By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
The 2016 NJCAA Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Tournaments began Monday morning at 10. For the first time since 1997, the two tournaments aren’t 60 miles apart in the heartland of America in Kansas.
If you are interested in finding out more about basketball, in particular what is a bracket in basketball, then look no further. There is so much to be left about basketball, as it not’s just about playing the sport or watching the sport.
The men’s tournament remains in Hutchinson, Kansas, where it will be played for at least another 25 years. The women’s tournament, after an 18-year run in nearby Salina, has moved to the Lubbock in the Lone Star State for at least three years.
TVCC has double representation at the tournaments for a third straight year and for the sixth time in school history. The Cardinals, winners of 27 straight going into the tournament are the No. 1 seed in the 24-team men’s bracket. The Lady Cards, making their ninth straight trip to the event, are the No. 6 seed in the women’s bracket, also 24 teams.
Though both the Cardinals and Lady Cards are competing in the tournaments, neither played Monday. Both have byes in the opening round. In fact, the Lady Cards won’t see their opening action until Wednesday night at 7. The Cardinals play their opener at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The Cardinals are scheduled to play the winner of today’s 10 a.m. game between No. 16 North Dakota State (27-6) and No. 17 Harcum (28-4). The Lady Cards are scheduled to play the winner of Tuesday’s noon game between No. 11 Northwest Florida State (21-11) and No. 22 Harford (27-2).
The Cardinals (32-1) qualified for the tournament by winning the Region XIV Tournament over a week ago at Angelina College in Lufkin. It marked their first regional crown since 1999, which was also won in Lufkin. The Cardinals received at-large berths to the national tournaments the last two years.
The Lady Cards (28-3), for the first time in school history, are in the national tournament by virtue of an at-large berth, having lost to San Jacinto in the semifinals of the regional tournament. They had won eight straight regional titles coming into this year.
Fourth-year Cardinal head coach Kris Baumann is making his fourth appearance at the tournament. In 2009, he guided Garden City to a sixth-place finish, going 2-2 in the event.
Second-year Lady Card head coach Gerald Ewing is making this fourth appearance at the national tournament, having served on Elena Lovato’s staff in national championship runs in 2013 and 2014.
The Cardinals are 11-6 in national tournament games in their previous five trips to Hutch. In addition to a Sweet 16 appearance last year and an Elite 8 finish the year before, they finished third in 1982, seventh in 1995 and eighth in 1999.
The Lady Cards are making their 21st appearance at the tournament. The Lady Cards are 60-17 in national tournament games and owners of eight national titles (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2014).
TVCC is one of seven schools with teams in both tournaments, joining Northwest Florida State, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Gillette, Vincennes and Harford.
By the way, former Cardinal head coach Pat Smith (2007-12) has his Moberly Area Community College squad at the tournament. The Greyhounds are (24-10) and seeded No. 23.
All Cardinal and Lady Cardinal tournament games will be availabe for viewing online at www.njcaatv.com. In fact, all tournament games will be webcast.
Gas prices are lower this year for the trip to Kansas. Last year they were at at $2.25, which was down $1.10 from the year before. The average price this year (as ofSunday) is $1.77, which is the lowest since $1.79 in 2009.
Here are the average prices the last 11 trips to Kansas:
- 2004 — $1.67
- 2006 — $2.42
- 2008 — $3.11
- 2009 — $1.79
- 2010 — $2.67
- 2011 — $3.39
- 2012 — $3.65
- 2013 — $3.46
- 2014 — $3.35
- 2015 — $2.25
- 2016 — $1.77
It’s 47 and partly cloudy in Hutchinson this morning with a dense fog advisory in effect until 9 a.m. Today’s high is expected to reach 80 with a lot of sun and wind. In Lubbock, it’s 53 under fair skies. Today’s high is expected to be 83 with plenty of sun and wind.
Spring break is over. It’s back to work in the classroom for our students and on the court for the Cardinals and Lady Cards.