‘Set the stage’: Transylvania is gearing up for its first national title game appearance
.jpg "Transylvania, a winner against Smith College in the Final Four on March 18, will compete in its first national championship game on April 1 in Dallas against Christopher Newport.")
On April 1, Transylvania women’s basketball will continue its historic season with a shot at the NCAA Division III national championship in Dallas against Christopher Newport.
Transylvania operates on semesters, but the school tacks on an additional four-week May term. The May term, three of which are required to graduate, provides an opportunity for students to focus on one class before school officially lets out for the summer.
For Coach Juli Fulks’ undefeated team (32-0), the preparation for this season — and this unprecedented postseason — really began in the 2022 May term. The Pioneers had suffered a disappointing end to their 2021-22 season with a home-court loss in the Elite Eight to Trine University in mid-March. Their magical season finished with an overall record of 27-1.
The team took a leadership class for the May term, studying the book “The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team” by Patrick Lencioni. Fulks made the decision to separate the upperclassmen from the underclassmen for the majority of the term, not bringing the groups together until the end.
“I thought for both groups, and then we came together at the end, to take such a successful season and still look back, and everybody had the vulnerabilities to say, what did they do well, and what could they have done better? I thought that really set the stage,” Fulks said.
Fulks had her players fill out a “dream card” at the start of the term, and then another once they finished the book. She has those notecards taped to the back of her office drawer.
“To their credit,” Fulks said. “They have collectively taken the things that held us back last year, as a group and individually, and did everything they could to make sure if we didn’t win again this year, it wasn’t for the same reasons. And I really appreciate that about them.”
The 2021-22 roster didn’t technically lose until the game against Trine in the tournament, but Fulks said the team never truly felt undefeated. The Pioneers opened the year with an exhibition tournament in Quebec and lost there, as well as losing an exhibition game against EKU they felt they could win.
But, according to Fulks, the start of this season felt unlike the start of last.
“It did feel different,” Fulks said. “I think there were plenty of times this year where us as coaches started to feel the pressure of the expectations. But what I appreciated was all of us could verbalize when we felt like that was happening. And then remind ourselves that we just really needed to be grateful for each day.”
The Pioneers have plenty to be grateful for. An unforgettable, undefeated season. A fifth-consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title. The program’s first Final Four and national championship game appearances. Transylvania is seeing its women’s basketball program soar to new heights, but Fulks says the best part is watching her players’ achievements.
“The real joy is watching them go through it,” Fulks said. “Whether it’s coaching basketball, or them in the classroom, or whatever it is they’re doing, to watch them succeed at things that they were unsure that they can be at. That is the best part. And, last year, we had no idea we would be undefeated and going to the Elite Eight, you couldn’t have told any of us that. And then this year to have such big expectations and be able to meet them, that’s such a rarity.”
On Wednesday, the full team, coaching staff and select administrators will fly to Dallas ahead of the title game. The players have been laser-focused on film study, strength training and game preparation. They also, of course, are looking forward to the moments in between basketball.
“We will approach Dallas the same way we approach everything and every road trip,” Fulks said. “We want them to have the best time. … And we will also figure out how to make the basketball part be really good. And part of that is they love to compete, so that will be really good. But, you know, we won’t shy away from doing the fun stuff, either. That’s just not who we are.”
FAN FACTS
The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network at noon EDT on Saturday, April 1.
The Kentucky Theatre will be hosting a campus watch party, with doors opening at 11 a.m.
Alumni and fans of the program can also attend a watch party at KSBar & Grille, starting at 11 a.m. In Louisville, a watch party at Drake’s-St. Matthew’s begins at 11 a.m.
Those traveling to Dallas are encouraged to join an alumni, families and fans social on Friday, March 31, at Gloria’s Latin Cuisine from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. CDT. On Saturday morning, fans are welcome to cheer on the Pioneers at 9:15 a.m. CDT prior to the game at the PNC Plaza in front of the American Airlines Center.
Transy will wear black uniforms in the national championship game. The team is encouraging fans in Dallas, Lexington and beyond to join in on the blackout.
Next game
Transylvania vs. Christopher Newport
What: NCAA Division III national championship game
When: Noon EDT on Saturday, April 1
Where: American Airlines Center in Dallas
Records: Transylvania 32-0; Christopher Newport 31-0
TV: CBS Sports Network
This story was originally published March 25, 2023 at 10:33 AM.
