Statesmen Nab #1 Seed in Duer Quadrant
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team knew it was staying at home, but now it knows who else is coming to Penn Gymnasium as the 64-team field was announced for the NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds, presented by Ballogy.
WPU (30-1) is the #1 seed in the Duer Quadrant and will host #16 seed Bellevue (Neb.) Friday, March 11 at 6 p.m. The winner of that contest will then face the winner of the #8 IU Kokomo (Ind.)/#9 Dordt contest, which will be played Friday at 3 p.m.
The Oskaloosa Bracket championship game is set for Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. The winner will then advance to the 84th Annual NAIA National Championship Final Site (16 Opening Round winners) in Kansas City, Mo. from March 17-22.
The entire bracket can be viewed at https://www.naia.org/sports/mbkb/2021-22/files/2022_MBB_Bracket_64Teams.pdf
Tickets are $8 for individual games ($5 for children 5-12, 4 and under are free), while fans can also purchase all-tournament passes for $23. Students from Bellevue, IU Kokomo, and Dordt can purchase tickets for $5. All tickets must be purchased online at https://www.statesmenathletics.com/ticketing
All three games will be live-streamed for free by William Penn at https://www.statesmenathletics.com/statesmen-sports-network
William Penn earned its bid to nationals by sweeping both the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
William Penn
The Statesmen, led by John Henry in his 21st year (478-212 entering nationals), are making their seventh-straight trip to nationals and their 12th trip in his tenure (10th in last 11 seasons).
William Penn is headed by five all-Heart players, including first-teamers Kevion Blaylock (Sr., Houston, Texas, Information Technology), who was also Heart Player of the Year, and Karmari Newman (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Digital Communication). Blaylock averaged 20.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per outing.
WPU outscores opponents 95.0-82.5 and outrebounds them 47.5-36.4.
The Statesmen currently own a 19-game winning streak.
Bellevue
The Bruins, who are 20-12 (9-5 NSAA), are coached by Lucas Gabriel in his third year (64-34 record entering nationals). They are making their 21st appearance at nationals (second in a row). Bellevue shared the North Star Athletic Association regular-season title and won the tournament crown.
Eric Pierce paces the team as a first-team all-NSAA honoree, averaging 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Bellevue is outscoring opponents 67.9-63.4 and outrebounding them 34.0-30.8.
The Bruins have won five in a row entering nationals.
IU Kokomo
The Cougars (29-3), who won the River States Conference regular-season and tournament championships, are led by Eric Echelbarger in his fourth season (89-20 entering nationals). IUK is making its third appearance in the national tournament.
Desean Hampton was named RSC Player of the Year after averaging 12.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Trequan Spivey joined him as a first-team all-RSC selection.
IU Kokomo outscores opponents 76.1-64.1 and also owns a 39.4-34.3 edge in rebounds.
The Cougars are riding a 17-game winning streak.
Dordt
The Defenders (20-10), who are making their sixth national tournament appearance (first since 2014), earned at-large bid. They are coached by fourth-year head coach Brian Van Haaften (79-40 entering nationals).
Bryce Coppock was a first-team all-Great Plains Athletic Conference performer, averaging 19.1 points per contest.
DU outscores its foes 80.2-73.1 and has a 35.4-33.9 advantage in rebounding as well.
The Defenders enter nationals having lost two of their last three games.
WPU and Dordt met back in the season opener on October 22 with the Statesmen winning 93-90 in overtime.
