Courtesy: Nazareth Athletics, U of R Athletics, St John Fisher Athletics
Empire 8 Conference champion Nazareth has been chosen to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament for men’s basketball this weekend.
The Golden Flyers (23-4 overall) will play Westfield State (22-4) of Massachusetts in a first-round match-up Friday at 6:05 p.m. on Mike Daley Court at the Kidera Gymnasium. That game will be preceded a game between Emerson (18-7) and UMass-Dartmouth (24-4) at 3:35 p.m. The winners will meet Saturday at 6:05 p.m. for a berth in the tournament’s Sweet 16. Tickets for each day are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.
“This what we’ve played for all season,” said Nazareth Coach Kevin Broderick. “It’s an honor for Nazareth to be able to host the first two rounds.”
Nazareth will be making its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance for men’s basketball. The Golden Flyers qualified automatically with weekend wins over St. John Fisher and Utica. Nazareth’s 2021-22 season has included some historic milestones, including a 17-game winning streak and a record-equaling 23 wins.
Westfield State is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the championship of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 80-66 win over Worcester State. The Owls will bring a 10-game winning streak into tournament play.
Emerson and UMass-Dartmouth each made the 64-team field as at-large selections. Emerson competes in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference and lost in the conference championship game to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. UMass-Dartmouth competes in the Little East Conference and lost in its conference championship game, 71-69 in overtime, to Keene State.
This weekend’s games will mark just the second time that Nazareth has hosted an NCAA Tournament game for men’s basketball. The other time was in 1984 when the Golden Flyers won the NCAA’s East Region and lost to Clark University in the national quarterfinals.
The U of R earns wild card bid to D3 men’s tournament
Rochester will make its return to the NCAA Division III men’s basketball playoffs when the Yellowjackets travel to Marietta College in Ohio for the opening round this weekend. UR will play Eastern University of St. David’s PA in round one on Friday. Game time is set for 4:50 p.m. The second game will pit Marietta against Medaille College. Friday night winners will play on Saturday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.
This will be Rochester’s 17th appearance in the Division III tournament and its 21st appearance overall. This is the fifth NCAA playoff appearance for Rochester under Luke Flockerzi (2010-11, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2018-19).
Both Rochester and Eastern were Pool C (at-large) selections to the tournament. Eastern lost the championship game of the MAC Commonwealth Conference to Hood College, 75-71. Eastern was the top seed – and tournament host – going into the MAC playoffs. The Eagles won their first two games, 81-70, over Lebanon Valley, then 84-73 against Messiah in the semifinals. Eastern carries a 21-5 record into the NCAA tournament this weekend.
Rochester finished the University Athletic Association season with a record of 8-6 in league games, 17-8 overall. Emory University won the UAA title with a 12-2 league record. Case Western finished 8-5, Rochester 8-6, and Washington-St. Louis 8-6. Case and Washington both received at-large bids to the playoffs. Case Western is headed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh to play Dubuque College in the first round. Washington and Emory are both hosting games this weekend. Washington has Cornell College, Wheaton (IL), and Hope College coming to St. Louis (the Bears will play Cornell College). Emory will host Averett College with Wabash College and Berry College playing in the second game.
UR has played in Marietta’s gym before. The Yellowjackets defeated Marietta in a Sweet 16 game in the toughest regional that season. All four teams (Marietta, Rochester, Whitman College, and Hardin-Simmons [TX]) were top-ranked in their regions heading into the Sweet 16. Whitman, the #1 overall team, defeated Rochester in the Elite 8 game and advanced to the Final Four.
Eastern has a balanced scoring attack with five men averaging between 11.2 ppg. and 13.6 ppg. The Eagles shoot a collective .461 from the floor, .356 outside the arc (averaging 6.1 made three-pointers a game). Eastern has a slim +1.8 advantage on the glass (36.7-34.9). William Blet is third in scoring for Eastern (12.0 ppg), but first in rebounding (7.4 rpg.) and blocked shots (36). Kaeshawn Ward (56 steals) and Jaron Fairweather (45) have combined for 101 of Eastern’s 247 steals. Ward has 76 assists and 38 turnovers.
Rochester heads into the game with three men scoring in double figures: Brian Amabilino Perez (13.8 ppg. on .569 shooting), Ross Gang (10.2 ppg), amd Trent Noordsij (10.0 ppg., including 43 three-pointers. UR shoots .471 from the floor, .359 behind the arc (160-446), making 6.4 treys a game. Amabilino Perez is the rebound leader (6.1). Matt Wiele has 19 blocked shots. Four men have 14 or more. UR has 110 as a team. Gang has 35 steals and 87 assists.
Empire 8 champion St John Fisher heads to Amherst for D3 women’s tournament
The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women’s basketball team learned its postseason path on Monday afternoon as the Cardinals, who are ranked 22nd in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, will open the NCAA Division III Championship against Rhode Island College at Amherst College on Friday, March 4th.
The Cardinals (25-2) are coming off an 83-52 win over rival Nazareth College over the weekend to clinch their second Empire 8 Championship in the last three seasons and sixth overall. Rhode Island College, which owns a 23-5 overall record leading into the weekend, wrapped up its fourth Little East title and will be making its first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2014.
The four-team pod will be played at national powerhouse Amherst College as the Mammoths (21-3) will host SUNY Poly (20-6). Amherst, which secured an at-large berth, is ranked eighth in the D3hoops.com poll and will be making its 13th appearance in the national tournament after winning three national championships since 2010. The Wildcats, who earned their way into the field of 64 by virtue of their 76-57 win over Husson to win the North Atlantic Championship on Saturday.
A full preview along with additional details will made available later in the week.
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