COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Lady Royals to host first two rounds of NCAAs again
Feb. 28—Unlike her veteran University of Scranton teammates, Monday was the first time Kaci Kranson experienced the NCAA Division III women's basketball selection show.
Even though she knew the eight-time Landmark Conference champions were in the tournament, the freshman and Holy Cross graduate still felt nervous waiting to hear the Lady Royals' name called.
And, the NCAA made them wait. They were the final team — No. 64 in the 64-team field — to be revealed in the bracket.
Scranton (27-0) drew Saint Joseph's College of Maine (23-5) in the first round Friday at 8:30 p.m. and will again host the first two rounds of the tournament.
Rhode Island College (24-3) and Rowan University (20-8) are the other two teams who will head to the John Long Center for the first round Friday at 6 p.m. The two winners will meet in the second round Saturday at 8 p.m.
"I was so nervous, my hands were shaking. I don't know why," Kranson said. "I guess the tension was high. It's just so exciting to see your name pop up there (on the screen). Now we can come in to practice tomorrow, get the work done and prepare for the team we're playing."
Conversely, the Scranton men's team didn't have to wait as long, although technical difficulties caused that selection show to be delayed one hour. The Landmark champion Royals (20-7) were the third squad in the 64-team bracket to be revealed and will head to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and face North Carolina Wesleyan University (23-4) in the first round Friday at 4:30 p.m.
"I've never been down south before for an event, so it's going to be really great," Royals coach Carl Danzig said. "A little warmer for the guys, which will be nice."
Wilson College (19-8), which defeated Keystone College in the Colonial States Athletic Conference final, and Randolph-Macon (27-1) are the other first-round matchup. The two winners meet in the second round Saturday. Randolph-Macon is the defending Division III champion and the current top-ranked team.
First-year Lady Royals coach Ben O'Brien also watched the NCAA women's selection show for the first time.
"It was quite the experience," O'Brien said. "Teams are going off the board that you're familiar with or that we played and you're wondering when they're going to call your name. It was exciting."
This is the 35th NCAA appearance for the Lady Royals, which is the most in Division III women's basketball. Washington University of St. Louis is second with 32 appearances, including this year's tournament.
Also, it is the ninth consecutive time Scranton will host the first two rounds.
"Our home-court advantage has been very important," O'Brien said. "In our biggest games, our crowd has really been a major factor in how we've played. So we're hoping that everyone comes out to support us and helps our team because it really does factor into the game."
Saint Joseph's is making its sixth NCAA appearance. The Monks received an automatic bid by winning the championship of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference for the fifth time. They rallied in the fourth quarter of the final to beat Emmanuel College, 74-67.
Junior guard Hannah Talon leads the team with 15.0 points. Talon was named the GNAC tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.3 points in three games.
As for the other teams, Rhode Island College is making its sixth NCAA tournament appearance after the Shorewomen won their third straight Little East Conference championship. Rowan is in the NCAA tournament for the 12th time after the Profs captured the New Jersey Athletic Conference title.
There is a unique twist to this year's women's tournament. The NCAA is holding the championship games of all three divisions at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, site of the Division I Final Four.
So the Division III Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will take place March 10-11. The national semifinals are March 18 at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with the final in Dallas on April 1.
"Seeing your name up there and 27-0 is something to be proud of," Kranson said. "But we're not done. We're going to come to practice and work hard because we want that national championship."
Men
Scranton is in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017 and 29th time overall. That is tied for second in Division III men's basketball with Hope and Wooster. Wittenberg is first with 30 appearances.
North Carolina Wesleyan is making its sixth NCAA appearance and first since 2011. The Battling Bishops punched their ticket by winning the USA South Conference championship.
Senior forward Isaiah Lewis, who averages 16.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, was named USA South Conference Player of the Year. Junior teammate Khalid Chavis-Hinds earned conference Defensive Player of the Year and John Thompson was the league's Coach of the Year.
"Interesting enough, when we were scouting another opponent, they happen to be playing North Carolina Wesleyan," Danzig said. "They're a good team and going to be a challenge. They're athletic, big and play a very aggressive style of defense. And they play in a really good conference. So it's a good first-rounder."
Should the Royals advance to the second round, they could face Randolph-Macon, which is making its 28th NCAA appearance after winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference title for the fourth straight year.
In the first round against Wilson, the Yellow Jackets have the chance to break the Division III record for consecutive home wins. They have won 62 straight at Crenshaw Gym, which is tied with North Park (1984-88). It also is the longest active home win streak in any NCAA division.
"At some point you've got to play good teams. Nothing would be better than to get by North Carolina Wesleyan and play Randolph-Macon and their home winning streak. It would be pretty awesome," Danzig said. "They're very good and very well-coached. So there's lots to play for. Hopefully we get the opportunity, but the priority is Friday night."
Dates for the men's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are March 10-11. The Final Four is March 16 and the championship game is March 17 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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