John Carroll, Case men's basketball set for NCAA D-III openers at home
Feb. 29—March Madness starts a few week early in Northeast Ohio on March 1.
John Carroll and Case Western Reserve — each national championship contenders — start their respective drive to navigate through the NCAA Division III tournament with the hopes of being the last team standing among 64. The schools are each searching for their first-ever national championship in men's basketball.
Each program is hosting an opening weekend NCAA quadrant.
JCU's first-round opponent March 1 is SUNY New Paltz (20-7). Game time is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. at the DeCarlo Varsity Center. The winner of that matchup plays either Calvin (22-4) or Elmhurst (22-5). Those teams tip off at JCU on March 1 at 5:50 p.m.
The first-round winners play for a Sweet 16 spot on March 2 at 8:20 p.m.
A season ago, JCU (25-2) traveled to Oswego State, which besides its successful basketball program also has a standout hockey program. While the Blue Streaks were playing their first-round game at Oswego last March, a hockey game was being played at the same time at its ice arena.
"There really weren't many people at our game," said JCU point guard Luke Chicone. "Being at home, it will be a completely new feeling for us. Just playing at home, the atmosphere is going to be crazy."
This is the first time since 2017-18 — Coach Pete Moran's first season as head coach — that the Blue Streaks are hosting first- and second-round NCAA tournament games. That season, JCU won two games and advanced to the Round of 16 before bowing out of the tournament.
"Everybody at this time wants to play at home," said Moran.
JCU's first-round opponent is coming off an impressive win over Oswego State in its tournament championship game in which four players scored in double figures. New Paltz is lead by A.J. Knight (13 points per game), Rylan Blondo (12.4 points) and Kobe Bogart (11.3), who scored a team-high 29 points against Oswego in the team's last game.
The Blue Streaks are led in scoring by Luke Frazier (19.5 points), Chicone (18.4 points) and Chase Toppin (10.5 points).
Across town, the Spartans (21-4) CWRU will host a first- and second-round pod for the second straight season.
Case plays Mary Baldwin University (Va.) on March 1 in the second of two games at Horsburgh Gymnasium. Tipoff is 7:15 p.m.
Hope (Mich.) College (22-6) and Anderson (Ind.) University (23-4) will square off in the first game at 4:45 p.m.
"It's an exciting time, for sure," Case coach Todd McGuinness told The News-Herald. "The slate is clean for us and every other team in the field. You find out how well guys can handle the moment and all the hype of being in the NCAA tournament."
If Case wins March 1, it would play either Hope or Anderson on March 2 at 7:15 p.m.
Mary Baldwin features a balanced scoring lineup. Five players are averaging between 11.0 and 9.6 points. Quentin Hart is the team's leading scorer at 11 points per game.
The Spartans are led by graduate guard Anthony Mazzeo (19.6 points per game), Colin Kahl (15.0 points) and Sam Trunley (12.4 points).
Mary Baldwin (17-10) earned its automatic bid by capturing the USA South tournament title.
Mary Baldwin at Case Western Reserve
What: NCAA D-III first-round game
When: 7:15 p.m., March 1
Where: Horsburgh Gymnasium
Records: Mary Baldwin 17-10, Case 21-4
SUNY New Paltz at John Carroll
What: NCAA D-III first-round game
When: 8:20 p.m., March 1
Where: DeCarlo Varsity Center
Records: New Paltz 20-7, JCU 25-2
