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NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship

NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship

The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament (officially styled by the NCAA as a "Championship" instead of a "Tournament") is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States (plus one school in Canada) that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I. The tournament, originally known as the NCAA College Division Basketball Championship, was established in 1957, immediately after the NCAA subdivided its member schools into the University Division (today's Division I) and College Division. It became the Division II championship in 1974, when the NCAA split the College Division into the limited-scholarship Division II and the non-scholarship Division III, and added the "Men's" designation in 1982 when the NCAA began sponsoring a Division II women's championship.

Like all other NCAA basketball divisions for men and women, the champion is decided in a single-elimination tournament. The Division II tournament has 64 teams. The Division II tournaments for men and women differ in a major respect from those in Divisions I and III. The finals of both Division II tournaments consist of eight teams, instead of the four in the other two divisions. The eight survivors of regional play meet in the Elite Eight at a predetermined site.

NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event2019 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament
SportBasketball
Founded1957
No. of teams64
CountryNCAA Division II (USA)
Most recent
champion(s)
Northwest Missouri State (2nd title)
Most titlesKentucky Wesleyan (8 titles)
TV partner(s)CBS (Finals)
CBS Sports Network (Semifinals)
Official websiteNCAA.com [17]

Qualification

As of 2017, a total of 64 bids are available for each tournament: 24 automatic bids (awarded to the champions of the twenty-four Division II conferences) and 40 at-large bids.

The sixty-four bids are allocated evenly among the eight NCAA-designated regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West), each of which contains three of the twenty-four Division II conferences that sponsor men's basketball. Each region consists of three automatic qualifiers (the teams who won their respective conference tournaments) and five at-large bids (which are awarded regardless of conference affiliation).

Conference tournaments

The Heartland Conference will disband after the 2018–19 season, with seven of its nine members moving to the Lone Star Conference and the other two joining the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

RegionConferenceTournamentMost Championships
AtlanticCIAACIAA Men's Basketball Tournament
Mountain EastMountain East Conference Men's Basketball TournamentSix teams (1)
PSACPSAC Men's Basketball TournamentCheyney (15)
CentralGreat AmericanGreat American Conference Men's Basketball TournamentArkansas Tech (2)
Ouachita Baptist (2)
MIAAMIAA Men's Basketball TournamentNW Missouri State (8)
NSICNorthern Sun Men's Basketball TournamentWinona State (5)
EastCACCCentral Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball TournamentBloomfield (6)
East CoastEast Coast Conference Men's Basketball TournamentLIU Post (7)
Northeast-10Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball TournamentSaint Anselm (8)
MidwestGLIACGLIAC Men's Basketball TournamentGrand Valley State (6)
GLVCGreat Lakes Valley Conference Men's Basketball TournamentBellarmine (5)
G-MACGreat Midwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball TournamentAlderson Broaddus (2)
Kentucky Wesleyan (2)
SouthGulf SouthGulf South Conference Men's Basketball TournamentDelta State (6)
SIACSIAC Men's Basketball TournamentAlbany State (7)
Sunshine StateSunshine State Conference Men's Basketball TournamentFlorida Southern (24)
South CentralHeartlandHeartland Conference Men's Basketball TournamentSt. Mary's (TX) (6)
Lone StarLone Star Conference Men's Basketball TournamentWest Texas A&M (8)
RMACRMAC Men's Basketball ShootoutMetro State (11)
SoutheastCarolinasConference Carolinas Men's Basketball TournamentBarton (5)
Peach BeltPeach Belt Conference Men's Basketball TournamentColumbus State (8)
SACSouth Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball TournamentCatawba (7)
WestCCAACCAA Men's Basketball TournamentUC San Diego (4)
GNACGreat Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball TournamentSeattle Pacific (4)
Pacific WestPacific West Conference Men's Basketball TournamentDixie State (2)

Results

NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship
YearFinals SiteHost ArenaChampionship GameTournament MVP/MOPRef
WinnerScoreRunner-up
1957Evansville, INRoberts Municipal StadiumWheaton89–65Kentucky WesleyanMel Peterson
(Wheaton)
1958South Dakota75–53St. Michael'sEd Smallwood
(Evansville)
1959Evansville83–67Southwest Missouri StateHugh Ahlering
(Evansville)
1960Evansville
(2)
90–69ChapmanEd Smallwood
(Evansville)
1961Wittenberg42–38Southeast Missouri StateDon Jacobson
(South Dakota State)
1962Mount St. Mary's58–57
(OT)
Sacramento StateRon Rohrer
(Sacramento State)
1963South Dakota State44–42WittenbergWayne Rasmussen
(South Dakota State)
1964Evansville
(3)
72–59AkronJerry Sloan
(Evansville)
1965Evansville
(4)
85–82
(OT)
Southern IllinoisJerry Sloan
(Evansville)
1966Kentucky Wesleyan54–51Southern IllinoisSam Smith
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
1967Winston-Salem State77–74Southwest Missouri StateEarl Monroe
(Winston-Salem State)
1968Kentucky Wesleyan
(2)
63–52Indiana StateJerry Newsom
(Indiana State)
1969Kentucky Wesleyan
(3)
75–71Southwest Missouri StateGeorge Tinsley
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
1970Philadelphia Textile76–65Tennessee StateTed McClain
(Tennessee State)
1971Evansville
(5)
97–82Old DominionDon Buse
(Evansville)
1972Roanoke84–72AkronHal Johnston
(Roanoke)
1973Kentucky Wesleyan
(4)
78–76Tennessee StateMike Williams
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
1974Morgan State67–52Southwest Missouri StateMarvin Webster
(Morgan State)
1975Old Dominion76–74New OrleansWilson Washington
(Old Dominion)
1976Puget Sound83–74ChattanoogaCurt Peterson
(Puget Sound)
1977Springfield, MASpringfield Civic CenterChattanooga71–62Randolph-MaconWayne Golden
(Chattanooga)
1978Springfield, MOHammons Student CenterCheyney State47–40Wisconsin–Green BayAndrew Fields
(Cheyney)
1979North Alabama64–50Wisconsin-Green BayPerry Oden
(North Alabama)
1980Springfield, MASpringfield Civic CenterVirginia Union80–74New York TechKeith Valentine
(Virginia Union)
1981Florida Southern73–68Mount St. Mary'sJohn Ebeling
(Florida Southern)
1982District of Columbia73–63Florida SouthernMichael Britt
(District of Columbia)
1983Wright State92–73District of ColumbiaGary Monroe
(Wright State)
1984Central Missouri State81–77St. Augustine'sRon Nunnelly
(Central Missouri)
1985Jacksonville State74–73South Dakota StateMark Tetzlaff
(South Dakota State)
1986Sacred Heart93–87Southeast Missouri StateRoger Younger
(Sacred Heart)
1987Kentucky Wesleyan
(5)
92–74GannonSam Smith
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
1988Lowell75–72Alaska–AnchorageLeo Parent
(Lowell)
1989North Carolina Central73–46Southeast Missouri StateMiles Clarke
(North Carolina Central)
1990Kentucky Wesleyan
(6)
93–79CSU BakersfieldWade Green
(CSU Bakersfield)
1991North Alabama
(2)
79–72BridgeportLambert Shell
(Bridgeport)
1992Virginia Union
(2)
100–75BridgeportDerrick Johnson
(Virginia Union)
1993CSU Bakersfield85–72Troy StateTyrone Davis
(CSU Bakersfield)
1994CSU Bakersfield
(2)
92–86Southern IndianaStan Gouard
(Southern Indiana)
1995Louisville, KYCommonwealth Convention CenterSouthern Indiana71–63UC RiversideWilliam Wilson
(UC Riverside)
1996Fort Hays State70–63Northern KentuckySherick Simpson
(Fort Hays State)
1997CSU Bakersfield
(3)
57–56Northern KentuckyKebu Stewart
(CSU Bakersfield)
1998UC Davis83–77Kentucky WesleyanAntonio Garcia
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
1999Kentucky Wesleyan
(7)
75–60Metro StateAntonio Garcia
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
2000Metro State97–79Kentucky WesleyanDeMarcos Anzures
(Metro State)
2001Bakersfield, CARabobank ArenaKentucky Wesleyan
(8)
72–63WashburnLorio Duncan
(Kentucky Wesleyan)
2002Evansville, INRoberts Municipal StadiumMetro State
(2)
80–72Kentucky WesleyanPatrick Mutombo
(Metro State)
2003Lakeland, FLLakeland CenterNortheastern State75–64Kentucky Wesleyan[1]Darnell Hinson
(Northeastern State)
2004Bakersfield, CARabobank ArenaKennesaw State84–59Southern IndianaTerrence Hill
(Kennesaw State)
2005Grand Forks, NDRalph Engelstad ArenaVirginia Union
(3)
63–58BryantAntwan Walton
(Virginia Union)
2006Springfield, MAMassMutual CenterWinona State73–61Virginia UnionJohn Smith
(Winona State)
2007Barton77–75Winona StateAnthony Atkinson
(Barton)
2008Winona State
(2)
87–76Augusta StateJonte Flowers
(Winona State)
2009Findlay56–53
(OT)
Cal Poly PomonaJosh Bostic
(Findlay)
2010Cal Poly Pomona65–53Indiana (PA)Austin Swift
(Cal Poly Pomona)
2011Bellarmine71–68BYU–HawaiiJet Chang
(BYU–Hawaii)
[8]
2012Highland Heights, KYThe Bank of Kentucky CenterWestern Washington72–65MontevalloD. J. Rivera
(Montevallo)
2013Atlanta, GA[2]Philips ArenaDrury74–73Metro StateAlex Hall
(Drury)
[9]
2014Evansville, INFord CenterCentral Missouri
(2)
84–77West LibertyDaylen Robinson
(Central Missouri)
2015Florida Southern
(2)
77–62Indiana (PA)Kevin Capers
(Florida Southern)
2016Frisco, TXDr Pepper ArenaAugustana (SD)90–81Lincoln MemorialAlex Richter
(Augustana (SD))
[10]
2017Sioux Falls, SDSanford PentagonNorthwest Missouri State71–61Fairmont StateJustin Pitts
(Northwest Missouri State)
[11]
2018Ferris State71–69Northern StateZach Hankins
(Ferris State)
[12]
2019Evansville, INFord CenterNorthwest Missouri State
(2)
64–58Point LomaTrevor Hudgins
(Northwest Missouri State)
2020Atlanta, GA[3]State Farm Arena

Records and statistics

Championships by school

SchoolTitlesYears
Kentucky Wesleyan81966 • 1968 • 1969 • 1973 • 1987 • 1990 • 1999 • 2001
Evansville51959 • 1960 • 1964 • 1965 • 1971
Virginia Union31980 • 1992 • 2005
Cal State Bakersfield31993 • 1994 • 1997
NW Missouri State22017 • 2019
Florida Southern21981 • 2015
Central Missouri21984 • 2014
Winona State22006 • 2008
Metropolitan State22000 • 2002
Ferris State12018
Augustana (SD)12016
Drury12013
Western Washington12012
Bellarmine12011
Cal Poly Pomona12010
Findlay12009
Barton12007
Kennesaw State12004
Northeastern State12003
UC Davis11998
Fort Hays State11996
Southern Indiana11995
North Carolina Central11989
UMass Lowell [4]11988
Sacred Heart11986
Jacksonville State11985
Wright State11983
District of Columbia11982
Cheyney11978
Chattanooga [5]11977
Puget Sound11976
Old Dominion11975
Morgan State11974
Roanoke11972
Jefferson [6]11970
Winston-Salem State11967
South Dakota State11963
Mount Saint Mary's11962
Wittenberg11961
South Dakota11958
Wheaton11957

Team appearances

Former Division II champions now in Division I

Source: [15]

SchoolChampionship(s)Year movedCurrent Conference
South Dakota19582006The Summit League
Evansville1959 • 1960 • 1964 • 1965 • 19711978Missouri Valley Conference
Mount St. Mary's19621989Northeast Conference
South Dakota State19632005The Summit League
Morgan State19741985Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Old Dominion19751977Conference USA
Chattanooga19771978Southern Conference
Wright State19831988Horizon League
Jacksonville State19851996Ohio Valley Conference
Sacred Heart19861999Northeast Conference
UMass Lowell19882013America East Conference
North Carolina Central19892008Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
CSU Bakersfield1993 • 1994 • 19972007Western Athletic Conference
(Big West Conference in 2020)
UC Davis19982004Big West Conference
Kennesaw State20042006Atlantic Sun Conference
North Alabama1979 • 19912018Atlantic Sun Conference

Former Division II champions now in Division III

Source: [15]

SchoolChampionship(s)Year movedCurrent Conference
Wheaton (IL)19571973College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Wittenberg19611973North Coast Athletic Conference
Roanoke19721976Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Puget Sound1976??Northwest Conference

Broadcasting

CBS Sports holds rights to the semi-final and final rounds of the Division II tournament, with the semi-final games broadcast on CBS Sports Network and the final on CBS (covered as part of the NCAA March Madness package). In 2015, CBS Sports reached a long-term deal to continue broadcasting the Division II men's semi-final on CBS Sports Network through 2024.[16]

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgKentucky Wesleyan subsequently forfeited its 2003 runner-up status after it was revealed they had let two ineligible transfer players play. "PLUS: COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Kentucky Wesleyan Forfeits an Honor". The New York Times. August 7, 2003. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgPhilips Arena in Atlanta, now known as State Farm Arena, was the site of the championship game only. The rest of the Elite Eight was played at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgState Farm Arena will be the site of the championship game only. The rest of the Elite Eight will be played at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgChampionship won as Lowell.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgChampionship won as Tennessee–Chattanooga.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[6]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgChampionship won as Philadelphia Textile.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.courier-journal.com"Ballarmine wins national championship". The Courier-Journal. March 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.comhttps://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2013-04-07/calm-cool-and-collected
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.com"Augustana wins 2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball championship - NCAA.com". ncaa.com.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.com"DII basketball: Northwest Missouri State handles Fairmont State to win first championship - NCAA.com". ncaa.com. 25 March 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.com"DII men's basketball championship: Ferris State wins program's first title in thriller over Northern State - NCAA.com". ncaa.com. 24 March 2018.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[13]
Citation Linkfs.ncaa.orghttp://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2013/d2/elite8.pdf
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.com"Men's Basketball DII History - NCAA.com". NCAA.com.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[15]
Citation Linkweb1.ncaa.orghttp://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec2/sponsorship
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.org"CBS Sports Network to televise Division II basketball semifinals through 2024". NCAA. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.comNCAA.com
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.nytimes.com"PLUS: COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Kentucky Wesleyan Forfeits an Honor"
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.courier-journal.com"Ballarmine wins national championship"
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.ncaa.comhttps://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2013-04-07/calm-cool-and-collected
Oct 1, 2019, 5:34 AM