The West Coast is about to get a glimpse of the Big Bend.
On Monday, the Florida A&M basketball teams are hosting Pac-12 opponents California and Oregon at the Al Lawson Center.
The women Rattlers face the Golden Bears at 4 p.m.
The men Rattlers tip off against the Ducks at 8 p.m.
FAMU’s home-opening games are available on ESPN+. Tickets are on sale on Ticketmaster.
“I’m super excited for my first home game at the helm of the Rattlers,” first-year FAMU women’s basketball head coach Bridgette Gordon, who got hired in July, said.
“It’s really special because you don’t normally get Power Five teams to come to play you on your court. It’s bigger than basketball because many people don’t understand what HBCU means.
“I hope people come out and support. Don’t meet me there. Beat me there.”
FAMU’s games versus Cal and Oregon are part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Pac-12’s Legacy Series.
The SWAC’s website says that the home-and-home partnership, introduced in 2021, is for an “educational and basketball scheduling partnership” to recognize “promotion and education around issues of anti-racism and social justice.”
“Sports has historically broken down racial and cultural barriers through travel and exposure to different parts of the world,” FAMU men’s basketball head coach Robert McCullum, who spent four seasons as an assistant at Oregon, said.
“[Oregon athletic director] Rob Mullens and his staff found that they were so interested in the dynamics of an HBCU. When you have as many international players or players from the West Coast, chances are they won’t be nearly as familiar with the HBCU experience.
“It’s an interest level there on several bases that this game and series will help accomplish.”
Other Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Series games are Arizona State women’s basketball at Grambling State (Nov. 16) and USC at Alabama State (Dec. 19).
FAMU-Oregon, California games to be an HBCU cultural experience
The SWAC vs. PAC-12 games at FAMU were initially slated for the opening week of the college basketball season.
The intended date was to avoid the rush of FAMU’s Florida Classic football game versus Bethune-Cookman. Moreover, FAMU students are on Thanksgiving break.
But the games were rescheduled because Oregon is playing in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville from November 24-Nov. 25.
“The timing isn’t ideal,” McCullum said. “But Oregon asked if they could push the game back, and I gladly said yes to prevent them from coming across the country twice within two weeks.”
Though FAMU students are out of school, Gordon is optimistic that Rattler Nation will pack the Snake Pit.
FAMU has been promoting the games all over Tallahassee, primarily using digital billboard advertisements.
“We want to thank the athletic department for putting the billboard out to get the community’s attention,” Gordon said.
“I know school is out. If parents need a place to bring their kids, hang out, and enjoy some great basketball, there’s no better atmosphere than to come out here and get two games for one.
“You’re going to see a great product.”
Gordon added that before Cal arrived in Tallahassee for the game versus FAMU, the Golden Bears women’s basketball team attended the Florida Classic in Orlando after playing at Auburn.
“They got a great taste of the environment of our Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman playing a football game,” Gordon said.
“Just to see people of color and how we can compete and still get along is a beautiful experience for them.”
FAMU basketball coaches assesses teams’ development, looks forward to Pac-12 challenge
Both FAMU teams are looking to pull off an upset to get their first wins of the season.
The men’s Rattlers are 0-3, losing against Creighton, Nebraska, and Florida in three of 11 non-conference games.
McCullum is managing a roster of nine new players.
True freshman K’Jei Parker has been a bright spot for FAMU, averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in his first three college games. The day-one starter was named last week’s SWAC Impact Player of the Week.
“The moments haven’t been too big for K’Jei,” McCullum said of the guard.
“It’s been challenging, but the team has progressed since the Creighton game. We have some moments that we can build on.”
FAMU women’s basketball also dropped its first three games, losing to Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and Florida.
The Rattlers have eight newcomers on the team.
Transfer forward/center Hailee Brennen leads the team with 14 points per game and adds a three-rebound average. Guard Ahriahna Grizzle, a Preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection, closely follows, averaging 13 points while adding 3.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds.
“We only get this one chance to show the crowd that you’re capable of playing good, fundamental basketball like ‘Coach Pressure (herself)’ talked about in her press conference,” Gordon said of Monday’s game versus Cal.
“I applaud my young ladies for where they were last year to where they are now ― and where they’ve allowed me to push them in two months. But we can’t just say the potential is there. We have to keep getting better one percent better every day.
“They fight and compete. That’s all I can ask them to do.”
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Basketball: Rattlers hosting Pac-12 opponents for home opener
