SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—#6 Wittenberg Hoops (26-2, 16-2) enters the 2018 NCAA Division III Tournament not only as the #1 seed in their portion of the bracket, but as a host site to the first and second round games of the tournament on Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3.
Wittenberg draws the Cougars of Misericordia University (17-10,10-4) out of the Middle Atlantic Conference, as the Tigers will battle the MAC Tournament Champions on March 2 at 7:30 P.M. The other two teams in the four-team pod are fellow Great Lakes Region member Marietta College out of the Ohio Athletic Conference, and Wisconsin-Oshkosh University out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers and the Titans will play before Wittenberg and Misericordia on Friday at 5:30 P.M., with the winner of each Friday night first-round game meeting in the second round at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday at Wittenberg.
Wittenberg's 2017-18 season featured 22 consecutive victories, a regular season NCAC crown and their first NCAC Tournament Championship since 2006. The Tigers are making their 35th NCAA Postseason appearance in all, and their 28th NCAA Tournament appearance, the most in NCAA Division III Men's Hoops history.
The Tigers are undefeated on their home floor (15-0) on the year, including a win over Marietta back in December in the 2017 Kiwanis Holiday Classic. Wittenberg's matchup against Misericordia is the first time the two meet on the hardwood in school history. Oddly enough, the Tigers have also never battled the final team in the pod; Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
The Tigers last NCAA tournament appearance came in 2014, as Wittenberg holds an overall record of 65-35 in NCAA Play. The Tigers are 16-4 overall in first round play, not including seven byes, and 16-9 in the Round of 32. The Tigers last hosted an NCAA tournament game in 2005-2006, as Wittenberg won against Lake Erie, Baldwin Wallace, Hope and Transylvania all in Springfield, before winning their Final Four game against Amherst in Salem, Virginia. That year, the Tigers ultimately fell in the Division III National Title game 59-56 to Virginia Wesleyan.
The 64-team championship field is comprised of 43 conference champions and 21 at-large teams. First and second round games will be played March 2-3. Winners advance to one of four sectional round sites March 9-10. The semifinals and championship will be played at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va. March 16-17.
Check back on Twitter, Facebook and WittenbergTigers.com for more information regarding tickets, broadcast links and more later this week.