Listen to Jimmie Basketball at the NAIA Championships
NewsDakota.com/Ingstad Family Media will be broadcasting the Jimmie Basketball games live from the NAIA National Championships. Thursday's round one action for the Jimmie men can be found on FM 101.1 in Jamestown or by clicking here. Pregame show begins at 11:45 am.
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The mythical "zone" that athletes get in occasionally is difficult to describe, but when someone is in it, it's pretty obvious.
Mark Hoge knows what it feels like. The Jamestown College junior from Ironton, Minn., was truly in the zone when he sank 11 of 13 3-point attempts in the Jimmies' loss to Dakota State in the A.I.I. championship game Feb. 24.
Hoge has been of All-American quality all season for the national-tournament bound Jimmies, but that day was different.
"It's hard to explain, but there is definitely something to being in the zone," Hoge said of his 36-point performance. "I felt just totally relaxed. … Like the game slowed down. It's not something that happens often."
Opposing coaches might argue against that, however.
Entering Thursday's first-round game in Branson, Mo., against No. 2 overall seed Cardinal Stritch, Hoge is averaging 18.4 points. He's been particularly effective against top-notch clubs. In 10 games against teams in the national tournament, the versatile 6-foot-3 Hoge is averaging 23.3 points per game.
But he's been more than a scorer. He's also accounting for 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals.
Coach Justin Wieck said Hoge's decision making has steadily improved throughout the season.
"Yeah the points he scores are big for us, but he's been making all the right plays," the first-year coach said. "He's making plays and getting our other guys involved. His passing has been really, really good."
Hoge fought through a shoulder injury early in the season and continues to wear a brace for it. It hasn't slowed him down at all, though.
"It's been a team effort for us. It's not just one or two guys," Hoge said. "We've had a lot of guys stepping up late in the season. That's why we're winning games."
Fellow junior Davon Thomas has legit All-American credentials at 15 points and seven rebounds per game.
Freshman point guard Breshion Tucker has come on strong of late, boosting his averages to 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
Taylor Newton (7.6 ppg), Jared Sutherland (5.5 ppg, 4 rpg) and Beny Collins (4.4 rpg) also have increased their production of late. Sutherland suffered a sprained ankle in the second game of the A.I.I. tournament, but is expected to be OK for Thursday.
The Jimmies (15-18) are heavy underdogs against Cardinal Stritch (30-3), but they've played and beaten good teams all season, and this is another challenge they're ready for.
"Nobody thought we were going to get this far, but we've come a long ways," Hoge said. "We're a national-tournament team. One of the best 32 and we're playing with a lot of confidence."
Courtesy of Jamestown Sun sports editor Dave Selvig, 3/4/13
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By Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Communications & Sports Information
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - (Press Book PDF) (Live Stats) (Live Video) The 22nd annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship will begin Wednesday with 32 teams meeting up in Point Lookout, Mo., and on the campus of College of the Ozarks. The college is hosting for the 14th-straight year, with 31 games being played and ending with the national championship final March 12 at 8 p.m. CST.
The championship tips-off with No. 9 Davenport (Mich.) (27-6) facing York (Neb.) (23-8) Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The first three days will see eight games each; the quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday with the semifinals to follow on March 11. All games leading up to the national championship final will be video-streamed live with the final game televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
No. 1 seed William Penn (Iowa) will try to buck a recent trend and win the national title - something that has not been accomplished by the top seed since 2009 and done just five times in the history of the event. The Statesmen (30-1), who earned the top seed for the first time in school history, take on McPherson (Kan.) (15-17) Wednesday at 1:45 p.m.
In this year's field, No. 4 Northwestern (Iowa) stands with the most postseason wins with a 29-13 postseason record. The Red Raiders (24-6) own a 12-1 first round mark and will face Cal Maritime (24-6) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Right behind Northwestern in the postseason win column is Bethel (Ind.). The Pilots, who are playing in their first championship since 2010, are 26-6 in this event and the only qualifier with as many as three national titles. Bethel tangles with No. 16 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (25-8) Wednesday at Noon.
Host school Ozarks is competing in its 17th overall championship, the most all-time of any program. The Bobcats (21-12) have posted a 25-15 playoff record. They will meet up with 2012 national runner-up No. 3 Northwood (Fla.) (30-3) Wednesday at 8 p.m. The Seahawks got the best of Ozarks in the 2012 first round by a 67-50 score and have won seven of their last nine championship games.
A team to keep an eye on is No. 2 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) (30-3). This trip is the Wolves' 10th appearance and they made it to the quarterfinals last year for the first time in school history. They will battle Jamestown (N.D.) (15-18) Thursday at Noon.
Four squads punched a ticket to their first-ever national championship: Madonna (Mich.), Rochester (Mich.), Saint Xavier (Ill.) and Valley City State (N.D.). Saint Xavier, who is in its first season as a member of Division II, had made 10 prior trips to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship, with its last appearance coming in 2010.
Champion of the Appalachian Athletic Conference, No. 13 Tennessee Wesleyan (25-7) owns the longest overall win streak this year. The Bulldogs have not lost since Jan. 2 against NAIA Division I member Voorhees (S.C.), which is good for an 18-game win streak. William Penn is next in line with a 16-gamer, followed by Cardinal Stritch at 10 games and No. 5 Warner Pacific (Ore.) (27-6) at nine.
Last year's national champion, Oregon Tech, did not qualify for the 2013 championship. The Hustlin' Owls become the first team since Evangel (Mo.) in 2003 to not participate in the championship the year after winning it all.
Reserved seating is $15 per session and general admission is $10 per session for adults. To purchase tickets or receive more information, please call 417-335-NAIA (6242).
The Association of Independent Institutions and the Cascade Collegiate Conference each landed four programs in the championships field, which is the most among the 13 conferences/independent groups.
NeuLion is the NAIA's Digital Media Partner and official video-streaming company of 10 select NAIA National Championship events. The first 30 matches from Point Lookout, Mo., will be available via live video stream for $29.95 and any single day can be purchased for $9.95. Also, one can purchase the all-tournament package of all four basketball tournaments for $49.95. For more information and to pre-register, click here.
For more information on the National Championship, click here.
