Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Pre-Game Okorougo dunk

Preview Heading into the NCAA DII Men's Basketball Final Four

| By: Evelyn DeVaux
Pc: Twisty Dorion

HARTFORD, Conn. – The third-ranked Trinity College Men's Basketball team is preparing for the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN Thursday evening. Hamden-Sydney and Guilford will square off in the opening game at 5:30 p.m., followed by Trin University versus the Trinity Bantams at 8:00 p.m. The winners will move onto the Championship meeting Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Bantam Bytes

  • The Bantams hold a 30-1 record on the season, setting a new program record for wins in a season, besting the mark of 24 wins in 1984-85 & 1994-95.

  • The Bantams are ranked #3 in the Nation in the latest D3hoops.com Men's Basketball Top 25 Poll, their highest ranking in program history.

  • Trinity returns to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship field for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

  • The Bantams enter the Final Four after collecting wins over Tufts University (70-53) and Calvin University (69-62) last weekend.

  • Bantams currently still hold the Nation's best scoring margin (20 ppg).

  • As a team, the Bantams are one of the top defensive teams in the country, allowing the third-fewest points to opponents, 56.5 points per game, and are ranked third in field goal defense, limiting opponents to a .368 mark from the field.

  • Trinity led the NESCAC in field goal percentage (.449), field goal defense, three-point field goal percentage (.341), and turnover margin (4.56).

  • Senior Sean Okpoebo was named to the 2024 NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team, along with Dana Smith making the Winter All-Academic Team.

  • Senior Ben Callahan-Gold logged career-highs in points (504), rebounds (185), blocks (44), and assists (25). Callahan-Gold connected on a career-high 87 three-pointers, second-most in a season in program history, and shot 37% from beyond the arc, fourth-best mark in conference.

  • Sophomore Henry Vetter netted 28 points in the Sweet Sixteen match-up against Tufts and 10 points against Calvin to lift the Bantams to their Final Four journey. 

  • Vetter registered a career-high in points (458), rebounds (146), assists (106), steals (35) and blocks (12). Vetter shot .420 from the floor, including a .324 mark from three-point range. Vetter led the league from the free throw line, connecting on a career-best 91.5% of his attempts.

  • Graduate Dana Smith registered a .596 from the field, with a 3.7 Assist/Turnover Ratio leading the NESCAC and 5th for national ranking. Smith holds a career-high of 170 rebounds with 98 defensive, averaging 5.5 a game.  

Scouting Trine

  • Trine posted a 27-4 record on the season with a 12-2 mark in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

  • The Thunder earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament with a 23-4 overall record, programs first ever trip to the NCAA DIII Tournament.

  • Through the NCAA Tournament the Thunder defeated Fontbonne (91-81) in the first round and #25 Coe College (76-70) in the second round, Sweet Sixteen victory over RV Washington University (86-85), and downed #11 Wisconsin Platteville 88-86 to advance them to the final four.

  • Currently owns the programs first high for wins in a season with 27, tied with the 1998-99 team (27-8). 

  • Trine is riding a four-game win streak heading into the Final Four match-up with Trinity.

  • The Thunder offense features three players averaging double figures in scoring.

  • As a team, Trine is shooting 48.4% from the field, (80.1ppg), including 71.3% from the foul line.

  • Cortez Garland is Trines' leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game, with an average of 45.3 from floor, 76.9 from the charity stripe.

  • Fred Garland averaged 14.0 points, while shooting 40.9 from beyond the arc and 76.3% from the foul line. Garland holds 3.3 assists per game with 1.1 steals.

  • Aiden Smylie leads the Thunder shooting 73.1% from the foul line, averaging 6.4 rebounds a game, 2.3 assists and 11.1 points per game. 

Scouting Hamden-Sydney

  • Hamden-Sydney enters the tournament with a 30-2 record and a 16-1 record in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).

  • The Tigers were ODAC Champions defeating #4 Washington and Lee (81-56) and are making the program's 16th appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament and second-ever trip to the Final Four. 

  • Hamden-Sydney earned an automatic qualification to the tournament field.

  • The Tigers collected four wins over Nationally Ranked teams this season (Christopher Newport, Swarthmore, Randolph-Macon, and Nebraska Wesleyan)

  • The Tigers rank tenth in the Nation for rebound margin, at 8 a game registering 39.6 and holding opponents to 30.9.

  • As a team, Hamden-Sydney is shooting 46.2% from the field, 35.5% from three-point, and 74.6% from the foul line.

  • Adam Brazil leads the HS offense with a team-high 87% from the charity stripe while averaging 13.4 points a game and 3.8 assists.

  • Davidson Hubbard is the Tigers main scorer averaging 15.1 points, shooting 40% from three, 47.1% from the field and 82.3% from the foul line, adding 7.2 rebounds per game.

Scouting Guilford

  • Guilford logged a 26-4 record on the season with a 15- mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)

  • The Quakers are riding a four-game win streak, and have won 8 of their last 10 games.

  • Guildford received an at-large bid spot in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, making this the program's 7th time in the tournament, their last appearance in 2019.

  • The Quakers posted a 5-3 record over Nationally Ranked teams, including an  early season victory over Hampden-Sydney (80-71).

  • As a team, Guilford is shooting 42.7% from the field, 34.8% from three-point range, and 76.7% from the charity stripe.

  • Julius Burch snags 10.0 rebounds per game while netting 11.2 points per game shooting 55.4% from the floor.

  • Tyler Deamanpaces the Tigers offense with 20.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists, shooting 40.1% from the floor and 31.9% from three-point range.

  • Luke Proctor averages 8.7 points per game with an 83.8% from the foul line, dishing out 2.1 assists per game.

History

  • The Bantams have never had a meeting with any teams within the final four pod!

  • Trine has also never faced any teams within the final four tournament 

  • Hamden-Sydney holds a 38-25 edge over Guilford, record since 1991

Print Friendly Version