MONDAY
MONDAY
It is "go time" in Hutch.
The 2024 NJCAA MBB D1 Championship Tournament gets underway today at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, KS.
The back-to-back Region XIV champion Cardinals (26-7) are among the 24 teams in the event, two of which will survive the week-long competition and be around for the championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.
Here are today's opening round games:
10 a.m. – (17) Walters State vs. (16) Daytona State
12:15 p.m. – (24) Allegany Maryland vs. Crowley County
2:30 p.m. – (18) Jones vs. (15) Panola
5 p.m. – (23) Georgia Highlands vs. (10) TVCC
7:15 p.m. -- (20) Trinidad State vs. (13) Odessa
9:30 p.m. – (19) Connors State vs. (14) Moberly Area
All tournament games will be webcast on ESPN+ -- Stream ESPN+ Live Games and Original Shows - Watch ESPN (A subscription fee is required.) The championship game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU.
The TVCC-Georgia Highlands winner advances to the Sweet 16 to face No. 7-seed Triton (31-2), which received a bye in the first round.
Against Georgia Highlands (19-14), the Cardinals, who are making their 11th national tournament appearance and eighth in the last 12 years, will be facing a team having won five straight and averaging 76.4 points per game. The Cardinals are averaging 78.7.
Georgia Highlands is let by freshman guard Jay'Quay Nelson. He is averaging 16.5 points per game and has hit 100 three-pointers. Mohamed Kante is averaging 12.3 points per game.
The Cardinals are 15-11 in NJCAA tournament games. Today's game will be their first time to face Georgia Highlands on the big stage.
The Cardinals are one of nine teams at the tournament returning from a year ago, joining Vincennes, Indian Hills, Trinidad State, Chipola, Salt Lake, Odessa, Northwest Florida State and Moberly Area.
Two former Cardinal head coaches have their teams at the tournament: Pat Smith at Moberly Area and Kris Baumann at Odessa. Ironically, both play their opening round games after the Cardinals tonight.
Gas prices are down slightly last year's tournament, when the average was $3.05. This year it's $3.02.
Here are the average prices the last 17 trips to the national tournament:
2004 -- $1.67
2006 -- $2.42
2008 -- $3.11
2009 -- $1.79
2010 -- $2.67
2011 -- $3.39
2012 -- $3.65
2013 -- $3.46
2014 -- $3.35
2015 -- $2.25
2016 -- $1.77
2017 -- $2.07
2018 -- $2.32
2019 -- $2.32
2021 -- $2.55
2022 -- $3.91
2023 -- $3.05
2024 -- $3.02
On the weather front, it's 52 and cloudy in Hutchinson this morning. We are headed for a high of 57 with wind warnings of gusts as high as 50 mph.
Here we go, Cardinal fans. Put on the red and send positive vibes this way!
-- BENNY ROGERS
