2022 Final Four: TSU, HBU, UH and Rice University to offer collegiate basketball tournament course in the fall

HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) — Houston will be the official host city of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament in more than seven months. During that time, the schools that punch their ticket to the courts here in Space City will make history. And lucky students from universities here in Houston will be a part of it.

“We have strategic priorities in men’s basketball, and one of those is promoting education,” JoAn Scott, executive director of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships, told ABC13.

“That’s part of it.”

We saw a final four dish. Now we see a Final Four course.

RELATED: Houston is in an ‘amazing place’ a year before hosting the 2023 Final Four.

“There’s nothing like planning an event for over 75,000 people,” said Holly Kesterson, president of the Houston Local Organizing Committee.

The Houston Local Organizing Committee for the Final Four recently created a unique college class.

The Business of Major Sporting Events is a two-semester academic achievement program that allows 60 students from Houston Baptist University, Rice University, Texas Southern University and the University of Houston to participate in planning for next April’s Final Four.

Westfield High School graduate and TSU graduate Lance Bledsoe is enrolled on the course.

“I’m just blessed to get this opportunity,” said Bledsoe. “Not a lot of people get that opportunity, but I got it, so I’m just blessed.”

Professors will teach the course from institutions in next year’s Final Four, UH, TSU, Rice and HBU.

Diversity and collaboration are some of the things our city does best.

“It’s all about networking, especially in the sports world,” Bledsoe said. “I think this is the perfect opportunity.”

“Four institutions come together to present ideas and issues and to bring those ideas together,” added Kesterson.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we’re thrilled to have it.”

“One comment I made when we were taking photos was suggesting that the students keep this picture,” Scott revealed. “Because maybe you’re working on a future Final Four here in this town.”

So while we wait to learn about the schools that will make up the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four here in Houston, we may already know which colleges will be part of the next to host our city.

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