The Bracket
Road To Muni Podcast
AAC Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Game 1 – No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-16) def. No. 8 Milligan (12-16), 81-69 (box)
Game 2 – No. 7 Columbia International (15-13) def. No. 10 Bluefield (10-19), 68-51 (box)
Thursday, Feb. 23
Game 3 – No. 1 Union (26-1) vs. No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-16), 12 pm
Game 4 – No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan (15-10) vs. No. 5 Bryan (14-13), 1:45 pm
Game 5 – No. 2 Reinhardt (15-12) vs. No. 7 Columbia International (15-13), 7:30 pm
Game 6 – No. 3 Montreat (17-10) vs. No. 6 Point (15-13), 9:15 pm
Friday, Feb. 24
Game 7 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 6 pm
Game 8 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 8 pm
Saturday, Feb. 25
Game 9 – Championship Game – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 3 pm
Quarterfinal Breakdown
No. 1 Union (26-1) vs. No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-16)
If you haven’t seen Union play yet, shame on you. They boast one of the best scoring trios in the NAIA with Markelle Turner, Markelo Sullivan and Terrin Hamilton. The Bulldogs can absolutely score with anyone in the country and absolutely dominated the AAC Regular Season. Truett McConnell has their work cut out for them today, but they as the 9-seed, they already have played a game inside of Kingsport and sometimes that can help a team get off to a good start the next day. Kafunba Toure led the Bears with 17pts in the opener.
No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan (15-10) vs. No. 5 Bryan (14-13)
The AAC Standings, behind Union, was a BATTLE. Tennessee Wesleyan was in 2nd place for almost the entire season, but a few late losses helped the rest of the league catch up to them and TWU ended up as the 4-seed. Ty Patton has had another great year for the Bulldogs. It should be a fun battle with him and Ian Johnson of Bryan. Both of which found themselves on the AAC 1st Team and Johnson was a Top 5 scorer in the AAC this year. TWU did sweep the regular season matchups between the two.
No. 2 Reinhardt (15-12) vs. No. 7 Columbia International (15-13)
Reinhardt, amidst the chaos of the AAC Standings, found themselves in the pivotal 2nd-seed. We aren’t saying Union is unbeatable in Kingsport, but they essentially haven’t lost here in almost a decade. With that, the 2nd seed is important because if Reinhardt can’t win the AAC Title, they will be BIG Union fans as they will get the 2nd automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships. That will work itself out, but for now Jalen Wimberly and company will be locked into this big matchup with CIU, a team they just lost to on February 7th. Dianthony Heathcock and Darrian Oates are tough and if CIU is going to win this game, expect big games from both!
No. 3 Montreat (17-10) vs. No. 6 Point (15-13)
Jarden Maze and Montreat come in as winners of 5 of their last 6 games. They also swept Point during the regular season. However, both games were barn burners and you should expect another close one in this one! Point is led by RJ Selman and Jake Smith and the AAC DPOY, Javier Turner. They have won 4 of their last 5 games headed into AAC Tourney play.
