Update of my mythical 209 basketball tournament.

In a previous "If I Was King of Sports" post, I said that I would like to see a high school basketball tournament consisting of an open-division with 64 teams.  Here is what the 2014-2015 preseason tournament would look like if they actually did it.

With realignment, this would be the rare year that leagues could have more than one team host part 1 of the tournament, if a team coming in won its previous league.  Like always, teams in the same league cannot be in the same bracket, unless the league has nine or ten teams. 

The leagues the teams represent are leagues coming in. (Note: For the #1 seeds, the 1st league will be the league they won the previous year, and the 2nd league will be the leagues they are entering.)  The records are from the previous year prior to the section playoffs.

Bracket A- Host: Modesto Christian Crusaders
(8) Oakdale (VOL) 7-18 vs. (1) Modesto Christian (TVL-MMC) 19-8
(5) Patterson (WAC) 14-12 vs. (4) Jim Elliot Christian-Lodi (CCAA) 16-11
(6) Central Valley Christian-Ceres (IND) 4-4 vs. (3) West-Tracy (SJAA) 19-8
(7) Stagg-Stockton (TCAL) 10-17 vs. (2) Delta Charter-Tracy (MVL) 20-6

Bracket B- Host: Central Catholic Raiders (Modesto)
(8) Orestimba-Newman (SL) 7-17 vs. (1) Central Catholic-Modesto (WAC-VOL) 22-5
(5) Lodi (SJAA) 13-12 vs. (4) Stockton Christian (MVL) 16-11
(6) Summerville-Tuolumne City (MLL) 10-15 vs. (3) Bear Creek-Stockton (TCAL) 19-8
(7) Hughson (TVL) 9-16 vs. (2) Central Valley-Ceres (WAC) 21-6

Bracket C- Host: St. Mary's Rams (Stockton)
(8) Millennium-Tracy (CCAA) 8-15 vs. (1) St. Mary's-Stockton (TCAL-SJAA) 26-1
(5) Escalon (TVL) 13-13 vs. (4) Beyer-Modesto (MMC) 16-11
(6) Pacheco-Los Banos (WAC) 10-15 vs. (3) Manteca (VOL) 19-8
(7) Linden (MLL) 8-17 vs. (2) Golden Valley-Merced (CCC) 21-6

Bracket D- Host: Brookside Christian Knights (Stockton)
(8) Enochs-Modesto (MMC) 8-19 vs. (1) Brookside Christian-Stockton (CCAA) 24-3
(5) Tracy (SJAA) 12-12 vs. (4) Atwater (CCC) 16-11
(6) Lodi Academy (MVL) 12-13 vs. (3) Argonaut-Jackson (MLL) 20-7
(7) East Union-Manteca (VOL) 9-16 vs. (2) Ripon Christian (TVL) 21-5

Bracket E- Host: Sierra Timberwolves (Manteca)
(8) Los Banos (WAC) 6-16 vs. (1) Sierra (VOL) 20-6
(5) Gregori-Modesto (MMC) 14-12 vs. (4) Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage-San Andreas (CCAA) 11-7
(6) Sonora (MLL) 12-13 vs. (3) Turlock (CCC) 18-9
(7) Le Grand (SL) 9-15 vs. (2) Riverbank (TVL) 21-3

Bracket F- Host: Lincoln Trojans (Stockton)
(8) Hilmar (TVL) 7-20 vs. (1) Lincoln-Stockton (SJAA) 14-13
(5) Pitman-Turlock (CCC) 13-12 vs. (4) Amador-Sutter Creek (MLL) 17-10
(6) Weston Ranch-Stockton (VOL) 12-14 vs. (3) Turlock Christian (SL) 18-9
(7) Johansen-Modesto (MMC) 8-15 vs. (2) Holt Academy-Stockton (MVL) 18-3

Bracket G- Host: Merced Bears
(8) Excel Academy-Stockton (MVL) 7-16 vs. (1) Merced (CCC) 21-6
(5) Delhi (SL) 14-12 vs. (4) Kimball-Tracy (VOL) 16-10
(6) Tokay-Lodi (SJAA) 13-14 vs. (3) Chavez-Stockton (TCAL) 17-10
(7) Livingston (WAC) 8-17 vs. (2) Davis-Modesto (MMC) 17-9

Bracket H- Host: Calaveras Redskins (San Andreas)
(8) Ripon (TVL) 8-19 vs. (1) Calaveras-San Andreas (MLL) 20-5
(5) Ceres (WAC) 12-12 vs. (4) Lathrop (VOL) 16-10
(6) Big Valley-Modesto (CCAA) 9-12 vs. (3) Liberty Ranch-Galt (SVC) 17-10
(7) Hughes Academy-Stockton (MVL) 8-11 vs. (2) Mariposa (SL) 23-3

Last 4 in the two-part tournament: Orestimba, Hilmar, Los Banos, Enochs
First 4 out of the two-part tournament: Dos Palos, Waterford, Denair, Edison

All teams in the two-part tournament would advance to part II at a neutral site.  Where that site would be would depend on how they finished in part I.

Non-advancing brackets
Again, if I had my way, these teams would play in a one-part tournament just so they would have games to play. Teams in the same league would be allowed to be in the same bracket.

Bracket I- Host: Dos Palos Broncos
(8) Stone Ridge Christian-Merced (CCAA) 1-25 vs. (1) Dos Palos (WSL) 5-12
(5) Gustine (SL) 2-22 vs. (4) Buhach Colony-Atwater (CCC) 5-22
(6) McNair-Stockton (TCAL) 1-24 vs. (3) Bret Harte-Angels Camp (MLL) 5-20
(7) Downey-Modesto (MMC) 1-23 vs. (2) Denair (SL) 7-18

Bracket J- Host: Waterford Tigers
(8) Mountain Oaks-San Andreas (MVL) 0-14 vs. (1) Waterford (SL) 7-18
(5) Venture Academy-Stockton (CCAA) 1-16 vs. (4) Modesto (MMC) 4-20
(6) Franklin-Stockton (SJAA) 1-25 vs. (3) Tioga-Groveland (MVL) 4-16
(7) Galt (SVC) 1-21 vs. (2) Edison-Stockton (TCAL) 6-20

Bracket K- Host: El Capitan Gauchos (Merced)
Mountain House (TVL) new school (TVL) vs. El Capitan-Merced (WAC) new school

(Note: El Capitan would be allowed to invite JV schools in the Merced-area if it wants a tournament.)

This tournament would never happen, but it would be nice to see who really is the best team in the 209.

209 Sports-2014 NCAA Division II West regional basketball preview

In my previous post, I posted some facts about the Division II tournament.  The reason why I coupled the NCAA tournament with the CCAA is because I honestly didn't think Stanislaus St. would make it this far.  Now that they did, here is some information on the tournament they are playing in now.

What: NCAA Division II basketball West region
When: March 14-17, 2014
Where: San Bernardino, CA (Home of CSU-San Bernardino)
What is at stake: A trip to the Elite 8 in Evansville, IN
Ticket prices:

First round match-ups (all times Pacific)
Noon- (6) Dixie St. vs. (3) Cal Poly-Pomona
2:30 P.M. (7) Stanislaus St. vs. (2) Seattle Pacific
5:00 P.M. (5) Cal Baptist vs. (4) Chico St.
7:30 P.M. (8) Chaminade vs. (1) CSU-San Bernardino

Info on teams (*=automatic qualifier)
                                         
                                         (8) Chaminade* vs.        (1) CSU-San Bernardino
Location:                                   Honolulu, HI                                         San Bernardino, CA
Conference:                               Pac West                                                  CCAA
National Ranking:                       NR                                                            16
Overall Record:                         19-12                                                       23-4
Colors:                                       Blue, White, Silver                                Blue, Black
Mascot:                                      Silverswords                                          Coyotes
Top Scorer:                     #1 Christophe Veradel 21.2 PPG              #1 Kirby Gardner 366 PTS
Top Rebounder:             #14 Kuany Kunay 8.1 RPG                       #24 Jordan Burris 131 Rebounds
# of previous
D-II apperances:                           4 (last in 2013)                                       12 (last in 2013)

                           (5) Cal Baptist vs. (4) Chico St.
Location:                                  Riverside, CA                       Chico, CA
Conference:                              Pac West                                   CCAA
National Ranking:                        17                                          NR (Received 7 votes in poll)
Overall Record:                           24-3                                        22-7
Colors:                                       Navy Blue, Gold                    Cardinal, White
Mascot:                                      Lancers                                   Wildcats
Top Scorer:                      #10 Ryan Berg 474 PTS                  #11 Rashad Parker 425 PTS
Top Rebounder:               #34 Kevin Crabb 174 REB             #45 Jordan Semple 228 REB
# of previous D-II
appearances:                                None                                     10 (last in 2013)


                           (6) Dixie St. vs. (3) Cal Poly-Pomona
Location:                                  St. George's, UT              Pomona, CA
Conference:                              Pac West                          CCAA
National Ranking:    NR (Received 4 votes in poll)          24
Overall Record:                         21-6                                 21-6
Colors:                                      Red, Blue                         Green, Gold                  
Mascot:                                    Red Storm                         Broncos
Top Scorer:                     #42 Zach Robbins 252 PTS       #11 DeRonn Scott 395 PTS
Top Rebounder:              #42 Zach Robbins 161 REB      #40 Jordan Faison 153 REB
# of previous D-II
appearances:                         4 (last in 2013)                     11 (last in 2013)

                           (7) Stanislaus St.* vs. (2) Seattle Pacific*
Location:                                  Turlock, CA                                   Seattle, WA
Conference:                              CCAA                                            GNAC
National Ranking:       NR (Received 2 votes in poll)                     #11
Overall Record:                         21-8                                               26-5
Colors:                                     Red, Gold                                       Maroon, White
Mascot:                                   Warriors                                          Falcons
Top Scorer:                 #24 Marcus Bell 512 PTS                 #2 David Downs 627 PTS
Top Rebounder:          #24 Marcus Bell 306 REB                #10 Riley Stockton 179 PTS
# of previous D-II                                     
appearances:                             None                                            ?

Other regions
On this portion, I will just list the teams, locations, and conferences (*=Automatic Bids)

Southeast- Host: Aiken, SC (South Carolina-Aiken)
(8) Limestone* (Gaffney, SC) Conf. Carolinas vs. (1) South Carolina-Aiken* (Aiken, SC) PBC
(5) Augusta St. (Augusta, GA) PBC vs. (4) Anderson (Anderson, SC) SAC
(6) Georgia Southwestern (Americus, GA) PBC vs. (3) Montevalo (Montevalo, AL) PBC
(7) Carson-Newman (Jefferson City, TN) SAC vs. (2) Lincoln Memorial* (Harrogate, TN) SAC

Atlantic- Host: East Stroudsburg, PA (East Stroudsburg)
(8) Livingstone* (Salisbury, NC) CIAA vs. (1) East Stroudsburg* (East Stroudgburg, PA) PSAC
(5) Gannon (Erie, PA) PSAC vs. (4) Charleston (Charleston, WV) MEC
(6) West Chester (West Chester, PA) PSAC vs. (3) Indiana (PA) (Indiana, PA) PSAC
(7) Glenville St. (Glenville, WV) MEC vs. (2) West Liberty (West Liberty, WV) MEC

Note: Because the Mountain East is a new conference, it did not get an automatic bid.

Midwest- Host: Springfield, MO (Drury)
(8) Wisconsin-Parkside (Kenosha, WI) GLVC vs. (1) Drury (Springfield, MO) GLVC
(5) Lake Superior St. (Sault Ste. Marie, MI) GLIAC vs. (4) Findlay* (Findlay, OH) GLIAC
(6) Michigan Tech (Houghton, MI) GLIAC vs. (3) Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN)* GLVC
(7) Bellarmine (Louisville, KY) GLVC vs. (2) Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN) GLVC

South Central- Host: Denver, CO (Metro St.)
(8) Col.-Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs, CO) RMAC vs. (1) Metro St.* (Denver, CO) RMAC
(5) St. Mary's (TX) (San Antonio, TX) Heartland vs. (4) Colorado Mines (Golden, CO) RMAC
(6) Arkansas-Ft. Smith (Ft. Smith, AR) Heartland vs. (3) Midwestern St. (Wichita Falls, TX) LSC
(7) Texas A and M-Int'l* (Laredo, TX) Heartland vs. (2) Tarleton St.* (Stephenville, TX) LSC

South- Host: Lakeland, FL (Florida Southern)
(8) Tuskegee* (Tuskegee, AL) SIAA vs. (1) Florida Southern* (Lakeland, FL) SSC
(5) Tampa (Tampa, FL) SSC vs. (4) North Alabama* (Florence, AL) GSC
(6) Barry (Miami Shores, FL) SSC vs. (3) Delta St. (Cleveland, MS) GSC
(7) West Alabama (Livingston, AL) GSC vs. (2) St. Leo (St. Leo, FL) SSC

Central- Host: Mankato, MN (Minnesota St.-Mankato)
(8) Harding* (Searcy, AR) GAC vs. (1) Minnesota St.-Mankato* (Mankato, MN) NSIC
(5) Northwest Missouri St. (Maryville, MO) MIAA vs. (4) Winona St. (Winona, MN) NSIC
(6) Fort Hays St. (Hays, KS) MIAA vs. (3) Missouri Southern St.* (Joplin, MO) MIAA
(7) Arkansas Tech (Russellville, AR) GAC vs. (2) Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO) MIAA

East- Host:New Haven, CT (Southern Connecticut St.)
(8) Bridgeport* (Bridgeport, CT) ECC vs. (1) Southern Connecticut St.* (New Haven, CT) NE-10
(5) Philadelphia* (Philadelphia, PA) CACC vs. (4) Franklin Pierce (Rindge, NH) NE-10
(6) Le Moyne (Syracuse, NY) NE-10 vs. (3) St. Anselm (Goffstown, NH) NE-10
(7) Bloomfield (Bloomfield, NJ) CACC vs. (2) New Haven (West Haven, CT) NE-10

1st game in Elite 8
Central vs. East
South vs. South Central
Midwest vs. Atlantic
Southeast vs. West

209 Sports: What you need to know about the CCAA, NCAA Division II Basketball Tournaments

I am putting up this blog, because Stanislaus St. qualified for the CCAA men's basketball tournament.  In the CCAA, the teams with the 6 best league records qualified.  Here are a few important and random facts.

What's at stake: An automatic berth to the NCAA Division II tournament
Location: Citizens Bank Arena, Ontario, CA (Home of ECHL's Ontario Reign)
Dates: March 6-8, 2014
Price of admission: $10 General Admission, $15 Reserved, $25 Courtside (Per day)
Web address for streaming: www.liquidevent.tv
Defending Champion: Cal Poly-Pomona
CCAA website: www.goccaa.org

1st Round

Game 1: (12:05 P.M.)  (5) California St.-Los Angeles vs. (4) Stanislaus St.
Location of school:           Los Angeles, CA                                                         Turlock, CA
West Regional Ranking:         NR                                                                                 #9
Conference, Overall Record  12-10, 15-11                                                            14-8, 18-8
Colors                                Black, Gold                                                                  Red, Gold
Mascot:                              Golden Eagles                                                              Warriors
Top Scorer:                        Quinton Watkins (#00)                                              Marcus Bell (#24)
Top Rebounder:                 James Tillman (#3)                                                   Marcus Bell (#24)
Season Series: Split (1/10/14 @ Stanislaus 66-49 Stan St.;     2/15/14 @ CSU-LA, 62-59 CSU-LA)

Game 2: (2:35 P.M.)   (6) San Francisco St. vs. (3) Chico St.
Location of school:               San Francisco, CA                                Chico, CA
West Regional Ranking:               #10                                                     #5 (received national votes)
Conference, Overall Record     12-10, 14-11                                       16-6, 20-6
Colors:                                   Purple, Gold                                          Cardinal, White
Mascot:                                   Gators                                                   Wildcats
Top scorer:                             Nefi Perdomo (#13)                              Rashad Parker (#11)
Top Rebounder:                     Brandon Tatum (#24)                           Jordan Semple (#45)
Season series: CSU 2-0 (12/6/13 @ San Francisco 67-50; 2/1/14 71-57)

1st round byes     (1) CSU-San Bernardino        (2) Cal Poly-Pomona
Location of school:           San Bernardino, CA                                     Pomona, CA
West Regional Ranking:         #1  (#12 nationally)                                #2 (#22 nationally)
Conference, Overall Record   20-2, 23-3                                                 19-3, 21-5
Colors:                                     Blue, Black                                              Green, Gold
Mascot:                                    Coyotes                                                    Broncos
Top scorer:                               Kirby Gardner (#1)                                 DeRonn Scott (#11)
Top Rebounder:                       Jordan Burriss (#24)                               Jordan Faison (#40)
Season series against                2-0 vs. CSULA                                      2-0 vs. SFSU
possible semi-final opponents: 2-0 vs. CSUS                                         2-0 vs. CSU

Finally,
Teams I think are locks for the NCAA Tournament: CSU-San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona
Team I think is in as of now, but could play it's way out: Chico St.
Bubble Teams: Stanislaus St., San Francisco St.
Team who has to win to get in: CSU-Los Angeles

NCAA Division II Tournament Facts

- Teams do not cross regions in Division II.  In addition, there are eight regions of 8 teams each.  I believe that the CCAA is good enough to get five teams in if they were picked like they are in Division I,  but since they stick to the regions, I think only 3 teams will get in. 

 

-Games for the 1st 3 rounds are played at the campus of the number one seed of the region.  They do not play at a neutral site until the Elite 8.  This year, Evansville, IN will be the host.

 

-In Division I, the national tournament could be thought of in 3 smaller tournaments.  The sub-regionals (2nd and 3rd rounds), regionals (sweet 16, elite 8), and championship (final 4, championship game).  In Division II, it could be thought of in 2 smaller tournaments, regional (1st 3 rounds), and national (Elite 8, semi-finals, finals)

 

Chart of Division II Tournament vs. Division I

 

                           DIVISION I                   DIVISION II

Teams in tournament:              68                                                            64

Number of regions:                   4                                                              8

Number of teams in region:      16 (some have 17-20)                             8

Can teams cross regions?:       Yes                                                         No

When can teams in same conf.

play each other?:                     3rd round                                              1st round

Location of games:                 All neutral sites          Campus of #1 seed, 1st 3 rounds, then neutral site

Defending champion:            Louisville Cardinals                        Drury Panthers