RMC Women, VWC Men to Host Two Rounds Each

SALEM, Va. --- Four schools from Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men and women's basketball will take their games to the next level.  Hampden-Sydney College, the champion of the ODAC men's tournament this past weekend, will be joined by Virginia Wesleyan College and Guilford College in the men's 59-team bracket.  Randolph-Macon College is the lone ODAC women's squad in the 63-team field following its championship on Sunday afternoon.

The national tournament kicks off this coming weekend, March 2-3, at various locations throughout the bracket.  Virginia Wesleyan will host two rounds of the men's contingent, and Randolph-Macon will do the same for the women's tournament.  Following the first two rounds, teams will move on to two rounds of sectionals at yet to be specified locations.

Both semifinals and finals will be played at a neutral location the weekend of March 16-17.  The men's final four will take place in Salem, Virginia, at the Salem Civic Center, co-hosted by the City of Salem and the ODAC.  The women's deciding two rounds will take place in Springfield, Massachusetts, at Blake Arena.  Springfield College will serve as the host.

"This is an exciting time of year for everyone," explained ODAC commissioner Brad Bankston.  "With four teams in the tournaments, I think it's a testament to the depth of talent and strong play we have in the conference."

Virginia Wesleyan, the 2006 NCAA D-III national champion, was ousted from the ODAC tournament in the semifinals by eventual champion Hampden-Sydney.  Regardless, the Marlins had an outstanding season, finishing the year with a 23-4 record and a #2 national ranking in the final D3hoops.com poll.  VWC will host three games with Averett College (20-6), Hood College (21-7) and Hampden-Sydney (18-10) set for action in the Batten Center.  The Marlins will square off with Averett in round one, the winner of the USA South Athletic Conference.  The Marlins will look to avenge an 81-73 early season loss to the Cougars.  HSC will take on Hood, the runner-up in the Capital Athletic Conference.  The Tigers and Blazers have never met on the hardwood.

Guilford (21-4) will travel to Johns Hopkins University for its first rounds match up.  The #17 Quakers will take on Manhattanville College (23-5) and look to play the winner of JHU (23-4) and Villa Julie College (20-7) for a spot in the sectionals.

Randolph-Macon (24-4), whose conference crown was its third straight, will host Piedmont College (18-7), McDaniel College (23-3) and William Patterson College (22-5) through the first two rounds.  The Yellow Jackets will take on Piedmont in the opening round, the winner of the Great South Athletic Conference.  Although the two did not play each other this season, RMC would seem to have the upper hand due to its experience.  The Yellow Jackets will be making their seventh overall and third straight appearance in the national tournament.  This is the first shot at an NCAA title for the Lions.

For a look at both the men and women's brackets, please choose from the links below.  You can also visit the NCAA at www.ncaasports.com to read more about the tournament fields.

Men's Viewable Bracket
Men's Printable Bracket

Women's Viewable Bracket
Women's Printable Bracket