CSB, SJU selected to play in national hoop tournaments

Both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University basketball teams are old hands at reaching their respective national tournaments.

Lately, however, both teams have waited to return to the national playoffs. But that wait ended Monday.

Both teams qualified for their respective national tournaments – the 18th time for the Johnnies, and the 17th time for CSB. The Johnnies last reached the national tournament in 2007, and CSB in 2009.

The Johnnies will host a four-team pod and will face Bethany Lutheran (19-8) in the first round at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2 at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. The other first-round matchup pits the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (19-8) against North Central College (19-8) of Illinois at 5:30 p.m.

The winners play at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Sexton Arena for a berth in the Sweet 16.  

The third- and fourth-round of the tournament is March 9-10. The national semifinals and final will be March 16-17 at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia. Sixty-four teams are in the national bracket.

CSB (22-4 overall) will travel to Waverly, Iowa, to face George Fox University (24-3) of Oregon at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 2. The other first-round game matches host Wartburg College (27-0) against Webster University (20-6) at 8 p.m. 

The first-round winners play at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3, for a berth in the Sweet 16.

Eight sectional semifinals continue on March 9, followed by four sectional finals on March 10. The national semifinals and final will be played March 16-17 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Sixty-four teams are in the national bracket.