INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- For the second straight year, the ODAC will have just one school representing its 12 playing members in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament with conference champion Guilford College carrying the ODAC banner. The Quakers learned of their early round destination early Monday afternoon as they will be traveling to Marietta, Ohio, for a four-team pod at Marietta College.
NCAA Interactive Bracket
NCAA Printable Bracket
NCAA Full Release
For the first time, the Division III men's basketball bracket will feature 64 teams, which is an increase of four squads from a season ago. Forty-three programs earned automatic bids (Pool A) to the field after winning their respective conference championships. There were zero Pool B entrants as true independent squads or those that play in a league without an automatic qualifier. The remaining 21 teams (Pool C) were picked via at-large selection by the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Committee.
Guilford (23-5) joins three other automatic qualifiers at Marietta College, with the host Pioneers (24-4) representing the Ohio Athletic Conference. Calvin College (17-10) won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, while Thomas More College (22-6) captured the Presidents' Athletic Conference crown. Marietta is the lone ranked program by D3hoops.com, with the Pios slotted eighth. Guilford is receiving votes (18) towards the top-25.
Ban Johnson Arena will serve as the host venue on Marietta's campus, which sits less than a mile off the banks of the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio. The arena itself is part of a larger Dyson-Baudo recreation complex, which was completed for nearly $20 million in the spring of 2003. Guilford will take to Ban Johnson on Friday, March 3, and square off with Thomas More, while Marietta meets Calvin. The two winners will compete for a spot in the sectional round on Saturday, March 4. Game times for all games and the rotation for Friday's contests have not yet been determined.
For more information, visit the websites of any of the competing teams, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.