If you love alliteration, the ultimate underdog story, and college basketball, then the 15-seed Bryant Bulldogs might be your cup of tea in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. While Bryant basketball has a strong history at lower levels, they have only recently made their way to Division I. Bryant went 23-11 this season en route to winning the America East and earning their automatic bid to the Big Dance.
It has been a long and painful road for Bryant to level up, but the Bulldogs seem to have finally arrived. They made the transition to Division I in 2008, needing several years before they were even eligible for a postseason tournament. While they made it as far as the Division II national title bout back in 2005, the Bulldogs' first trip to the NCAA Tournament was its most recent prior to this season back in 2022.
The other thing of note with this small school basketball team is Phil Martelli Jr. is running point on the sidelines. He is the son of the iconic former head coach at Saint Joseph's and former Michigan associate head coach under Juwan Howard. Martelli played for his father at St. Joe's and was named co-team captain alongside Hawks iconic point guard Jameer Nelson on their incredible 2003 team. But this March Madness is all about Bryant, baby!
So where do these basketball Bulldogs call home? Where is Bryant University located? Bryant University is situated in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1863 as the Bryant and Stratton National Business College, where they taught bookkeeping and other forms of business communication and administration. This private school was also known as the Bryant College of Business Administration from 1935 to 2004 when it then officially became Bryant University. Despite an enrollment of only around 4,000 students, Bryant competes in 25 varsity-level athletic programs.
However, men's basketball is probably the school's biggest and most well-known program on a nationwide level. They made the NCAA Tournament seven times at the Division II level. Since transitioning to Division I, here is what Bryant has done so far in its NCAA Tournament history.
To date, Bryant basketball has only qualified for the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level twice. In 2022, as a No. 16 seed, they faced Wright State and lost 93-82 in the First Four. This season, they found themselves a bit better off, entering as the No. 15 seed and facing off against a formidable opponent in the first round—Michigan State.
The matchup was set, and excitement buzzed in Cleveland as the Bulldogs prepared to take on one of the biggest blue bloods in March Madness history. A win over Tom Izzo will bring not only triumph but financial incentives for Martelli Jr.
On Friday night, March 21, 2025, the stage was set, and the long-awaited game tipped off at about 10:10 p.m. despite a brief delay. Michigan State showcased their might right from the beginning, surging ahead.
As the first half progressed, Michigan State steadily pulled ahead, turning a 26-24 lead at the U4 media timeout into a 33-28 edge by halftime. All through their performance, they leaned into their trademark physicality, with Coen Carr emerging as a standout, contributing a game-high 15 points during the first half.
Despite the tenacity of Bryant, including Earl Timberlake’s 8 points leading up to halftime, and Rafael Pinzon showing flashes of offensive skill, the Bulldogs were ultimately outmatched.
As the second half commenced, Michigan State continued to dominate their opponents, rapidly extending their lead to 54-46 with 11:22 left on the clock. A notably significant aspect of the Spartans' game was their second-chance scoring; they had 16 points from offensive rebounds by then.
As the final quarter approached, the score was 65-49, illustrating a widening gap. Michigan State finished off strong with a definitive 81-57 victory over the Bulldogs. They exploited their height and physicality under the basket alongside Bryant's efforts, who faced an uphill battle on the boards, conceding 21 second-chance points in the second half alone.
“Michigan State had decisively dominated the glass, and it’s typical of Tom Izzo’s coaching style,” noted Bill Koch, covering the game for the Providence Journal.
Ultimately, Bryant’s NCAA tournament journey concluded with their second appearance still searching for that elusive victory. Their march to March Madness holds promise as they look to build on the experiences gained from this year’s competition.
Despite their loss, the Bulldogs have established themselves as a program worth noting and will likely return stronger next season, emboldened by the lessons learned on a national stage.
As the Bulldogs reflect on this year's tournament experience, the team and fans alike can take solace knowing their efforts have revived knowledge of Bryant basketball among national audiences.
