HSU made a bid to host this week’s CCAA conference basketball tournament five months ago. The bid was denied.
Initially, the conference committee voted to have the tournament at a neutral site, but HSU Athletic Director Dan Collen said the site double-booked. That put HSU’s bid back on the table.
The argument against HSU hosting the tournament had three parts. Collen’s opponents complained about travel conditions, county politics and HSU’s raucous basketball fans. It’s too long of a drive. The community is too liberal. And the Lumberjacks have too much of an advantage when their fans get going.
But the fans turned out to be an advantage for HSU in the eyes of the committee. Faithful fans fill seats frequently. And that means basketball games sell-out, which offsets the costs for traveling teams, said Collen.
The CCAA awarded HSU the tournament after a 5-4 vote. “I think it will be easier next year because of all the revenue we will generate,” said Collen.
Last year, the tournament took place on Cal State San Bernardino’s campus, and the school sold $13,000 worth of pre-sale tickets. This year, HSU sold $25,000 worth of pre-sale tickets. “Having the tournament here is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Collen.
What’s the big deal?
HSU alumnus and former point guard Jeremiah Ward knows tournament play well. His last game in a Lumberjack uniform was a 68-66 loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the 2007 NCAA Division II West Region Championship.
“We were up one. They took the ball out on the sideline,” said Ward. “One of their players drove to the hoop. We collapsed on him but he passed it out to the perimeter. We challenged the guy’s shot but it went in with only four seconds left.” The Lumberjacks failed to get a shot off in the last seconds of regulation. The season was over and so was Ward’s career as a student athlete.
The doorway to the West Region tournament is the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s tournament, which started yesterday and is in its second year back after a 13-year hiatus. This is a great opportunity for the school, the community and the student athletes, said Collen.
But the best opportunities in the tournament are reserved for the players. Imagine you’re a college basketball player. “Do you want to play in front of 200 people or 2,000?” asked Collen.
Ward thinks both HSU teams can win the tournament. People expect the men’s team to win, though, said Ward. Their defense is strong and they seem to always get it done.
The women’s team, however, had a rough end to their season. They lost six of their last eight games and had to battle through several injuries. “Injuries are no excuse,” said Ward. “Early in the season they were winning despite the injuries.”
Ward, who announces women’s home games on the radio with J.B. Mathers, said he would not be surprised if they win the tournament, though. They have a great team, said Ward.
Realistically, both HSU basketball teams could win this tournament. But if they don’t, there are still other opportunities for the school and the community.
HSU saves money by hosting the tournament because the school doesn’t have to pay for travel. The school also benefits because the tournament will make money for its local sponsors. HSU will not make money on the tournament. But the school will be reimbursed for the tournament’s operating costs, said Collen.
Out-of-area teams will spend money in the community on hotels and food, said Collen. Their players’ families and friends will spend more. Collen estimates that the tournament will generate $200,000 in the community.
How does the tournament work?
There are twelve teams in the CCAA. The top eight qualify for the three-round CCAA tournament. Teams are seeded one through eight depending on their regular season records. The top four teams each hosted a first round game against the bottom four teams at their respective campuses last night. But the Lumberjack went to print at the same time, so you will need to go online for the results if you’re not in the know.
The four winners of the first-round games advance to the semifinals, which take place at Lumberjack Arena this Friday. According to athletic department website, the first women’s game starts at 12:30 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. The first men’s game tips-off at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 8:00 p.m.
The winners of Friday’s games advance to Saturday’s championships. The women’s championship starts at 5:00 p.m. and the men’s championship starts at 7:30 p.m.
The champions earn automatic invitations to the NCAA Division II West Region tournament, which puts them six wins away from National Championships.
Ward said the HSU men’s team already clinched a spot in the West Region tournament because their 20-6 record is among the best in the west, and not just tops in the conference.
HSU’s women’s team is not as fortunate. One more loss ends their season. But a CCAA championship extends it.
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