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The Samford Bulldogs are the varsity teams that represent Samford University in NCAA Division I athletics. The men's basketball team has been in Division I since 1972 and has appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament three times, most recently in 2024. The team is currently led by head coach Lennie Acuff, who joined in 2025, and they play their home games at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs are part of the Southern Conference, having previously been in the Trans-Atlantic Athletic Conference (now ASUN Conference) and the Ohio Valley Conference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Basketball Team | Samford Bulldogs |
| University | Samford University |
| Location | Homewood, Alabama, United States |
| Varsity Teams | 17 (8 men's and 9 women's) |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| Stadium | Pete Hanna Center |
| Head Coach | Lennie Acuff |
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What You'll Learn
- Samford University's basketball team competes in Division I of the NCAA
- The team is nicknamed the Bulldogs
- The Bulldogs' colours are red and blue
- The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament three times
- The women's basketball team made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012
Samford University's basketball team competes in Division I of the NCAA
Samford University's basketball team, the Samford Bulldogs, competes in Division I of the NCAA. The team is based in Homewood, Alabama, and currently plays in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament three times, with their most recent appearance in 2024. The men's basketball team made its first NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000, while the women's team made its debut in the 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, returning again in 2012.
The Samford Bulldogs are the varsity teams that represent Samford University in NCAA Division I athletics. There are 17 varsity teams in total, comprising 8 men's teams and 9 women's teams. The basketball teams previously played in Seibert Hall until the new Corts Arena in the Hanna Center was completed in 2007. The facility cost $32 million and can hold 5,000 spectators for basketball games.
The men's basketball team has a rich history at Samford University, dating back to 1901. The team has experienced success under various coaches, including John Brady, who led the program to back-to-back Trans America Athletic Conference West Division titles in 1996 and 1997. Jimmy Tillette, who coached from 1997 to 2012, guided the Bulldogs to consecutive TAAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament bids in 1999 and 2000. More recently, Scott Padgett coached the team from 2014 to 2020, overseeing a period of growth with a record of 84-115.
The current head coach of the Samford Bulldogs men's basketball team is Lennie Acuff, who was hired in 2025. Acuff previously coached at Lipscomb University, where he achieved a record of 110-82 and made one NCAA tournament appearance. The Bulldogs' home games are played at the Pete Hanna Center, and the team's colours are red and blue.
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The team is nicknamed the Bulldogs
The Samford Bulldogs are the 17 varsity teams (8 men's and 9 women's) that represent Samford University in NCAA Division I athletics. The team is nicknamed the Bulldogs. The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, most recently in 2024. The women's basketball team made its initial NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament and made its second consecutive appearance in 2012. The team's mascot, a costumed bulldog named Spike, was retired in 2017 and replaced by an uncollared bulldog named Sam. Samford's school colours are red and blue, with the red tending to be bright and the blue a darker navy shade.
The Samford Bulldogs men's basketball team has a rich history, with the university sponsoring a men's basketball team since 1901 and being NCAA Division I since 1972. The team's current head coach is Lennie Acuff, who was hired in 2025. The Bulldogs play their home games at the Pete Hanna Center, which was completed in 2007 and has a capacity of 5,000 for basketball. The team has had success in recent years, with the 2023-24 season being the best in program history. They won the Southern Conference regular-season title for the second straight year and the SoCon Tournament, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000.
The Bulldogs have also had notable performances in other tournaments, appearing in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The team has had several notable coaches throughout its history, including John Brady, who led the program to back-to-back Trans America Athletic Conference West Division titles in 1996 and 1997, and Jimmy Tillette, who guided the Bulldogs to two consecutive TAAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament bids in 1999 and 2000.
The Samford Bulldogs women's basketball team has also achieved success, with the Lady Bulldogs winning the regular-season championship and the Tournament Championship, capping off a record-high 40 wins in the 2011-2012 season. The Samford Bulldogs basketball teams have a passionate following, with a student fan club called The Red Sea, reflecting the team's colours and the passion of its supporters.
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The Bulldogs' colours are red and blue
The Samford Bulldogs represent Samford University in the world of college basketball. The Bulldogs compete in the Southern Conference, which is a part of the NCAA's Division I athletics. This places them in a highly competitive environment, facing off against other talented teams and athletes.
Now, when it comes to the Bulldogs' identity, their choice of colors is an important part of their brand and heritage. The Bulldogs' colors are red and blue, a combination that is both bold and classic. These colors have come to symbolize the team's spirit and have become an iconic part of their visual identity. The use of red and blue creates a strong contrast and makes the Bulldogs' uniforms, merchandise, and branding instantly recognizable.
Red and blue are often associated with a sense of power, passion, and determination, which are all qualities that the Bulldogs aim to embody on and off the court. The red in their color scheme represents energy, action, and a fighting spirit, while the blue adds a sense of loyalty, tradition, and stability. Together, these colors create a unique and memorable identity for the team.
Over time, the red and blue colors of the Bulldogs have become a source of pride for not just the basketball team but also for the entire Samford University community. Students, alumni, and fans associate themselves with these colors, wearing them during games and other events to show their support and unity. The colors have become a symbol of the university's athletic program and a way for the Bulldogs to stand out in the competitive world of college sports.
The legacy of the Bulldogs' red and blue colors extends beyond the basketball court, influencing the overall visual language of Samford University's athletic department. These colors are consistently used across different sports teams, merchandise designs, and marketing materials, creating a cohesive and instantly identifiable brand.
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The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament three times
The Samford Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. The team has been a part of the NCAA Division I since 1972, previously playing as an independent team. The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament three times, with a combined record of 0-3.
The Bulldogs made their first NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000, under the leadership of head coach Jimmy Tillette. During the 1998-99 season, the team achieved a school-record 24 wins, winning the TAAC regular season and tournament titles. This success earned them their first NCAA Tournament bid. Tillette's success continued into the following season, with the team winning the TAAC Tournament once again and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
The Bulldogs' third appearance in the NCAA Tournament came in 2024, under head coach Benni McMillian. The 2023-24 season was the best in the program's history, setting a school record with 29 wins and winning the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles. This outstanding season earned them a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they narrowly lost to Kansas.
The Samford Bulldogs men's basketball team has a rich history, with dedicated coaches and players driving the program forward. Their three appearances in the NCAA Tournament showcase the team's talent and determination, and the university continues to invest in its athletic programs to foster future success.
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The women's basketball team made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012
The Samford Bulldogs are the varsity teams representing Samford University in NCAA Division I athletics. The women's basketball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, making back-to-back appearances when they qualified again in 2012.
The Samford Bulldogs women's basketball team, formerly known as the Samford Lady Bulldogs, represents Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. The team has had four coaches in its history. Until the 2018-19 season, the team was coached by Mike Morris, who took over in 2002. Carley Kuhns then became the third head coach in 2019, before associate head coach Matt Wise was promoted to the role in 2025. The team's mascot is a bulldog named Sam, who wears a collar and has a nasty growl. The school colours are red and blue, with the red tending to be bright and the blue a darker navy shade.
The Bulldogs play their home games at the Pete Hanna Center, which was completed in 2007. The arena is a multi-purpose facility that can hold 5,000 people for basketball games and up to 6,000 for concerts and commencements. It cost $32 million to build and is one of the largest buildings constructed in strict accordance with Georgian-style architecture. The basketball team previously played in the Seibert Hall, which was home to Samford basketball until a new gym was added in 1961.
The Samford Bulldogs are members of the Southern Conference in Division I of the NCAA. They sponsor teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA-sanctioned sports.
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Frequently asked questions
The Samford Bulldogs men's basketball team has been in NCAA Division I since 1972.
The team currently plays in the Southern Conference.
The team has appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament three times, with their most recent appearance being in 2024.
