We have four awesome games going today and you can watch them all for FREE on the NAIA Network and at Urban Edge Network!
Today’s Schedule
1pm: #1 Arizona Christian vs #2 Grace (IN)
3pm: No. 1 College of Idaho vs #2 Georgetown (KY)
5pm: #1 Freed-Hardeman (TN) vs #11 Southern Oregon
7pm: #1 LSU Alexandria vs #7 Oklahoma Wesleyan
NAISMITH QUADRANT
#1 College of Idaho vs #2 Georgetown (KY)
College Of Idaho
Path: #16 UC Merced -> #8 Friends (KS) -> #4 Langston (OK)
Players To Watch:
#22 Drew Wyman 6’5 Sr.
#1 Samaje Morgan 5’9 Jr.
#2 Stranton Rogers 6’5 Sr.
Georgetown
Path: #15 LSU Shreveport -> #10 Saint Francis (IN) -> #6 Northwestern (IA)
Players To Watch:
#11 Tae Dozier 6’5 Jr.
#2 Jaquias Franklin 6’1 Sr.
#1 Deandre Boyd 6’4 Jr.
Preview
Love this matchup! College of Idaho comes in with one of the top offensive outputs of the Round of 16! If they shoot like that, not sure they can be beat. However, Georgetown is one of the best defensive teams in the NAIA. They also guard the 3pt line well. The Key for the Tigers is can they crack the Yotes zone defense. In the Round of 16, the Yotes elected to start out in their 1-3-1 and it really caused issues. It will be interesting to see if they start again in the 1-3-1 or start in their matchup zone. In the past, the Yotes have struggled with teams with the makeup of Georgetown. However, the Tigers are still going to have to make tough shots. Especially from the perimeter. The Yotes have a deep roster and lots of weapons. Tyler Robinett has had some great games in his career, especially inside Muni. If he continues to hit 3’s like he has, Georgetown may be in for a long night. If College of Idaho turns ball over and if they let Franklin and Dozier get going they can be in trouble as well. I think Deandre Boyd is the X-Factor for the Tigers. He has played some great basketball over the past month and if he is crashing the glass and finishing around the rim, then it can breakdown that Yote defense. One of our favorite matchups of the day!
Cramer Quadrant
#1 Arizona Christian vs #2 Grace (IN)
Arizona Christian
Path: #16 Westcliff (CA) -> #9 Oregon Tech -> #4 Cumberlands (KY)
Players To Watch:
#0 Ese Onakpoma 6’4 Jr.
#8 Anthony Howell 6’7 Sr.
Grace
Path: #15 Carolina U (NC) -> #7 Pikeville (KY) -> #11 St. Mary-Woods (IN)
Players To Watch:
#23 Ian Scott 6’7 Sr.
#12 Ian Raasch 6’6 So.
Preview
As you get this deep in the tourney, there aren’t bad games, but if we were to ask what our favorite matchup of the day is, this would be it! Both of these teams are deeper than the players listed above. They also play so differently that it will be key, for both teams, to find a way to establish their style early. For ACU, they will look to pressure defensively, create some havoc and turn Grace over. For Grace, especially in the half court, they are going to try to swing the ball and make that ACU defense work and scramble. ACU is so tough in the middle third of the floor, that I expect Grace to attack from the wings and paint. They lead the country in APG and even outside of the “Ian’s” they have talented role guys who have knocked down big shots their entire career! Since All-American, Trent Hudgens went down, ACU has kind of used a PG by committee. 6’7 Freshman, Jalik Dunkley, has led a lot of their breaks, especially when Lorenzo Wright is off the floor. Anthony Howell, from the 5 spot, is actually their play maker and one of their best passers. The key for Grace though is going to be able to find a way to not let Ese Onakpoma to get to the rim! Expect this game to also be a war on the glass. ACU is so good at outrebounding their opponents and crash the offensive glass well. Team who controls the glass in this one will be your winner most likely!
Duer Quadrant
#1 Freed-Hardeman vs #11 Southern Oregon
Freed-Hardeman
Path: #16 IU Southeast -> #9 Spring Arbor (MI) -> #4 Life (GA)
Players To Watch:
25 Bryce#2 Peyton Law 6’7 Jr.
#4 Geraldo Lane 6’5 Sr.
#5 Makai Vassell 6’5 Sr.
Southern Oregon
Path: #6 Montana Tech -> #3 The Master’s (CA)-> #7 Keiser (FL)
Players To Watch:
#5 Elijah Jackson 6’1 Jr.
#25 Bryce Dyer 6’5 So.
#2 Gabriel Reichle 6’2 Sr.
Preview
The defending National Champs, Freed-Hardeman, in the Round of 16 looked like the team that won a National Championship last season. They really guarded well. This year’s team is built a little differently, they have size and length at the wing spots. While they don’t have any true back to the basket bigs, this is a team that is big at every other position outside of the PG spot. Speaking of which, RS Fr. PG, Jayson Nixon, went down in last nights game with an apparent ankle injury. He didn’t return to the game, but FHU was also never really in trouble of losing their lead, so may have just been a coach’s decision for precautionary reasons. They play a Southern Oregon team who has played great basketball 2nd semester. They were one of the final teams to get an at-large spot, but they have made the best of it with 3 big wins to get here. The Raiders are so well coached, and they have good guard play. If they can handle the FHU pressure and continue to knock down shots on the perimeter they can dethrone the defending National Champions! This game will come down to 3’s, FT’s and turnovers. I know that can be the case in most games, but especially true in this game! If SOU is going to win, they will need to hit shots and/or get to the FT line and make them. Freed doesn’t give up a lot of easy baskets around the rim. If they let Mason Whitiker get hot on the outside, it will put more pressure on their defense.
Liston Quadrant
#1 LSU Alexandria vs #7 Oklahoma Wesleyan
LSU Alexandria
Path: #16 Stillman (AL) -> #8 Nelson (OK) -> #4 Bethel (IN)
Players To Watch:
#4 Kashie Natt 6’3 Sr.
#1 EJ McQuillan 6’3 So.
Oklahoma Wesleyan
Path: #10 MACU -> #2 Dordt (IA) -> #3 Baker (KS)
Players To Watch:
#3 DJ Talton Jr. 5’10 Sr.
#5 Jaden Lietzke 6’7 Sr
Preview
This game is maybe one of the more interesting matchups in the NAIA QF’s as it features two teams who pressure and scrap defensively but who also get to the basketball and finish. OKWU, in the halfcourt, will do what they do and feed the beast, Jaden Lietzke. This is a team that plays so well together and get a lot of open shots as well. If the 3’s are falling, they are really dangerous! LSU Alexandria has the size and strength to guard Lietke, but he is so smart and crafty around the paint and understands how to get his shot off. Talton Jr. is one of the best small guards in the NAIA. It will be interesting to see who Alexandria decides to put on him to start the game. LSU Alexandria features one of the best players in the country in Kashie Natt. OKWU’s defense, as good as it is, will be tested today. I anticipate this game to be PHYSICAL! OKWU likes to wear teams down with their depth. LSU Alexandria is also coming off an OT thriller. We will see how their legs are coming in. The Generals are tough though and as hard as they play, they also play with a lot of heart. This is a team that can win a Natty, but they are in for a tough test today. Hopefully the game doesn’t become a FT shooting contest, but these are two big and physical teams who are talented!
