Faculty Basketball Tournament's Group Stage Concluded, with Final Four Teams Determined
2025-04-23
Under the theme "United in Purpose for Progress, Rising to the Challenge for New Horizons," the faculty basketball tournament tipped off on April 14 and concluded its group stage at 10:00 p.m. on April 21 after intense competition, with the final four teams now advancing. The tournament was organized by the HUTB Sports and Health Promotion Committee, hosted by the Labour Union and the School of Sports and Health, with support from Hunan Zhongwei Sports Club Co., Ltd.
In the group stage, 16 teams were divided into Pool A and Pool B, with two round-robin matches played per game day. Four teams advanced to the next round: Roots Downward Team (1st in Pool A, joint faculty team from the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Digital Media Engineering and Humanities), Compute Supreme Team (2nd in Pool A, joint faculty team from the School of Computer Science, the School of Accounting, and Administrative Division 6), Growth Upward Team (1st in Pool B, faculty team from Xiangjiang Laboratory), and New Quality Productive Forces Team (2nd in Pool B, joint faculty team from Administrative Divisions 1 & 5, the School of Public Administration and Human Geography, and the School of International Business). Their advancement sets the stage for intense showdowns in the upcoming knockout matches.
Final Four Highlights: Where Elite Skill Meets Indomitable Spirit
Growth Upward Team swept the group stage undefeated. As Pool B’s top seed, this Xiangjiang Laboratory faculty squad showcased their "breakthrough innovation and peak pursuit" ethos through flawless teamwork and tactical execution.
Roots Downward Team played through adversity. Despite sustaining an ankle injury in the opening match, Zhao Zhenyu persevered to complete the game—epitomizing the team’s tenacious spirit that has become the tournament’s defining ethos.
Compute Supreme Team excels at multi-front competition. Led by the university women’s basketball head coach Li Menglong, the squad is renowned for tactical discipline, agile movement, and standout performances.
New Quality Productive Forces Team emerged as Pool B’s "dark horse." Zhang Jingchao’s pinpoint mid-range shooting eliminated formidable opponents, embodying rigorous professionalism on the court.
The final four teams will compete in crossover elimination matches for a spot in the championship game, with the winners advancing to vie for the title. This year’s tournament, through the steadfast resilience of "Roots Downward" and the groundbreaking spirit of "Growth Upward," has infused campus culture with the essence of sportsmanship.
Innovative Format: Women Faculty-Exclusive Segment Ignites the Competition
To boost tournament participation and fun, this year’s competition specially introduced a women faculty-exclusive segment, with Rule 1 being the Free Throw Bonus. After the first quarter of each game, both teams designate one female faculty member to attempt 10 free throws—every successful shot adds 1 point to the team’s total score. Rule 2: Three-Point Challenge. After halftime, each team designates one female faculty member to attempt five three-point shots—each successful shot adds 1 point to the team’s total score. This initiative not only enables female faculty to engage deeply in competition but also, through the dual challenges of "free throws + three-pointers," fully showcases their athletic prowess and competitive intelligence. Statistics show that during the initial stage, female faculty achieved peak free throw accuracy of 80% and three-point shooting rates up to 40%, making their performance a pivotal element in teams’ tactical strategies.
The semifinals will take place tonight (April 23), followed by the championship game on Friday evening, April 25. After crowning the champion, as per tradition, an exhibition match will feature an All-Star team composed of standout players from the final four squads versus the School of Sports and Health faculty team—promising high-intensity entertainment. Stay tuned! (Reported by Yu Jiayu, Chen Luming and Xiang Shuo'an)
