Home / Sports / Owls Seek First NCAA Win Against Gonzaga in Portland Showdown
Owls Seek First NCAA Win Against Gonzaga in Portland Showdown
20 Mar
Summary
- Kennesaw State aims for its first NCAA tournament win against Gonzaga.
- The Owls, with 51,375 students, are a large public university.
- Kennesaw State earned its second tournament bid by winning Conference USA.
Kennesaw State University, located in the Atlanta metro area, is preparing for its second NCAA Tournament appearance. The Owls will play Gonzaga in Portland on Thursday, March 20, 2026, marking their second trip to the bracket in four years. As of March 20, 2026, the Owls are still seeking their program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win, having entered the 2026 tournament with an 0-1 all-time record in such games. The team previously made its debut in 2023.
The Owls earned their spot in this year's tournament by winning the Conference USA tournament and securing the league's automatic bid. Kennesaw State is a substantial public university, reporting 51,375 students in Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate around 69%. This size differentiates them from the typical small-school Cinderella narrative.
Key players for the Kennesaw State Owls include Simeon Cottle, RJ Johnson, and Frankquon Sherman. Sherman averages 8.4 rebounds per game, and Johnson and Sherman have been central to the team's offense during their conference tournament success. While not having Gonzaga's national profile, the Owls possess enough guard play and rebounding ability to pose a challenge if the game remains close early.
Despite Kennesaw State's compelling March narrative, Gonzaga is considered the stronger pick. The predicted score is Gonzaga 82, Kennesaw State 66, though a competitive first half is anticipated.
