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PAGE 6A October 2023 PAGE 8 March 2024
2016 DIVISION I MEN’S
Virginia (23-10)
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10
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Howard (18-16)
Montana St. (17-17)
Boise St. (22-10)
MW
MW
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Grambling (20-14)
Colorado St. (24-10)
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Wagner (16-15)
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Mar 22
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Vermont (28-6) Duke (24-8) Texas Tech (23-10)
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NC State (22-14)
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Drake (28-6) Washington St. (24-9) South Dakota St. (22-12) Iowa St. (27-7) North Carolina (27-7) Howard/Wagner Michigan St. (19-14) Mississippi St. (21-13) Grand Canyon (29-4) Saint Mary’s (26-7) Alabama (21-11) Charleston (27-7) Clemson (21-11)
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Purdue (29-4)
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Montana St./Grambling
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Charlotte
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TCU (21-12) Utah St. (27-6) Gonzaga (25-7)
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Kansas (22-10) Samford (29-5) South Carolina (26-7) Oregon (23-11) McNeese (30-3)
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Salt Lake City
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WEST
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Mar 22
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New Mexico (26-9)
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Akron (24-10) Creighton (23-9)
Baylor (23-10) Colgate (25-9) Nevada (26-7) Dayton (24-7)
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Virginia/Colorado St. Texas (20-12)
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Salt Lake City
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Saint Peter’s (19-13) Tennessee (24-8)
Long Beach St. (21-14) Arizona (25-8)
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Mar 21
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Tennessee Earns No. 2 Seed in 2024 NCAA Tournament
Courtesy NCAA
Jake Diebler has been named the new head coach of the Ohio State men’s basketball program. Diebler, who becomes the 15th head coach in program history, will receive a five-year contract. “Jake Diebler possesses all of the characteristics we were seeking as we conducted a very comprehensive and thorough search for a new head coach,” Bjork said. “Those include coaching ability, passion, energy, program knowledge, character, integrity and ties to Ohio. As an Ohio native, the son of a longtime Ohio high school coach and with deep connections to Ohio State, Jake knows what it takes to lead this program on a championship course." “I’d like to thank Dan Cloran, our executive associate athletic director who oversees the men’s basketball program, for his efforts throughout our search,” he added. Diebler, the first Ohioan to be named Ohio State’s head coach in 35 years, is in his eighth season at Ohio State. He was named the interim head coach on Feb. 14 and led the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record over the last month of the season. The first of those six wins came in his first game as the interim coach and in stunning fashion, over No. 2 Purdue on Feb. 19. Ohio State lost at Minnesota in its next game, but then won five consecutive games: at Michigan State, vs. Nebraska, vs. Michigan, at Rutgers and over Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The team played a terrific quarterfinal game against Big Ten tourney finalist Illinois only to lose, 77-74, on Friday. The Buckeyes are 21-13 overall. “Throughout the search, every time we analyzed what was best for the program, our decision kept leading right back to Jake,” Bjork said. “The way he has led the program since February 14 has been exemplary and is only the beginning of what lies ahead for Buckeye Basketball. The future is exciting, and I cannot wait to watch him lead this program.” “Our Buckeyes have rallied and shown true grit on the court with Coach Diebler, who has exhibited impressive leadership with the team,” said President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. “In addition to his multiple wins since being named interim head coach, he’s been an inspiration to the players. I’ve gotten to know Jake and I’m confident he will continue to lead the team admirably.” Diebler first worked with Ohio State in 2014, spending three seasons as a video coordinator. After three seasons as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt, he returned to Ohio State as an assistant coach under Chris Holtmann prior to the 2019-20 season. He was then promoted to associate head coach before the 2021-22 season. “It’s a blessing and a privilege to serve this program and I’m excited for this opportunity,” Diebler said. Diebler’s stellar high school career included three seasons at Fostoria High School and one at Upper Sandusky High School, and he is still the OHSAA career leader in assists and steals. He then played four seasons at Valparaiso from 2006-09 for head coach Homer Drew. Known as one of the hardest workers in the program, Diebler set a Valparaiso Division I record by starting every one of the Crusaders’ 98 games over his final three seasons. He also had a string of 278 consecutive minutes played over seven games in the final half of his senior season. After graduating with his marketing degree in 2009, he spent three more seasons at Valparaiso, one as a graduate assistant and two as an assistant coach under Bryce Drew. He then joined Drew at Vanderbilt from 2016-19, serving as assistant coach for three seasons. Diebler Named Ohio State Men's Basketball Coach
For the 26th time in program history, including the sixth in a row, the University of Tennessee men's basketball team will compete in the NCAA Tournament. Fifth-ranked Tennessee (24-8, 14-4 SEC) earned the second seed in the Midwest region, as revealed Sunday night on the NCAA Selection Show, live on CBS. The Volunteers will begin play Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., versus No. 15-seeded St. Peter's (19-13, 12-8 MAAC) in the Round of 64. In the lone prior meeting between the Volunteers and Peacocks, Tennessee registered a 54-40 decision on March 14, 1984, in Knoxville in the opening round of the NIT. Joining the Volunteers and Peacocks in the pod is seventh-seeded Texas (20-12, 9-9 B12) as well as the "First Four" victor in the matchup between No. 10-seeded Colorado State (24-10, 10-8 MWC) and No. 10-seeded Virginia (23-10, 13-7 ACC). The winner of the Tennessee/ St. Peter's game will face the advancing team between Texas, Colorado State and Virginia in the Round of 32. Tennessee is 25-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament action, including 6-5 in its first five appearances under ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes. The No. 2 seed for the Volunteers matches the program record set in 2005- 06, 2007-08 and 2018-19, the latter also under Barnes' guidance. Additionally, this is the second time Tennessee has reached the NCAA Tournament six times in a row, joining a streak from 2005-06 through 2010-11. In each of its six NCAA Tournament trips during Barnes' tenure, Tennessee has garnered a seed of fifth or better; it had done so just six times before his arrival, since seeding began in 1978-79. The Volunteers' streak of six consecutive NCAA Tournament bids is tied with Houston and Kansas for the fourth-longest active mark in the nation, trailing only Michigan State (26), Gonzaga (25) and Purdue (nine). The only other schools at even five are Baylor and Colgate. This is the 28th NCAA Tournament selection for Barnes in his 37 seasons as a head coach, tying Bob Knight for fourth-most all-time at the Division I level. Only Mike Krzyzewski (36), Jim Boeheim (35) and Roy Williams (30) amassed more bids.
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler (#5) attempts a basket during the Vols game against SEC rival Alabama earlier this year. Both the Vols and the Crimson Tide made the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee will travel to Charlotte, NC to take on Saint Peters on March 21. Alabama will travel to Spokane, WA to take on Charleston on March 22.
UAB Wins AAC Conference Title
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger
Coleman scored 15 points each. Efrem Johnson added nine points and Javian Davis chipped in three points in the win. Temple's Hysier Miller scored a game high 32 points. He connected on 4-of-9 3-pointers and 10-of-11 foul shots. Teammate Shane Dezonie had 11 points in the loss. With the conference championship, UAB received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers will travel to Spokane, WA to take on San Diego State on Friday, March 22, 2024. The winner will of that game will face off against the winner of the Auburn vs. Yale match-up.
The UAB Blazers punched their ticket to the "Big Dance", or better known as the NCAA Tournament, with an 85-69 victory over Temple in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship on March 17, 2024. The Blazers had four players reach double digits in the win. Alejandro Vasquez paced UAB with 29 points, 15 of which came on five 3-pointers. Teammate Yaxel Lendeborg recorded a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Eric Gaines and Christian
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