UNC Asheville

The UNC Asheville Bulldogs embody the creative spirit of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a commitment to academic excellence, and a tenacious underdog mentality from their home in Asheville, North Carolina. The university's identity as a giant-killer is forged on the basketball court, where the Bulldogs have established themselves as a perennial power in the Big South Conference with five separate trips to the NCAA March Madness tournament. Their proud tournament history includes winning the first-ever "First Four" game in 2011 and a legendary 2012 performance where the No. 16 seeded Bulldogs took the No. 1 seed Syracuse to the final buzzer, cementing their fearless reputation. This winning culture is shared across campus, with the women's basketball team also capturing multiple Big South titles and a dominant women's swimming and diving program building its own championship legacy. The state-of-the-art Kimmel Arena channels the vibrant, artistic energy of Asheville, creating a distinct and challenging home-court advantage. The UNC Asheville Bulldogs represent a smart, gritty brand of athletics, proving that the heart of a champion can thrive in a university and a city known for their thoughtful and independent spirit.