Within the college basketball world, the Delaware State Hornets are truly a diamond in the rough. As a small school in the MEAC, it’s common to find cheap Delaware State basketball tickets readily available. But that doesn’t mean the entertainment value isn’t high for those who watch the Hornets play. They aren’t a program that fans will want to sell short, especially in a small state like Delaware, where high-level college basketball is hard to find. The Hornets are just the kind of program that can surprise some people, which is why college basketball fans should be eager to get their hands on last-minute Delaware State basketball tickets.

One Shining Moment

Delaware State’s moment in the spotlight came during the early 2000s. Between 2005 and 2007, the Hornets won three consecutive MEAC regular-season titles behind coach Greg Jackson. The Hornets also managed to win the MEAC Tournament in 2005, earning the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Despite being a no. 16 seed, the Hornets made the most of their opportunity, playing a far more competitive game than anyone expected against top-seeded Duke. In the end, Delaware State lost 57-46, but the Hornets acquitted themselves well on the biggest stage. After winning the MEAC in each of the two following seasons, the Hornets received invitations to the NIT and won a postseason game for the first time in 2006, knocking off Northern Arizona in the opening round of the NIT.

Still buzzing

While Delaware State has struggled to reach the top of the MEAC in recent years, the Hornets earned a postseason birth to the CBI in 2015. Despite a first-round loss, Delaware State finished the season 18-18, a huge step forward for the program in the post-Jackson era. While the Hornets have continued to have their ups and downs, they’ve never given up hope of one day becoming a powerhouse within the MEAC and a mid-major program fans should be following closely.