Walsh, Findlay Qualify For NCAA Championship Midwest Regional

3.11.19

Official NCAA Release


INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference placed two men’s programs in the NCAA Championship bracket as the Selection Show revealed the field of 64 qualifiers on Sunday night. 
 
Qualifying for the Midwest Regional was No. 7 seed Walsh, who received the conference’s automatic qualifying spot following Saturday tournament title win, and No. 3 Findlay, which earned an at-large selection. 
 
The Midwest Regional will be hosted by No. 1 seed Lewis from the Great Lakes Valley Conference in Romeoville, Ill. 
 
First-round games will be played Saturday, March 16, with start times still to be determined. 
 
The NCAA Selection Show included 24 automatic qualifiers from conference champions and an additional 40 at-large bids as determined by the national committee.
 
Walsh has a first-round draw against Bellarmine after beating Findlay in overtime during Saturday’s championship final in the Great Midwest tournament. The Cavaliers were the No. 2 seed and have won 13 straight going into the Midwest Regional.
 
The Oilers are the highest ranked team in the NABC Coaches Poll from the Midwest Region at No. 6. Bellarmine Is at No. 11 and Lewis pulls in at No. 15. 
 
UF’s first-round matchup is against No. 6 seed Drury as both teams earned at-large selections. 
 
Findlay has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship for back-to-back seasons, including 2017-18, its first year as a Great Midwest member institution. The Oilers are 27-4 and are a force to be reckoned with on a neutral floor in the postseason. 
 
Potentially, Walsh and Findlay could meet in the second round of the regional in a championship rematch. 
 
Six of the regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 16, 17 and 19 at regional sites.  The south central regional will be conducted March 15, 16 and 19. The west regional will be conducted March 15, 16 and 18. The eight regional champions will advance to the quarterfinals in conjunction with the 2019 NCAA Division II Men’s Elite Eight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.