The Saint Xavier University men’s basketball team is prepared to travel down to Point Lookout, Missouri, to compete in the 2013 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship beginning on Wednesday, March 6. The first round will span two days between both Wednesday and Thursday with games played throughout the day.
The 32-team tournament will be single-elimination so it will win or go home for all of the teams involved. SXU and Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) are the only two representatives from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) that will be at the National Championship tournament.
The Cougars have drawn University of St. Mary (Kan.) in the first round that will be played on Wednesday, March 6. The game will be a late evening contest as it will begin at 9:45 p.m. following the Parade of Champions that will happen following the 8 p.m. game.
The Spires enter the tournament after winning the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and finishing the season with a 22-8 overall record. USM lost to McPherson University (Kan.) in the quarterfinals of the KCAC Conference Tournament, but after finishing first in the conference regular season, they have earned a trip to the National Tournament.
Saint Xavier was seeded number six in the tournament and finished the season ranked No. 7 in the nation after posting a 28-5 overall record. SXU fell in the CCAC Conference Championship to the No. 2 ranked Wolves of Cardinal Stritch, 84-75.
Due to finishing as conference runner-up, the Cougars will be in the National Tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Saint Xavier fell in the opening round to Oklahoma Baptist University, who eventually went on to win the NAIA National Championship that year.
“It’s really exciting knowing that all of the work the team has put in over the years has earned us a bid to the tournament,” said junior guard Brad Karp. “In no way are we satisfied with just making the tournament.”
“We want to make a run when get to Point Lookout. Our work is going to be cut out for us though as St. Mary’s is a very good team that is well coached. It’s going to be a great match-up and I cannot wait to get the tourney started.”
If you cannot make it down to Point Lookout, Mo., WXAV 88.3 FM will be covering all of the games throughout the tournament. Also, be sure to check out sxucougars.com for updates during the tournament as well as the SXU Cougars Facebook and Twitter pages as consistent updates will be made to inform fans of all the action.
Greg Pilafas
Deputy Editor in Chief