BRACKET I WATCH LIVE I BASKETBALL PAIRINGS SHOW
RICHMOND, Ind. -- Point Park University men's basketball got a stroke of good luck and drew a bye into the quarterfinals of the RSC Men's Basketball Championship. The Pioneers (7-8) learned this during the RSC Basketball Championship Pairings Show that aired live on Wednesday night.
The 12-team RSC Men's Basketball Championship was randomly seeded using chance. The Pioneers had things go their way and were one of four teams that do not have to play in the first round on Feb. 22. Instead, the Pioneers got a bye to the quarterfinals, and they will play the winner of Asbury (Ky.) (14-5) at Ohio Christian (4-12) on Feb. 24.
In the absence of conference standings this year, it was decided that the championship bracket would be seeded using a double-random draw. Each spot on the bracket was assigned a number 1 through 12. A first draw was made for a numbered spot on the bracket, and a second draw was made for the team that would be placed in that numbered spot. All 12 teams that elected to participate in the postseason were eligible to be seeded.
As it were, the Pioneers are labeled as the No. 1 team. The other teams to get a bye are labeled No. 4, 7 and 10. With no real value assigned to the numbers, the most valuable win for the Pioneers was the bye.
As of now, Point Park does not know if it will be home or away for the quarterfinals on Feb. 24. That will depend on the Asbury-Ohio Christian result. Since hosting rights will alternate from round to round, if Ohio Christian wins at home, it will have to go to Point Park in the round. Conversely, if Asbury wins on the road, it will earn a home game versus Point Park.
The semifinals are Feb. 27, and the championship final is March 2. The RSC Men's Basketball Championship winner and runner-up will both receive automatic bids to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship.
Point Park was scheduled to play at Rio Grande (Ohio) for its final playoff tuneup on Feb. 18. Due to expected weather, that game has been cancelled.
Fan attendance and spectator policies for all games of the RSC Championship will be that of the host school of each individual games. Check the school website of the host school for information on that campus' attendance policy.
The RSC Game Central presented by Stretch Internet will broadcast all games of the RSC Men's Basketball Championship. Log on to RiverStatesConference.com/Stretch to watch live.
2020-21 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(All Times Eastern)
Monday, Feb. 22 -- First Round
No. 2 Asbury (Ky.) at No. 3 Ohio Christian, 6 p.m.
No. 6 IU Southeast at No. 5 Rio Grande (Ohio), 8 p.m.
No. 8 Oakland City (Ind.) at No. 9 IU Kokomo, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Brescia (Ky.) at No. 11 Alice Lloyd (Ky.), 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24 -- Quarterfinals
No. 2 Asbury/No. 3 Ohio Christian winner vs. No. 1 Point Park (Pa.) (Location TBA)
No. 6 IU Southeast/No. 5 Rio Grande winner vs. No. 4 Midway (Ky.) (Location TBA)
No. 8 Oakland City/No. 9 IU Kokomo winner vs. No. 7 WVU Tech (Location TBA)
No. 12 Brescia/No. 11 Alice Lloyd winner vs. No. 10 Carlow (Pa.) (Location TBA)
Saturday, Feb. 27 -- Semifinals
Remaining teams -- No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Remaining teams -- No. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Tuesday, March 2 -- Finals
Remaining teams
