retrievers' soccer team was created in 1968, just three years after the university's founding. The team plays at the Retriever Soccer Park, which was completed in 1998. The stadium has a 120-yard by 70-yard field, with Bermuda grass. The team's supporters group, Lot 17, is named after the parking lot where students gather before games. Lot 17 is known for its passionate and vibrant atmosphere, with students chanting, waving flags, and banging drums to support their fellow Retrievers.
The Retrievers have had several notable achievements in soccer. They won the America East Conference in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014, receiving automatic bids to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. In 2010, they won their first-round game against Princeton but lost in the second round to a ranked William & Mary team. The team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament again in 2012, winning their first-round game against Old Dominion but losing to defending champion North Carolina in penalty kicks. In 2013, the Retriever women's soccer team won their first America East Conference title and made their NCAA tournament debut, losing to Virginia Tech. The men's team continued their success in 2014, advancing to the College Cup Final Four and becoming the first team in tournament history to win four consecutive road games and shutouts.
The UMBC Retrievers compete in a range of intercollegiate varsity sports, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, and track and field. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the state dog of Maryland, has been the university's mascot since its founding in 1966.
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UMBC's mascot
The mascot's characterization is known as "True Grit", and it appears in two forms: a 500-pound bronze statue in front of the Retriever Activities Center (RAC) and as a costumed, anthropomorphized retriever. The costumed mascot has been known as both True Grit and Fever the Retriever in the late 1990s. The name True Grit was derived from the model's name, Nitty Gritty. The statue was sculpted by Raye, who described it as the first dog sculpture she had ever done.
UMBC's first live mascot was named Campus Sam, a name chosen by student Tom Berlin in a contest held in the Fall 1966 semester, the same year the university was founded. Campus Sam was donated by the Callegary family in the spring of 1967 and lived with the family of Guy Chisolm, UMBC's first director of the physical plant. Campus Sam was adorned with a black and gold UMBC scarf when he attended games and campus events. The university has had several other live retriever mascots since.
In 2007, UMBC revealed that True Grit had a sister named Trudy Grit, who also served as a mascot. In 2008, a new Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy was chosen as the new live mascot, and an online poll decided his name to be Gritty.
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Frequently asked questions
UMBC competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports, including basketball. In 2018, the Retrievers men's basketball team created history by defeating the #1-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. It was the first time a 16-seed defeated a 1-seed.
The UMBC basketball team is known as the Retrievers.
Paul Mittermeier, Gary Stein, Troy Greene, and Dan Levin are the broadcasters for the UMBC Retrievers basketball games.
The mascot of the UMBC Retrievers is True Grit, an anthropomorphized Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
The UMBC Retrievers play their home games at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, an $85 million arena and events center that opened in 2018.
