63rd NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship Set for March 16-20 in Hutchinson
March 11, 2010
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 16-team field for the 2010 NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tournament has been finalized and the action will take place at the Sports Arena March 16-20 in Hutchinson, Kan. The 2010 tournament is the 63rd overall and marks the 62nd consecutive year the event has been held in Hutchinson.
Seven of the 16 qualifying teams ranked in the top 15 of the final regular season poll at the end of February.
Fans will be able to watch all 26 games of this year's tournament LIVE for the first time in the history of the event. NJCAA TV (
www.njcaa.org/tv) will video stream the entire tournament through its broadcasting partner Panhandle Sports Broadcasting. Hutchinson's own KWBW radio station (Eagle Communications) will provide play-by-play audio while PSB provides video production.
Below is a quick glance at this year's qualifying teams as well the first round games for Tuesday and Wednesday (March 16-17).
For official brackets, live stats, and more information about the tournament visit
www.njcaabbtrny.org.
NOTE: Michael Johnson's JUCO Classic News report contributed to the team previews below.
http://www.jucoclassic.com/
District 1: College of Eastern Utah (24-9)
25th ranked College of Eastern Utah qualified for just its second tournament appearance and first since 1965 when the Golden Eagles defeated Mesa (Ariz.) 65-64 in overtime on March 9 in the District 1 Championship. A Nick Thompson dunk with 16 seconds left in the contest gave CEU the lead and the Golden Eagles forced a Mesa missed shot on the ensuing possession to seal the win. The Golden Eagles secured the Region 18 title on March 7 when they took down No. 8 North Idaho 88-80.
CEU will face North Platte (Neb.) in the first round.
Eastern Utah players to watch - Michael Glover (16.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg); Jon Mills (12.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg); Isaiah Williams (12.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
District 2: Connors State College, Okla. (30-2)
The Cowboys of Connors State, ranked fourth in the final NJCAA regular season poll, clinched its second-straight tournament berth, and 10th overall, on March 7 when they defeated Seminole State (Okla.) 81-70 in the District 2/Region 2 Championship. C.J. Washington led the Pokes with 18 points and 20 rebounds in the victory. Connors State enters the tournament with a 12 game winning streak and will be going for its second national title (1990). The Cowboys finished fourth at last year's tournament.
The Cowboys will face Walters State (Tenn.) in the first round.
Connors State players to watch - C.J. Washington (19.0 ppg, 12.4 rpg - 4th in NJCAA, 1.3 steals/game); Mark Rutledge (13.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Jarvis Garner (9.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg)
District 3: Monroe College, N.Y. (26-7)
Monroe had no problem with No. 3 Harcum (Pa.) in the District 3 semifinals on March 6 as the Mustangs defeated the Bears 102-69. Monroe then took down Vincennes (Ind.) in the title game 78-68. Jeriel Henriquez led the team with 16 points while Tyrone Nared posted a double-double (14 points and 12 rebounds). The Mustangs will be making their third trip to Hutchinson and their first since 2006.
Monroe will face Three Rivers (Mo.) in the first round.
Monroe players to watch - Jeriel Henriquez (14.3 ppg, 4.8 rbg, 4.9 apg); A.J. Mathews (14.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Paul Scotland (13.2 ppg, 2.8 rbg, 4.6 apg)
District 4: Three Rivers Community College, Mo. (26-6)
NJCAA Hall of Fame basketball coach Gene Bess guided his Three Rivers team to a 90-75 win over Kankakee (Ill.) in the District 4 title game on March 9. It was the 1,400 game Bess has coached at Three Rivers and the win gave the program their 16th berth to the tournament - which is a record for most appearances by one coach and sixth most for a college. The Raiders have two national championships in their history (1979, 1982) and last appeared in the tournament in 2008. Three Rivers qualified for the District 4 title game by winning the Region 16 Championship with a 74-59 victory over Moberly Area (Mo.) on March 6.
Three Rivers will face Monroe (N.Y.) in the first round.
Three Rivers players to watch: Marquise Carter (17.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.5 apg - 23rd in NJCAA); Nick Niemczyk (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg); Josh Terry (12.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg)
District 5: Howard College, Texas (29-2)
Much of the attention in Region 5 all season had been given to Midland (Texas), which held in the No. 1 ranking in all but one NJCAA basketball poll this season. However, Howard got a lot of respect once they handed Midland their first loss of the season back on Feb. 15. In the District 5/Region 5 title game on March 7, Howard won the third and final contest between the two schools for this season with a 76-66 defeat of the Chaparrals. Howard's Joe Bright and Jae Crowder led the team with 16 points each in the title game. The Hawks will now appear in Hutchinson for the seventh time in school history. Howard last advanced to the tournament in 2006 when they placed fifth. Howard enters the tournament ranked second in the nation in defense (57.2).
The Hawks will face Southeastern Illinois in the first round.
Howard players to watch - Jae Crowder (18.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.3 steals/game; 11 double-doubles this season); Josh Watkins (15.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg); Carlos Emory (11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
District 6: Butler Community College, Kan. (29-5)
Located just 70 miles from Hutchinson in El Dorado, Kan., the Grizzlies of Butler, of any team in this year's field, should generate some big crowds in the Sports Arena. Butler clinched the District 6/Region 6 crown on March 8 with a 72-60 victory over Coffeyville (Kan.). Caleb Walker led the Grizzlies with 26 points, nine rebounds and two steals in the game. Butler was the top team from the Western Division while Coffeyville was the top team in the Eastern Division for the majority of the season. Butler was ranked 15th in the final NJCAA DI Basketball Poll of the regular season. The national tournament berth is Butler's fifth in school history and its first since 1996. The school won the 1953 title as El Dorado Junior College.
The Grizzlies will face Wallace State - Hanceville (Ala.) in the first round.
Butler players to watch - Caleb Walker (16.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.5 apg); Anthony Cousin (11.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg); Dushawn Brooks (10.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
District 7: Walters State Community College, Tenn. (21-8)
Walters State let a double-digit lead in the second half against Southwest Tennessee slip away and needed an acrobatic shot at the buzzer from Marsallis Malone to win the District 7/Region 7 title 72-70 on March 7. Malone's shot bounced gently off the glass and rolled into the net, setting off a wild celebration. The win by the Senators, seeded fourth in their region tourney, sealed their fifth trip to Hutchinson since 2002. Trey Payne led the Senators with 20 points in the title game.
Walters State will face Connors State in the first round.
Walters State players to watch - Frederick Sturdivant (12.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Marsallis Malone (10.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Trey Pane (9.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 5.8 apg - 15th in NJCAA)
District 8: Northwest Florida State College (28-3)
Fifth-ranked Northwest Florida State got revenge on its Panhandle Conference rival Tallahassee (Fla.) in the District 8/Region 8 title game by defeating the Eagles 68-50 on March 6. The Raiders dominated in every aspect, especially on defense where they limited Tallahassee to just 22.9 percent shooting from the field. Brian Bryant and Brandon Crawford led NFSC with 18 points each. Formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton College, Northwest Florida State will be making its fourth trip to Hutchinson and the first since 2003. The Raiders won the 1995 national title.
Northwest Florida State will face Southeastern (Iowa) in the first round.
Northwest Florida State players to watch - Brian Bryant (20.5 ppg - 16th in NJCAA, 9.5 rpg, 4.8 apg); Sherrard Brantley (14.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg); Toby Veal (11.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
District 9: North Platte Community College, Neb. (27-4)
22nd ranked North Platte secured its first-ever tournament berth on March 9 with a 69-65 win over Sheridan (Wyo.) in the District 9/Region 9 Championship. Joe Ragland led the Knights with 19 points and two steals in the game while Brenton Brown had 14 points. North Platte is led by Kevin O'Connor who is in his 25th season as head coach. O'Connor eclipsed the 500 win mark this season.
North Platte will face Eastern Utah in the first round.
North Platte players to watch - Joseph Ragland (18.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Brenton Brown (13.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Chase Grabau (11.6 ppg, 7.8 apg).
District 10: Brunswick Community College, N.C. (23-10)
Brunswick joins North Platte, East Mississippi and Wallace State as the only teams in this year's tourney field to be making their first appearance in Hutchinson. Brunswick defeated Clinton (S.C.) 78-72 in the District 10/Region 10 title game on March 6. Alan-Michael Thompson led Brunswick with 16 points in the championship game.
Brunswick will face East Mississippi in the first round.
Brunswick players to watch - Tyree Graham (17.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Alan Michael-Thompson (15.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Chris Smith (14.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
District 11: Southeastern Community College, Iowa (24-10)
No team had to work harder than Southeastern in order to get a golden ticket to Hutchinson this year for the tournament. On March 9 the Blackhawks needed three overtime periods to defeat Williston State 121-114. Southeastern climbed back from six-point deficits in both the second and third overtime periods. Steve Baker and Jeron Lee each had 22 points for the Blackhawks and Abby Ruple added 21. Southeastern qualified for the District 11 Championship by winning the Region 11 title. They won the first two of a three game Region 11 title series over Indian Hills (Iowa) on March 1 and 3 (53-49 and 62-60). Southeastern will be appearing in the tournament for the 17th time - the fifth most for a school in tourney history. The last appearance for Southeastern was in 2004 when they won the title for the third time in five years.
Southeastern will play Northwest Florida State in the first round.
Southeastern players to watch - Norvell Arnold (16.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg); Steve Baker (13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg); Jeron Lee (13.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
District 12: Wallace State Community College - Hanceville, Ala. (29-4)
A rematch of the 2009 District 12/Region 22 championship game took place on March 6 when Wallace State - Hanceville avenged last year's title loss to Shelton State (Ala.) by downing the Bucs 77-70 in overtime. The win secured the first Region 22 title for the Lions and their first ever berth to Hutchinson for the national tourney. L.A. Farmer led the Lions with 26 points in the game of which 19 came in the second half while Ricardo Hill and Gaither Hendrix each had 13. Wallace State-Hanceville was ranked No. 8 in the final regular season poll. The Lions enter the tournament ranked third in the NJCAA in defense (58.2).
The Lions will face Butler (Kan.) in the first round.
Wallace State players to watch - L.A. Farmer (17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg); Sergio Crow (11.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 apg); Darrick Thomas (10.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
District 13: Middle Georgia College (28-3)
The Warriors of Middle Georgia won District 13/Region 17 Championship on March 7 with a 92-89 double-overtime win over Coastal Georgia. The ninth-ranked Warriors will be heading to the tournament for the third time in school history, but its first since 1980. Carl Hall led the Warriors with a double-double performance of 29 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Marcos Knight also had a double-double, hauling down 10 rebounds and scoring 29 points.
Middle Georgia will play Navarro in the first round.
Middle Georgia players to watch - Marcos Knight (19.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.0 steals/game); Carl Hall (18.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg - 11th in NJCAA); Kori Forge (17.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)
District 14: Navarro College, Texas (28-5)
Navarro's Jantzen Carter scored 20 points, including five three-pointers, to help secure the Bulldogs' second consecutive District 14/Region 14 title, defeating Paris (Texas) 55-46 on March 8. The win marked the second straight year Navarro defeated Paris in the district/region title game. Carter led the Bulldogs with 20 points while Matt Pressey tallied 16 points. Navarro's only other appearance in the tournament was last season.
Navarro will face Middle Georgia in the first round.
District 15: East Mississippi Community College (26-5)
East Mississippi head coach Mark White and his 26-5 Lions are the District 15 representatives this season after claiming the District 15/Region 23 Championship last week. The 12th-ranked Lions knocked off Northeast Mississippi (86-79), Hinds (81-74 in OT) and Itawamba (78-64) on successive nights to secure the program's first trip to Hutchinson. A 20-year coaching veteran, EMCC's White will be making his third visit to Hutchinson for the tournament, though this year will mark his first duty as a head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach on North Idaho's team that placed fourth in the 1997 tournament, while also accompanying the Wabash Valley College (Ill.) club that went 1-2 in 1993. White also was a part of Mississippi State teams that made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT semifinal-round showing during his five-year (2003-07) coaching stint with the Bulldogs.
East Mississippi will play Brunswick (N.C.) in the first round.
East Mississippi players to watch - CoCo Ware (20.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 apg); Deonte Alexander (12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apg)
District 16: Southeastern Illinois College (22-9)
Southeastern Illinois upset No. 16 Wabash Valley (Ill.) 79-67 on March 7 to win the District 16/Region 24 title. Issac McClure was one rebound short of a double-double, scoring 25 points and hauling in nine rebounds in the win. Charles Ashford and Troy Long both had 16 for the Falcons. SIC last appeared in Hutchinson in 2008. The 2010 tournament will be the fourth time the Falcons have participated in the event.
Southeastern Illinois will play Howard (Texas) in the first round.
Southeastern Illinois players to watch - Mamadou Seck (15.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.7 apg); Isaac McClure (13.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg); William Kirksey (12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
First Round Match-Ups (pairings determined by blind draw)
March 16 - First Round Games
10:00 #5 Northwest Florida State (28-3) vs. Southeastern, Iowa (24-10)
12:00 Monroe College (26-7) vs. (RV) Three Rivers (27-6)
2:00 #12 East Mississippi (26-5) vs. Brunswick, N.C. (23-10)
4:30 (RV) Navarro (28-5) vs. #9 Middle Georgia (28-3)
6:30 #22 North Platte (28-4) vs. #25 Eastern Utah (24-9)
8:30 #8 Wallace State/Hanceville (29-4) vs. #15 Butler CC (29-5)
March 17 - First Round Games
11:00 Walters State (22-8) vs. #4 Connors State (30-2)
1:00 Southeastern Illinois (22-9) vs. #2 Howard, Tex. (29-2)
Complete bracket available at
www.njcaabbtrny.org.
