Vincennes has a first-round bye and will play at 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 24. Their opponent will be either 11th-seeded Northwest Florida State or Bishop State. Those two teams meet in a first-round game Sunday night.
Northwest Florida State enters with a 25-and-7 record and has won three national titles. Bishop State is 17-and-15 and will be making its first appearance in the tournament.
Head coach Todd Franklin says the team was not focused on its seeding after the bracket was released, and says the tournament field presents a challenge regardless of placement.
Franklin says the team is taking a balanced approach to preparation, with attention on both scouting opponents and focusing on its own play.
Vincennes brings a 69-and-54 record in previous appearances at the national tournament. This marks Franklin’s 17th trip to Hutchinson as a head coach.
If the Trailblazers win their opening game, they would advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday, with later rounds scheduled through the championship game on March 28.
Radio coverage of the opening game will begin at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on WVUB.
