
The NYU Violets men's and women's basketball teams represent New York University in the NCAA Division III. The NYU Violets is the nickname for the sports teams at NYU, with purple and white as the school colours and a bobcat as the school mascot. NYU previously competed in NCAA Division I until 1971 when the team was disbanded due to a budget crisis. The team was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III program. The NYU men's basketball team has appeared in the Division III National Championship game twice, in 1994 and 2024, while the women's team has won two NCAA Division III National Championships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the basketball team | NYU Violets |
| University | New York University |
| Division | Division III |
| Conference | University Athletic Association |
| School Colors | Purple and White |
| School Mascot | Bobcat |
| Number of varsity sports sponsored by the university | 23 |
| Number of appearances in the NCAA Tournament | 6 |
| Record in the NCAA Tournament | 9-8 |
| Number of appearances in the NIT | 8 |
| Record in the NIT | 13-11 |
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What You'll Learn

NYU men's basketball history in Division I
The NYU Violets men's basketball team is the college basketball team that represents New York University, located in New York City. The team currently competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association.
NYU previously competed as an NCAA Division I program until 1971 when the team was disbanded due to a budget crisis. The team was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III program. While a member of Division I, the Violets' basketball team registered a great deal of success. NYU played in two NCAA Division I Final Fours and can claim two national championships that predate the creation of the NCAA tournament (1920 and 1935).
In their time in Division I, the Violets appeared in the NCAA Tournament six times, with a record of 9-8. They also appeared in 8 NITs, compiling an overall record of 13-11. The Premo-Porretta Poll retrospectively ranks NYU among the final top 5 teams nationally for several seasons before the AP Poll began ranking college basketball teams in 1949, including #1 in 1935, #2 in 1909 and 1934, #3 in 1920, #4 in 1921, and #5 in 1930. NYU also appeared in the first AP Poll issued on January 18, 1949, and made its final appearance in the Division I AP Poll ranked #10 on December 24, 1964.
The Violets' most recent post-season accomplishment as a Division I college was finishing as the runner-up to BYU in the 1966 National Invitation Tournament. They had previously also finished as runners-up in 1948 and in third place in 1959. NYU was a member of the Metropolitan New York Conference from 1933 to 1963 and won four conference titles after the conference officially began sponsoring men's basketball in 1946.
NYU has had continued success since its reestablishment as a Division III program in 1983, appearing in seven consecutive Division III NCAA basketball tournaments from 1992 to 1998. In 1994, NYU advanced to the Final Four and finished as the national runner-up to Lebanon Valley College. They also finished as runners-up in the 2024 Division III NCAA tournament.
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NYU men's basketball in Division III
The NYU Violets men's basketball team represents New York University in intercollegiate competitions. NYU currently competes in the NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association (UAA).
NYU's basketball team has a rich history, dating back to the early 1900s. The team was disbanded in 1971 due to a budget crisis but was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III program. Before the transition to Division III, NYU had a successful run in Division I, appearing in the NCAA Tournament six times and achieving a record of 9-8. They also featured in eight NITs, with an overall record of 13-11.
In 1994, the NYU men's basketball team reached the Division III National Championship game, narrowly missing out on the title in an overtime loss to Lebanon Valley. The team also finished as runners-up in the 2024 Division III NCAA tournament. NYU's basketball program has produced notable athletes, including Lazarus Joseph, a former member of the New York State Senate and New York City Comptroller.
The NYU Violets men's basketball team continues to strive for excellence in Division III, aiming for their first NCAA tournament win. The team's home games are played at various locations across New York City, including the Palladium Athletic Facility, which is located on campus and offers a range of sports amenities.
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NYU women's basketball in Division III
The NYU Violets is the nickname for the sports teams at New York University. The school colours are purple and white, and the mascot is a bobcat. NYU sponsors 23 varsity sports, club teams, and intramural sports. NYU's women's basketball team competes in Division III of the NCAA's University Athletic Association.
In 2025, the NYU women's basketball team won the NCAA DIII Championship, defeating Smith 77-49. This was the team's second-straight DIII title, having won their first in 1997. The team had a perfect season, finishing 31-0, and had a 60-game winning streak.
The NYU women's basketball team has enjoyed success in Division III, reaching the Final Four in 2007 and 2025. In 2025, they entered the Final Four with a 29-0 season record, defeating Gettysburg College 76-51 in a competitive Elite 8 road game. Head Coach Meg Barber expressed her excitement about the team's performance and their chance to win another National Championship.
NYU's basketball programme has a rich history, with the men's team previously competing in Division I until 1971 when it was disbanded due to a budget crisis. The programme was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III programme, and the team has since found success in Division III, including a runner-up finish in the 1994 and 2024 tournaments. NYU's women's basketball team has contributed to this legacy, winning the DIII Championship in 2025 and previously in 1997.
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NYU's athletic conference
The NYU Violets is the nickname for the sports teams at New York University. The school colours are purple and white, and the school mascot is a bobcat. NYU currently competes in NCAA Division III as part of the University Athletic Association (UAA).
NYU has a rich history of athletic success and was a pioneer in intercollegiate sports. The university first began playing college football in 1873, one of the first football teams in the United States. NYU athletes have worn violet and white for over a century, which is the root of the nickname "Violets". The school's basketball team, the NYU Violets, previously competed in NCAA Division I until 1971 when the team was disbanded due to a budget crisis. The team was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III program. While in Division I, the NYU Violets appeared in the NCAA Tournament six times and achieved a record of 9-8. They also appeared in eight NITs, compiling a record of 13-11.
The University Athletic Association (UAA) is an intercollegiate athletic conference within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The UAA was founded in 1986 and currently has eight full members, all of which are highly selective, private universities located across the United States. The members include Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, New York University, the University of Chicago, the University of Rochester, and Washington University in St. Louis. All UAA members are ranked in the top 50 of national research universities, and the conference prioritizes academic achievement over athletic prowess.
NYU sponsors 23 varsity sports, including basketball, soccer, track and field, golf, rowing, tennis, swimming and diving, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and ice hockey. The university also has club teams and intramural sports, such as Taekwondo (TKD), which competes in the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (ECTC) and the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA).
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NYU's athletic history
New York University (NYU) has a rich athletic history and has been a pioneer in intercollegiate sports. NYU athletes have worn the school colours of purple and white for over a century, with the NYU Violets being the nickname for the university's sports teams. The school's mascot is a bobcat.
NYU was one of the first universities to establish a college football team in the United States, dating back to 1873. However, despite some notable moments, NYU's football history has been characterised as "lean", and the sport was dropped as a varsity program after the 1952 season. NYU's basketball team has had more success, with the men's team competing in NCAA Division I and appearing in the NCAA Tournament six times, achieving a record of 9-8. The team was disbanded in 1971 due to a budget crisis but was reinstated in 1983 as a Division III program. NYU has since appeared in the Division III NCAA tournament, finishing as runners-up in 1994 and 2024. The women's basketball team won a championship title in 1997, and the men's team appeared in the Division III National Championship game in 1994.
NYU sponsors 23 varsity sports, including basketball, swimming, wrestling, golf, and volleyball, as well as club teams and intramural sports. The university has a range of athletic facilities, including the Palladium Athletic Facility, which features a swimming pool, basketball courts, and a rock-climbing wall. The soccer teams play their home games at Van Cortlandt Park, and the baseball team plays at SIUH Community Park, the home of the Staten Island FerryHawks. NYU's historical rival has been Columbia University, although they also had a rivalry with Rutgers University in football and basketball.
NYU has produced notable athletes, including major-league baseball players Ralph Branca and Eddie Yost, and the university continues to foster a strong culture of athletics and school spirit.
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Frequently asked questions
New York University's basketball team currently competes in the NCAA Division III.
The NYU basketball team is nicknamed the Violets.
The team's colors are purple and white.
NYU Basketball moved from Division I to Division III in 1981, or 1983 when the team was reinstated after being disbanded in 1971.
The NYU men's basketball team has come close to winning the Division III National Championship, finishing as runners-up in 1994 and 2024. The women's basketball team has had more success, winning back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
























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