With all of the postponements and outright cancellations over Covid it is difficult to feel that any of us have gotten the real feel of which teams truly are the hottest in the nation going into the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Almost every team played games in which some of their best players had to sit out over a Covid diagnosis, or may have only performed well because the opposing team had some of their best players sitting out because of Covid. Continue reading
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NAIA DIVISION ONE
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) clashed with the WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. The Pilots were chasing the Warriors 32-29 at Halftime but outscored them 54-33 after the break for an 83-65 comeback win. LSU-Shreveport was led by Jeff Garrett with his Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – In this game the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM took on the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s). The Firestorm held a slight 41-40 edge at the Half then left the Pioneers a bit further behind to defeat them 81-73. Callum Lawson led the way for Arizona Christian University with a Double Double of 23 points and 11 rebounds.
DAY ONE, GAME THREE – The WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN faced the VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The defenses dominated in the opening Half, which ended with the Statesmen clinging to a 29-28 lead. After the break William Penn U got some more separation from the Lions for a 69-53 victory. Sixteen points from Abrian Edwards led the way for the Statesmen. Continue reading
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March Madness is upon us once more . Office betting pools, lost productivity in the work place and days & nights spent watching countless basketball games! As fans of a certain sports broadcaster would sing:
“Come on and watch some basketball/ You’ll watch it all/ Day and all night …”
If you plan to win your office bracket pool get ready to put in a little time. Filling out a strong March Madness bracket requires doing research, including picking the right double-digit seeds to pull off the inevitable Upsets. Identifying those teams that will break other people’s brackets while making your own pay off isn’t easy. Continue reading
Filed under College Basketball, college sports
Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2018 college basketball champions in the divisions covered here.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS
Runners-Up – LSU-Alexandria Generals
2017 Champions – Texas Wesleyan University Rams
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS
Runners-Up – University of Saint Francis Cougars
2017 Champions – Union College Bulldogs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS
Runners-Up – Southwestern Christian University Eagles
2017 Champions – Colorado Christian University Cougars Continue reading
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NCAA DIV TWO
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The lone remaining 1 seed – the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS – battled the 3rd seeded NORTHERN STATE WOLVES for the NCAA Division Two title.
A fierce, furious opening Half ended with the Bulldogs clinging to a 39-37 edge over the Wolves. The 2nd Half saw the two teams put up exactly 32 points each, as Ferris State won their first ever National Championship by a score of 71-69. Zach Hankins led the victors with his 19 points. * THE BULLDOGS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NCAA DIVISION TWO * Continue reading
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NJCAA DIV ONE
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 10 seeds – the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO GOLDEN EAGLES – set out to drag down the 3rd seeded VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS in this game.
The Golden Eagles were pursuing the Trailblazers at Halftime as they trailed them 49-36. The College of Southern Idaho regrouped in the locker room and came out ready for action, outscoring Vincennes University 44-25 from there. The final tally was Golden Eagles 80 Trailblazers 74. Charles Jones, Jr led CSI with his 22 points. Continue reading
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NJCAA DIV ONE
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – This battle of Cinderellas pitted the 13th seeded SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE TEXANS against the 12 seeds – the CONNORS STATE COWBOYS.
The Texans seemed in control of the game with a 50-32 lead at Halftime. After the break, however, the Cowboys came alive and South Plains College wound up having to fight to survive an 80-75 thriller. Christopher Orlina of the Texans notched a Double Double of 19 points and 13 rebounds.
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – Up next the 3 seeds – the VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS – struck a blow for Chalk in their battle with the 6th seeded FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE BUCCANEERS.
By the break the Trailblazers held a 32-26 advantage over the Buccaneers. From there Vincennes University kept Florida Southwestern State at arm’s length the rest of the way, sneaking a bit more breathing room for a 76-68 triumph. Twenty-three points from Ty Gadsden led the Trailblazers. Continue reading
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NAIA DIV ONE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Overtime was needed before a victor could be determined in the NAIA title game last night as the 5th seeded GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS took on the 4 seeds – the LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS.
The 1st Half ended with the Yellow Jackets on top of the Generals 36-28. After the break Graceland University put up exactly 36 points again while LSU-Alexandria scored 44 to end Regulation in a 72-72 tie. Continue reading
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NAIA DIV ONE
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 5 seeds – the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS – found themselves up against one of the two remaining 1 seeds, the LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (as in Riverboat Pilots).
The Pilots seemed to have the game under control as they led the Yellow Jackets 46-34 at Halftime. After the break Graceland University came out crazed for a comeback. They proceeded to hold LSU-Shreveport to just 34 points in the 2nd Half while putting up 53 themselves. L.T. Davis led the Yellow Jackets with 28 points in this 87-80 victory. Continue reading
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NCCAA DIV ONE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top two seeds were the last teams standing in this tournament. The 2 seeds – the EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS – went up against the top seeded SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES.
The Lions clobbered the Eagles in the opening Half and compiled a FIFTY-FIVE to TWENTY-SEVEN by the break. From there Emmanuel College just had to keep SCU at arm’s length the rest of the way for an 85-65 victory and their third title since 2009. Nathan Williams put up 15 points to lead the Lions. * THE LIONS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF THE NCCAA *
NAIA DIV ONE
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The 4 seeds – the LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS – took the court against the 3rd seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. (I’ve told you over and over that there are WAY too many college teams called Tigers.)
After a tight 1st Half the Generals had mustered a 40-36 edge over the Tigers. LSU-Alexandria upped their intensity in the 2nd Half, putting more and more space between themselves and Georgetown College on their way to an 87-66 victory. William Claiborne of the Generals led his team with a Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. Continue reading
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