Hampton Pirates get top seeded Duke

HAMPTON, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

Hampton (24-8), making their first NCAA appearance since 2006, earned the No. 16 seed in the West Region. They defeated defending MEAC champion Morgan State 60-55 on Saturday in the title game for their fifth straight win.

Ex-Trenton mayor: 16th-seed Hampton will shock No. 1 Duke in NCAA Tournament

TRENTON, NJ -- Watch out, Dukies, little ol' Hampton is coming to eat your lunch! So says former Trenton mayor Doug Palmer after hearing that his alma mater is slated to open the NCAA Tournament against the defending national champion and top seed in the West.

Hampton University (24-8) is the 16-seed after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. On Friday in Charlotte, N.C., the Pirates will face No. 5 Duke (29-4), which beat North Carolina to win the ACC crown and grab a top seed for the 12th time.

But Hampton has history on its side in tournament games against powerhouses.

NCAA MEN'S BRACKET

PIRATES TO FACE DUKE IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The time of the game has yet to be determined. The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

“We're excited for the opportunity, and it marks a chance for our program to do something special,” Pirates head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner Jr. said. “It's been 10 years since we last made history, and we want to put that stamp on our program and show the world what we're capable of.”

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.