Next flight for Cards begins at home
COEUR d'ALENE - For all the formulas that could wind up getting a team to the NJCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments two weeks from now - there's one clear-cut way to avoid the math.
Win and you're in - at least for the women.
North Idaho College will host the Region 18 men's and women's basketball tournaments starting today with four games at Rolly Williams Court, beginning with the first game at noon. Semifinals will be on Friday and the championship games are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7:30 on Saturday.
Both the men's and women's NJCAA tournaments have expanded from 16 to 24 teams, with four extra bids rotating among districts each year, along with four at-large berths.
Saturday's winner of the women's tournament advances to the NJCAA tournament in Salina, Kan., on March 16-20.
"They've got a formula for it," NIC women's coach Chris Carlson said. "I talked with (Salt Lake Community College athletic director) Norma (Carr) a couple of weeks ago. It's very cut and dry where it could be 60 percent of where you've been in the polls, 20 percent strength of schedule and who you've beat and the other 20 percent is previous history at the national tournament."
NIC has been ranked in the top 10 most of the season, including a few weeks at No. 1 earlier this year. The Cardinals are currently ranked sixth in the NJCAA poll. NIC's women won the national title in 2011.
The men's winner advances to a district championship game at the winner of Region 1 (Arizona) on March 9.
"For us, it's not an automatic qualifying tournament," North Idaho College men's basketball coach Jared Phay said. "With the at-large, it really increases our chances and might have a better chance."
Phay added that NIC has played 11 games this season against teams that were ranked in the top 20. Salt Lake has played 14 games vs. ranked teams, something that should secure an at-large for either team should they not win their way in.
"The league is so tough as it is," Phay said. "Statistically, comparing us and Salt Lake, we might have played the toughest teams in the country. Hopefully we won't need to think that way, but if they do - they'll recognize that."
One thing in the Cardinals' favor - they'll be right at home as tournament host.
"There's pluses and minuses about it," Phay said. "On the road, you're staying in a hotel and not sleeping in your own beds. At home, you're in your own bed and if you've got family in town, it makes it exciting. But once the ball is thrown up in the air, we just need to focus on the game."
The NIC men (25-4) will be the No. 2 seed and face the winner of today's game between No. 3 Snow (20-9) and No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (7-23) on Friday at 2 p.m.
“The big thing for us will be the crowd,” Phay said. “If we can get the crowds we’d been getting during the regular season, it can be a big advantage.”
Cost for a single session (two games) is $6 for students in the general admission seating and $8 for adults. Reserved seats are $10 and to view the webcast is $6.
Both NIC teams will play in Session C on Friday starting at noon.
For a three-day tournament pass, students are $15 for general admission and adults $21, with reserved seats for $23 and webcast for $10.
NIC Booster Club passes or other athletics passes will not be accepted during the tournament.
MEN: The Salt Lake Bruins (26-3) will be the top seed in this weekend’s tournament and will face the winner of Thursday’s game between No. 4 Southern Idaho (19-11) and No. 5 Utah State-Eastern (13-16) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
In Salt Lake’s last NJCAA tournament appearance, it won the national title in 2009.
NIC’s last appearance at nationals came in 1997, when the Cardinals finished fourth.
“We’ve been talking about getting there all year, but are just taking it one game at a time,” Phay said. “You can’t get there (to nationals) in one game and we’re preparing for the next one right now.”
CSI has advanced to the NJCAA tournament the last two years, winning the national title in the 2011.
“It’s important for us not to get caught up in the hoopla of the tournament and just focus on what we’ve been doing,” Phay said. “We just need to do what we’ve been doing thus far and tell our guys to just go about our business.”
The last two times NIC hosted the Region 18 tournament, the Cardinal men lost in the semifinals both times — in 2006 and ’09.
WOMEN: Southern Idaho (19-11), by way of a 64-53 win against North Idaho (27-3) in the regular season finale in Twin Falls, gave the Golden Eagles the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s tournament.
CSI, ranked 13th this week, won 2 of 3 games with NIC this season, including a 50-48 win in Coeur d’Alene on Feb. 2.
No. 2 seeded NIC will face the winner of today’s game between No. 3 Salt Lake (18-10) and No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (14-16) on Friday at noon.
“I don’t know if it matters,” said Carlson of playing at home. “There’s both positives and negatives. It’s our third time being here (as NIC coach at home in tournament). Home courts are great if you can get great crowds. If you can do that, it can be an advantage.”
NIC won the Region 18 title the last time it hosted, in 2009, beating CSI with a miracle comeback in the the title game. NIC lost at home to Salt Lake in the 2006 title game.
Salt Lake won 2 of 3 games this season, with Colorado Northwestern winning in Salt Lake City 50-46 and the Bruins winning both games in Rangely, Colo.
“Those two teams have had some ball games this year,” Carlson said. “That’s going to be a great game.”
NIC has advanced to three of the last four NJCAA tournaments, winning the title in 2011, finishing eighth in 2010 and ninth in 2009.
“We’re just really happy to have a bye,” Carlson said. “I think that’s a bonus. But some teams have won all three games to advance. This field is very, very strong and it’s going to take a great effort in every game to win it.”
CSI will face the winner of today’s game between No. 4 Utah State-Eastern (15-13) and No. 5 Snow (9-20) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Snow won last year’s Region 18 tournament and went 1-2 at nationals.
At North Idaho College
Thursday
Game 2 — No. 3 Snow (20-9) vs. No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (7-23), 2 p.m.
Game 4 — No. 4 Southern Idaho (19-11) vs. No. 5 Utah State-Eastern (13-16), 7:30.
Friday
Game 6 — No. 2 North Idaho (25-4) vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m. (semifinal)
Game 8 — No. 1 Salt Lake (26-3) vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 10 — Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m. (winner to District 1 championship game at Region 1 champion on March 9)
At North Idaho College
Thursday
Game 1 — No. 3 Salt Lake (18-10) vs. No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (14-16), noon.
Game 3 — No. 4 Utah State-Eastern (15-13) vs. No. 5 Snow (9-20), 5:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 5 — No. 2 North Idaho (27-3) vs. Winner Game 1, noon (semifinal)
Game 7 — No. 1 Southern Idaho (19-11) vs. Winner Game 3, 5:30 p.m. (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 5 p.m. (winner to NJCAA tournament in Salina, Kan.)