Willett Hall (formerly Lancer Hall) is home to Longwood Basketball and one of the finest athletic and physical education facilities of any similar size institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The facility was completed in 1980 at a cost of $4.5 million.
    
Longwood University honored three former institution presidents, including Dr. Henry I. Willett Jr., on September 9, 2004 with three major buildings on campus named in their honor.  Lancer Hall was named Willett Hall for the president from 1967 to 1981.  Dr. Willett oversaw the transformation of Longwood into a fully coeducational institution.
    
Willett Hall features a 2,522-seat arena that had its floor replaced just prior to this 2004-05 season, as well as convenient concession stands located in the main lobby -- recently renovated during 2003-04, four locker rooms, training room, weight room, swimming pool, and other facilities for the University’s 14-sports.
    
The summer of 2006 witnessed the beginning of renovations to Willett Hall for the Longwood University men’s and women’s basketball programs.  The work completed this summer and fall prior to the new seasons included new lighting, new paint-work surrounding the floor, painting of the new Lancer Athletics logo at center-court, new team and individual banners, and renovations to the locker rooms of both programs.

The walls have been painted a combination of blue, white, and gray while the new athletics logo was painted in blue over a white background in the center-circle of the court.  The old team and individual banners have been replaced with a more modern banner emphasizing the blue and white school colors.  The first phase of the locker room project has resulted in an expansion in size via the demolition of some existing walls along with upgrading of the individual lockers.

The men's basketball program at Longwood has compiled a home-court record of 212-113 during 26 seasons of action in Willett Hall, an overall winning percentage of .652%.  Last season (2005-06; 8-4), Longwood drew 2,418 fans to the facility for the game against James Madison, its largest crowd of the season, for an exciting 77-73 victory.  It was the largest crowd at the building since the 1980’s era that featured former All-American and 17-year NBA veteran Jerome Kersey.  The Lancers averaged 994 over 12 home games a year ago, including three crowds over 1,500 among five over 1,000 overall.  This year, Longwood will play 12 home contests with games against Division I opponents VCU, Liberty, Hampton, Navy, American, Florida Atlantic, High Point, Morgan State, Savannah State, and NJIT; along with Virginia-Wise and Shenandoah.
    
Longwood averaged a school-record 1,173 during the memorable 2000-01 season when the Lancers posted a 23-8 record, including 11-3 (.786%) at home.  That season included a near capacity 2,213 for a contest against former Division II archrival Queens (N.C.).