FORT WORTH, TX: The NAIA has released the final edition of its Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll as well as the 32 qualifiers and the
bracket for the 2016 Buffalo Funds National Championship. Texas Wesleyan University checked in at No. 10 in the poll and will be a 3-seed in the tournament taking on a 6-seed in Campbellsville University (KY).
The Rams (24-7) and Tigers (22-11) will square off at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 17. The Rams fell two places to No. 10 in the poll after being ousted in the semifinals of the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Tournament. Campbellsville jumped from the receiving votes category to No. 23 after advancing to the semis of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) Tournament where they fell 78-75 to No. 1 Georgetown College.
The 32-team tournament is comprised of 14 automatic berths and 18 at-large selections. Automatic qualification is given to the conference regular-season or tournament champions depending on the league, while at-large berths were determined using the coaches' poll. The event will be held in Kansas City, MO, March 16-22 at historic Municipal Auditorium for the 52nd time overall and 15th consecutive season.
Texas Wesleyan was an automatic qualifier as the SAC regular season champ. The Rams will make the program's 14th appearance. They are 13-12 overall at the tournament and have taken one title (2006). Campbellsville received the 12th at-large bid. The Tigers are making their 11th tournament appearance. They are 6-10 all-time and have not won a title. For both teams this is the first appearance since 2012.
The two teams have never met on the basketball floor before, and they feature no common opponents this season.
The Liston portion of the bracket includes a familiar foe for Texas Wesleyan in fellow SAC member Southwestern Assemblies of God who is an 8-seed taking on the 1-seed, LSU-Alexandria. The SAC boasts five teams in the field of 32. That is the most of any one association matched only by the Golden State Athletic Conference. Along with TWU and SAGU, Mid-America Christian, Oklahoma City, and Wayland Baptist will all represent the SAC.
Georgetown ousted LSU-Alexandria from the No. 1 spot in the poll after winning the MSC Tournament. LSUA had its 21-game winning streak snapped by Langston University in the Red River Athletic Conference Championship game.
Tickets for the 2016 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship can be purchased for as little as $4 at
NAIAHoops.com/tickets. The
NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast 30 games live leading up to the championship final on ESPN3. Single day pases for NAIA Network games can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-tournament package is available for $29.95.
Ramblings
- The Rams were listed in all 11 regular season coaches' poll this season. They were listed as receiving votes in the preseason poll.
- Texas Wesleyan's NAIA National Tournament history dates back to the 4th NAIB Tournament in 1940 when they reached the quarterfinals. The Rams have also made appearances in 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1983, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. They have advanced to the round of 16, 8 times, the quarterfinals 3 times, and won one title in 2006.
