Newbies, Repeats, And Some Old Faces Make Up Field At Hutch
Middle America – The 2022 Men’s DI National Championship is just around the corner. All twenty-four teams are set. Hutch is ready. The Sports Arena is ready. I’m ready!! The week following Super Saturday (the date all districts must identify a champ) until Game 1 at the Sports Arena is like waiting on Christmas. To me, it seems longer that the wait from the Championship game until October 1, the off-season.
The tournament tips-off at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 14 with #16 seed Moberly Area CC and #17 seed Pearl River (MS) taking center stage. It’s the mighty MO vs. the mighty Miss, the confluence of which is actually near St. Louis, MO. However, for this occasion it has been relocated to Sam Butterfield Court at the historic Sports Arena in Hutchinson, KS.
Moberly is the senior statesman making their 30 appearance at the tournament. The Greyhounds are one of three teams with four National Championships, and are putting themselves back on the map having qualified for Hutch in three of the last four seasons, and 4 of last seven.
Pearl River, a relative newcomer to the national scene, but like Moberly, has qualified for the national tournament in three of the last four years. The Wildcats also won the Gulf District Championship in 2019 and 2020, which earned them automatic bids to the national tournament. In the 2020 season, Pearl River went undefeated and received the #1 seed for “The Tournament,” only to wonder what could’ve been, as the event went dark as a victim of The Covid.
Speaking of rivers, their are two “rivers” in this years field, the aforementioned Pearl, and Indian (River) from Fort Pierce, FL, who made their debut at Hutch last year. Indian River is a double entry into another group of similars in the tourney.
Indian Hills is back after a one year hiatus. The Hills had a streak of seven consecutive appearances snapped when they were upset in the District Finals by Dawson CC (MT) last season, and were overlooked as an at-large team, despite their Region 11 Championship and 21-3 overall record. And for what it’s worth, Chipola College is nicknamed “Indians,” who will making their second straight trip to Hutch.
Here’s a fun fact about Chipola College. With a first round bye as the #5 Seed, the Indians await the winner of #12 Hutchinson and #21 Connors State. Just a heads up, should Connors beat the Blue Dragons…it will be the Cowboys vs. the Indians at 2:00 on Wednesday, March 16. Bet that got a few grins, but probably more eye-rolls and head shakes.
Two sets of Trojans (Triton and Trinidad St.), and two teams with Raiders as their mascots (Roane St. and Northwest Florida St.) join the group of competitors. And then there’s larger factions of teams holding similarities in their names or nicknames.
The largest consortium (8) I’ve labeled as the, “fight club”. Included in this bunch are: the two Trojans (Trinidad St. & Triton), the two Raiders (Northwest Florida State & Roane St.), Warriors (Indian Hills), Runnin’ Rebels (Lee), Buccaneers (Bucs-Shelton State), and the Conquistadors (Conqs-Dodge City). If there were a line on the “fight club” you’d have a 33% chance of winning.
The next largest group of similars we’ll just call “the animals”. There are seven members of this affiliation: The Bears (Harcum) and the Bruins (Salt Lake) which is just a fancy name for bears, the Badgers (Snow), Cobras (Caldwell), Puff the magic Blue Dragons (Hutch), and two more common, the cats and dogs, Pearl River Wildcats and Moberly Greyhounds. One would garner a 27% chance of cashing in if this group had a Vegas line.
Another fairly large group of associates in kind, would be the “settlers” or the “prairie dwellers”. Among this circle are the Rangers of Kilgore, the Pioneers of Indian River, the Wranglers (Odessa), the Texans (South Plains), the Cowboys of Connors St. And for good measure, I tossed the Volunteers (John A. Logan) into this classification. The definition of a volunteer is: a person who freely offers to do something. In my understanding, those in this group “freely” offer to do something, so…..close enough.
Out final category would be what I refer to as “the avian” group. Only two here, so the odds wouldn’t be very high, but don’t tell them that. You’ve got the Jets (South Georgia Tech) and the Golden Eagles (College of Southern Idaho). Now, I know Jets are not “birds,” but they do have wings, and they do fly. They just don’t flap their wings. But their wings do have flaps…so I think we’re good here.
So there you have it. The tournament breakdown by mascot or nickname commonality. Realistically though, I believe all of these teams could all be clumped into one brand. The “fight club!” At one point in time, each of them have engaged in a fight for something. And in a national tournament setting, all of these are going to be fighting (competing) for the top prize. One shining moment. The last one standing. Champions!!
Nine teams in the tourney have National Championship hardware in their trophy cases. Moberly has four, while Hutch, Southern Idhao, South Plains, and Indian Hills all have three. Salt Lake, Kilgore, and Northwest Florida have captured two with Connors St. claiming one.
That means fifteen teams are looking for their frist title. Several in the field have reached the finals, but came up just a little short of the taller trophy. Two teams are competing in the tournament for their first time ever.
Roane State CC (TN), the Appalachian District King, and Triton College (IL), an At-Large selection from the Midwest District will be hooping at Hutch for the first time in their schools history. Triton, in 1986, won their Region Crown, but in those days, several teams had inter-region one game playoff to trim the field to sixteen for the double eliminationNational Tournament.
Triton lost to Vincennes the only other time they were Region Champs, falling one game short of reaching Hutch. But under the new format introduced to the championship in 2013 (modified in 2017-18), Triton has made it official. Look out Hutch, the Trojans are coming. Triton jumped up to the DI landscape in 2018-19, a year after they were crowned DII National Champions.
There are three Head Coaches in the tournament who have earned the distinction as NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Associations Hall of Famers, even though they are still barking instructions and stomping on the sidelines. Patrick Smith of Moberly Area CC is the most recent honoree, joining this prestigious unit in 2019. South Plains HC Steve Green was enshrined in 2015, while Connors State Head Man Bill Muse, Sr. was inducted in 2014.
Four players who were 2021 NJCAA All-American Team Members, will be participating in this years championship. Jalen Reynolds (South Georgia Tech) a Second Team selection, joins Honorable Mention members Jahcoree Ealy (Connors State), Yazid Powell (Harcum College), and Jaronn Wilkens (Pearl River CC), in helping bring their teams to the big dance this year.
Here are the previews for all 24 teams in the 2022 tournament:
Caldwell CC & Technical Institute (25-7) –Atlantic District Champions – Hudson, NC – The Cobras – No. No. 22 Seed – Region 10 – Not ranked in final poll – Beat USC-Salkehatchie (SC) 68-66 in Atlantic District Final – Second appearance in Hutch – Last in 2017 – Head Coach Jamison McIver (4th year)
Chipola College (28-5) –South Atlantic Champions – Marianna, FL – The Indians – No. 5 Seed – Region 8 – Ranked #7 NJCAA/#9 Media in final polls – Beat #2 Indian River (FL) 73-64 in South Atlantic Championship – 17th trip to Hutch – Last in 2021 – Runners-up 1974 & 2007 – Head Coach Donnie Tyndall (2nd year)
Connors State College (28-5) – South Central District Champions – Warner, OK – The Cowboys – No 21 Seed – Region 2 – Not ranked in final polls – Beat Northern Oklahoma-Enid 85-62 in South Central District Championship – 14th trip to Hutch – Last in 2018 – 1990 National Champs – Head Coach Bill Muse, Sr. (30th season)
Dodge City CC (29-4) – Dodge City, KS – Plains District Champions – The Conquistadors – No. 2 Seed – Region 6 – Ranked #4 NJCAA/#6 Media in final polls – Beat #21 Hutchinson CC (KS) 98-96 in OT in Plains District Championship – 10th appearance in national tournament – Last in 1974 – National Champs in 1964 – Head Coach Jake Williams (2nd year)
Harcum College (30-2) – East District Champions – Bryn Mawr, PA – East District Champions – The Bears – No. 13 Seed – Region 19 – Ranked #9 NJCAA/# 13 Media in final polls – Beat Hagerstown CC (MD) 79-64 in East District Championship – 3rd trip to nationals – Last in 2016 – Final Four in 2014 – Head Coach Drew Kelly (17th season)
Hutchinson CC (25-8) – Plains District At-Large Entry – Hutchinson, KS – The Blue Dragons – No. 12 Seed – Region 6 – Ranked #21 NJCAA/#17 Media in final polls – Lost to #4/#6 Dodge City CC (KS) 98-96 in OT for Plains District Championship – 23rd appearance at the Sports Arena – Last in 2021 – Three time National Champion (1988, 1994, 2017) – Two time runners-up – Head Coach Tommy DeSalme (1st year)
Indian Hills CC (27-5) – North Central District Champions – Ottumwa, IA – The Warriors – No. 7 Seed – Region 11 – Ranked #6 NJCAA/#3 Media in final polls – Beat Dawson CC (MT) 115-99 in North Central District Final – 17th time at Hutch – Three national titles (1997, 1998, 1999) – Only three-peat champions in tournament history – 2nd place finish in 2014 – Head Coach Hank Plona (7th season)
Indian River State College (28-4) – South Atlantic District At-Large Entry – Fort Pierce, FL – The Pioneers – No. 6 Seed – Region 8 – Ranked #2 NJCAA/#2 Media final polls – Lost to #7/#9 Chipola College (FL) in South Atlantic District Championship – 2nd appearance at Hutch – Last in 2021 – Back to back – Head Coach Charlie Wilson (7th season)
John A. Logan College (29-3) – Central District Champions – Carterville, IL – The Volunteers – No. 4 Seed – Region 24 – Ranked #5 NJCAA/#8 Media in final polls – Beat Shawnee CC (IL) 90-78 in Central District Final – 5th trip to Hutch – Last in 2021 – Three consecutive trips – Head Coach Kyle Smithpeters (9th year)
Kilgore College (30-2) – Mid-South District Champions – Kilgore, TX – The Rangers – No. 3 Seed – Region 14 – Ranked #3 NJCAA/#4 Media in final polls – Beat #19/#21 Lee College (TX) 72-55 in Mid-South District Final – 7th appearance at Hutch – Last in 2021 – Two in a row – National Champs in 1956 & 1958 – Head Coach Brian Hoberecht (14th year)
Lee College (27-5) – Mid-South District At-Large Entry – Baytown, TX – The Runnin’ Rebels – No. 18 Seed – Region 14 – Ranked #19 NJCAA/#21 Media in final polls – Lost to #3/#4 Kilgore College (TX) 72-55 in Mid-South District Final – 2nd national tournament appearance – Last in 2013 – Head Coach Nicolas Wade (1st season)
Moberly Area CC (27-6) – Midwest District Champions – Moberly, MO – The Greyhounds – No. 16 Seed – Region 16 – Ranked #22 NJCAA/#23 Media in final polls – Beat #10/#13 Triton College (IL) 83-74 in Midwest District Championship Game – 30th Tournament Appearance – Last in 2020 – 4 National Championships (1955, 1956, 1966, 1967) – 3 Runner-up finishes – Head Coach Patrick Smith (10th year in 2nd stint, 13th total)
Northwest Florida State (26-5) – South Atlantic District At-Large Entry – Niceville, FL – The Raiders – No. 10 Seed – Ranked #11 NJCAA/#7 Media in final polls – Lost to #7/#9 Chipola College (FL) 78-72 in South Atlantic District Semifinals – 12th time in Hutch – Last in 2019 – National Champions in 1995 & 2015 – Twice runners-up – Head Coach Greg Heiar (1st season)
Odessa College (27-6) – Southwest District At-Large Entry – Odessa, TX – The Wranglers – No. 8 Seed – Region 5 – Ranked #8 NJCAA/#5 Media final polls – Lost to South Plains College (TX) 87-83 in Southwest District Championship – 10th trip to Hutch – Last in 2021 – Two in a row – Head Coach Kris Baumann (4th year)
Pearl River CC (24-3) – Gulf District Champions – Poplarville, MS – The Wildcats – No. 17 Seed – Region 23 – Ranked #16 NJCAA/#15 Media in final polls – Defeated Meridian CC (MS) 53-42 in Gulf District Championship – 3rd time in National Tournament – Last in 2020 – Head Coach Chris Oney (6th year)
Roane State CC (18-9) – Appalachian District Champions – Harriman, TN – The Raiders – No. 24 Seed – Region 7 – Not ranked in final polls – Beat Dyersburg State CC (TN) 78-75 in OT for the District Title – FIRST TIME AT HUTCH – Head Coach Alan Holt (1st season)
Salt Lake CC (32-1) – West District Champions – Taylorsville, UT – The Bruins – No. 1 Seed – Region 18 – Ranked #1 in NJCAA and Media final polls – Beat media #24 Cochise College (AZ) 89-80 in West District Championship – Trip number 10 to the National Tournament – Third straight appearance – National Champs in 2009 & 2016 – Runners-up in 2008 – Head Coach Kyle Taylor (3rd year)
Shelton State CC (29-4) – South District Champions – Tuscaloosa, AL – The Buccaneers (Bucs) – No. 9 Seed – Region 22 – Ranked #15 NJCAA/#10 Media in final polls – Defeated Wallace State CC (AL) 89-67 in South District Championship – Appearing for the 11th time at Hutch – 4th in a row – Head Coach Joseph Eatmon (6th season)
Snow College (25-7) – West District At-Large Entry – Ephraim, UT – The Badgers – No. 18 Seed – Region 18 – Ranked #12 in both final polls – Lost to #1/#1 Salt Lake City CC 95-61 in West District Championship – 3rd time at Hutch – Last in 1970 – 2nd place in 1954 – Head Coach Robert Nielson (10 years)
South Georgia Tech College (22-11) – Southeast District Champions – Americus, GA – The Jets – No. 22 Seed – RV in final NJCAA poll – Beat RV Georgia Highlands 87-84 in Southeast District Championship – 3rd appearance at nationals – Last in 2014 – Interim Head Coach Chris Ballauer (1st season)
South Plains College (20-11) – Southwest District Champions – Levelland, TX – The Texans – No. 14 Seed – Region 5 – NR in final polls – Beat #8/#5 Odessa College (TX) 87-83 in Southwest District Final – 13th trip to the big dance – 6th straight appearance – Head Coach Steve Green (22nd year)
College of Southern Idaho (24-8) – West District At-Large Entry – Twin Falls, ID – The Golden Eagles – No. 20 Seed – Region 18 – Ranked #17 NJCAA/#20 Media in final polls – Lost to #12 Snow College 86-79 in Region 18 semifinals – 27th appearance at National Tournament – Last trip 2021 – Two in a row – Three Nation Championships (1976 1987, 2011) – Three time runners-up – Head Coach Jeff Reinert (3rd season)
Trinidad State College (18-12) – Northwest Plains District Champions – Trinidad, CO – The Trojans – No. 23 Seed – Region 9 – NR in final polls – Beat RV Otero College 95-94 in Northwest Plains District Championship – 3rd trip to Hutch – Last in 1986 – Head Coach Mike Folda (7th year)
Triton College (27-5) – Midwest District At-Large Entry – River Grove, IL – The Trojans – No 11 Seed – Region 4 – Ranked #10 NJCAA/#14 Media in final polls – Lost to #22/#23 Moberly 83-74 in Midwest District Championship – FIRST TIME TO APPEAR IN HUTCH – Head Coach John Clancy (1st season)
