The University of Lynchburg men’s and women’s basketball teams invited students to celebrate Midnight Madness on Friday, Oct. 17, in Turner Gymnasium —an event featuring scrimmages, shooting games, and a dunk contest in anticipation of the start of the regular season in November.
Between both teams, 15 newcomers donned Hornets threads for the first time while their media day promotional videos played on the big screen. As part of the Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities, the event allowed students to win prizes and get excited for the start of a new season.
“It’s awesome to sit back and watch the girls enjoy their moment,” said Lynchburg Women’s Basketball Head Coach Allison Nichols. “To me, this is about showcasing them and letting them be introduced as a team for the first time.”
Midnight Madness also marked the transition from the teams’ eight preseason practices to regular-season competition, during which teams can practice every day.
“You get a weekend to celebrate the end of preseason, but it’s the start of what we work towards,” Nichols said.
Even with a 10:00 p.m. start time, the athletes appreciated the event’s large attendance.
“The energy was a touch better from past years,” said redshirt junior forward Eli Thomas. “I could tell people were really into it.”
Women’s Basketball Preview
Coach Nichols’ team finished the 2024-2025 regular season with a 10-14 overall record and 6-10 mark in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play. The Hornets finished ninth in the ODAC standings, just one win shy of clinching a top-eight ODAC Tournament berth.
The team returned six of its top-eight scorers, including four players who started at least 16 games. Senior forward Bree Spainhour led last year’s team with an average of 6.5 rebounds per game and 27 total blocks, all while shooting 44% from the field.
Lynchburg ushered in seven first-year athletes and sophomore transfer Madison Hoffman, who arrived in the Hill City after one year at Francis Marion University. The large recruiting class combatted the potential difficulty of replacing five seniors upon the season’s conclusion.
“We haven’t had a big incoming class for a couple years because we had such a big one a couple of years ago,” Coach Nichols said. “They all come from different backgrounds and bring a different mix of experiences at that level. It’s been nice to watch them get incorporated with our returners and see it mesh together.”
Despite missing the conference tournament last season, Coach Nichols led the 2023-2024 team to the ODAC Quarterfinals behind a 15-12 overall record. During that season, the Hornets re-experienced playing at a neutral site in the postseason, as the Salem Civic Center previously hosted all three rounds of the conference tournament.
While the ODAC slimmed its neutral slate down to just the final two rounds, Coach Nichols believes it serves as a strong benchmark for the Hornets.
“This senior class got a taste of Salem, which is everyone’s goal,” Nichols said. “I don’t see why there’s any reason that we can’t be one of those final-four teams in Salem, and once you get there, you never know.”
For the young group, playing selfless basketball could be the key ingredient to success.
“We have a group that is truly going to play for one another and realize it’s bigger than themselves,” Nichols said. “In order for us to be really successful, it doesn’t matter who scores the most points or plays the most minutes.”
The Lynchburg women’s basketball team opens the regular season in Turner Gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m. against Marymount. The season-opening game marks the first of 14 home contests, including two home stands of at least three consecutive games.
To view the Lynchburg women’s basketball schedule, click here.
The Lynchburg men’s basketball team boasted a winning record last season at 14-13 for the first time since the 2021-2022 campaign. Lynchburg toppled No. 7 Hampden-Sydney in the ODAC Quarterfinals 72-66 to advance to the semifinal round before falling to No. 19 Roanoke 96-92 in overtime.
Last year’s top four scorers returned for the 2025-2026 season, and the Hornets acquired seven new additions in the offseason. With several members of the team’s core intact, the team aims to continue its surge from the end of last season.
“We lost some valuable pieces, but at the same time, we had guys working along with them last year,” Thomas said. “We were right there, literally a game away from having the ODAC in our hands. It’s just about getting over that hump.”
The Hornets last won the ODAC Championship trophy in 2016 when Lynchburg beat Randolph 62-60 to advance to the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Hornets have felt the urgency to return to the national stage.
“10 years is too long; the last time they won, I was about to go into high school,” Thomas said. “We’ve seen how far we came last year with the core we had and the returners we have now. All we have to do is bring the freshmen along.”
Last season, three ODAC teams finished the season inside the nation’s top 15 teams, while Guilford ended the season in the “receiving votes” category. With a tough conference slate, the beginning of the season has become crucial for preparation.
“Being prepared for it means beating up on teams out of conference,” Thomas said. “The teams we’re playing are teams that win their conference and make the [NCAA] Tournament every year.”
Even with the team’s recent progression, Thomas recognizes the importance of bringing energy into the new season.
“You can play the game on the court, but it starts on our bench,” Thomas said. “You still need to have energy: clapping, dapping your teammates up, and enjoying the moment because it’ll fly by quickly.”
The Hornets begin the season on Friday, Nov. 7, by competing in the Rotary Club of Frederick Tip-Off Tournament against Catholic at 7:30 p.m. in Frederick, Md.
To access the Lynchburg men’s basketball schedule, click here.