Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division II Management Council and Presidents Council has announced changes to the 2021 Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament.
BRACKET SIZE
Due to a reduced field, the bracket for both the men and women is reduced by 25 percent, condensing the field to 48 teams. Each of the eight regionals will now include six teams rather than eight.
RESTRUCTURING REGIONS
Due to conferences not playing or postponing play, the regions for both tournaments were shifted to balance the field. For this year only, Kentucky Wesleyan and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference are in the Atlantic Region along with the Mountain East, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Midwest Regional will include the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
If Wesleyan had remained in the Midwest Region, they would be competing against 38 other teams for the six regional bids. Now in the Atlantic, they are competing against 28 teams for six spots.
Additionally, this year’s regional rankings will not be seeded 1-8. They will be listed alphabetically and be deemed “under consideration” until the final bracket is announced.
PRE-DETERMINED REGIONAL SITES
With health and safety protocols surrounding the pandemic, the NCAA chose predetermined regional sites for the 2021 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. The men’s Atlantic Regional will be hosted by West Liberty University in West Liberty, W. Va. on March 13, 14 and 16. The Elite Eight will be conducted in Evansville, Ind. at the Ford Center on March 24-27.
The women’s Atlantic Regional will be hosted by G-MAC foe Ohio Dominican University at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio on March 12, 13 and 15. The Elite Eight will also be hosted by ODU on March 23-26.
MEN’S ATLANTIC REGION
The Panthers are included in the first Regional ranking with a record of 9-4 entering the week. Wesleyan is joined by G-MAC members Findlay (13-4) and Hillsdale (15-1). The PSAC’s Mercyhurst (9-0) and MEC’s West Liberty (9-3), Charleston (10-2), Fairmount State (8-2) and Glenville State (7-2) are also under consideration. This group includes five nationally-ranked teams in Mercyhurst (6), Charleston (20), Findlay (23), Fairmount State (RV), and Glenville State (RV).
WOMEN’S ATLANTIC REGION
Wesleyan is included in the first Regional ranking sitting at 13-4 on the year. The Panthers are one of four G-MAC members including Cedarville (17-3), Ohio Dominican (12-5) and Walsh (11-4). The MEC’s Charleston (12-0), Glenville State (8-1) and Notre Dame College (10-2) are also under consideration along with the PSAC’s Gannon (9-1). Five teams are nationally-ranked in Charleston (3), Glenville State (18), Gannon (22), Cedarville (24) and Notre Dame (RV).
This is a KWC Athletics press release.
