In this March Madness update, we have news of the Kiwis that will attend the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tournaments – two men and seven women.
68 teams will be contesting the Men’s and Women’s Division 1 Tournament. However, just 24 teams compete at the Men’s and Women’s NJCAA (Junior College) National Championship Tournaments. Despite these longer odds in making a National Championship, it is heartening to report six New Zealander’s – 5 female and 1 male – will feature at this tournament.
We also update the progress of the Kiwis at the NCAA Division II Women’s National Championships and the American Universities Wheelchair Championships.
First we reflect on the performance of Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku – who led the Lakeland College Rustlers to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s National Championship title.
Canada
The Lakeland College Rustlers have claimed the Canadian Universities National title, with a 64-55 win over the Lambton University Lions.
Missy Nuku, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, has been a major force for her team all year. She was again pivotal in the Championship Final, opening the scoring with a deep three and contributing 14 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and a steal on the night.
The Rustlers finished the season unbeaten at 26-9, adding the National Championship to the Alberta Collegiate Athletic Association Conference title they claimed earlier this month.
Reflecting on the championship run, Nuku said it was an unreal feeling.
“Our team going undefeated – winning our conference and the championships and all the awards possible, it just doesn’t feel real,” says Nuku.
“Hosting and winning on our home court is a different kind of achievement and excitement. I feel so loved and supported by the community, my family and especially my team here at Lakeland. I couldn’t be more thankful and grateful for this opportunity and this part of my life.”
NCAA Division I Men
NBA Global Academy graduate Ben Gold and Marquette University have drawn Western Kentucky University in the First Round of the Men’s NCAA National Championship.
Marquette lost the Big East Tournament Grand Final 73-57, but with a national ranking of #10 they were never in danger of being overlooked for the Big Dance.
University of Virginia bowed out of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at the semi-final stage, beaten 73-65 by eventual winners North Carolina University in overtime.
However Taine Murray and the Cavaliers, with a top four finish in a strong conference and an overall record of 23-10, received an at-large invitation – via a play-in game against Colorado State University – to the First Round proper.
NCAA Division I Women
For the second year running the Portland University Pilots, and their trio of Kiwis, clipped their ticket for the Women’s NCAA National Championship by winning the West Coast Conference Tournament title. Emme Shearer, Florence Dallow and Melika Samia and the Pilots are set to face Kansas State University in the opening round.
Meanwhile Charlotte Whittaker and her 18th-ranked Colorado University Buffaloes have earned an at-large nomination, and will take on Drake University. Should both teams win their championship opener, there is the mouth-watering prospect of a Colorado vs Portland match up in the second round.
Breeje Schuler and Eastern Washington University Eagles have also booked their berth with a conference championship win. They beat Northern Arizona 73-64 in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game, earning the Eagles just their second visit to the NCAA Tournament when they face Oregon State in the opening round.
Olivia Williams and Big West Conference champions University California Irvine have also qualified automatically, although the Junior guard has been forced to redshirt this season as she rehabilitates a leg injury.
UC Irvine will meet Gonzaga University who also have a Kiwi watching from the bench; 2023 Tall Fern Lauren Whittaker, younger sister of Colorado’s Charlotte Whittaker, begins her four-year scholarship in 2024-25 but is already in Spokane, Washington training with and supporting the Zags.
Leah and Jenna Rose Mafua and the University of Central Arkansas were only one win shy of making a first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament; the Sugar Bears falling 76-47 to #1 seed Florida Gulf Coast in the championship game at the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The Mafua sisters have the consolation of being invited to play at the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
NCAA Division II Women
New Zealand had three representatives at the 64-team NCAA Division II National Championship Tournaments that commenced last weekend, with all three athletes able to progress through their first round games.
Ella Bradley and the University of Texas at Tyler Pilots advanced with a 20 point win (74-54) against Regis University, while Hannah Wentworth helped Eckerd College to an 84-70 defeat of Union University. And Nova Southeastern University Sharks and Jessica Moors also advanced with a 71-61 win over Lee University.
In the second round, it was two from three for the Kiwis:
Bradley stuffed the stat line as Texas at Tyler saw off Colorado Mesa University – winning 68-56. The former Waikato forward produced 6 points and 4 rebounds, plus game highs in assists (6), steals (5) and blocks (2) in 34 minutes.
Nova Southeastern also progressed with a 69-58 win against Valdosta State University; Moors with a game-high 4 steals for Moors in the notable victory over the #5 ranked Women’s Division II team in the nation.
Unfortunately Eckerd bowed out by the narrowest of margins, going down 68-69 to Tampa University in overtime.
NCAA Division II Men
Disappointingly for Josh Lowe and the Lee University Flames, their hopes of a deep run at the Men’s Championship were extinguished in the first round as they went down 75-61 to the University of West Georgia.
Women’s (NJCAA) Junior College
Five Kiwis will contest the Division I Women’s Junior College National Championship Tournament.
Waiata Jennings and Collin College will be the overall fourth seed when the National champs get underway next weekend.
2022 Tall Fern Pania Davis and New Mexico College will be the eighth seed at the tournament, and like Collin College they get the benefit of a first-round bye.
The 20-6 Dodge City College, with their trio of Kiwis Layla-J Cameron, Shorna Preston and Jyordanna Davey, secured an at-large bid. The 18th seed will face East Georgia State in the opening round on 26 March.
Men’s (NJCAA) Junior College
Finn Lally will be the only New Zealand representative at the NJCAA Men’s National Tournament. His 20th-ranked Trinidad State College team will take on Odessa College on 24 March.
Wheelchair Basketball – Men’s National Championship
Freshman Jaimie Stafford, who hails from Auckland, and his Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks came away with the trophy at the US College National Championships over the weekend.
Luke McDowall and Alabama University Roll Tide have settled for a third-place finish at this tournament as the Roll Tide – National Champions in 2023 – went down 58-74 in the semi-finals against the university of Wisconsin. The Roll Tide bounced back in the bronze medal game with a 64-56 defeat of the University of Illinois.
We will have news on all the tournaments involving New Zealand players over the coming days and weeks as March Madness unfolds.
