ROCKLIN, Calif. – It was jubilation inside the Edrington Conference Room at Jessup University as the Warriors heard their name called during the NAIA Selection Show. Jessup is headed back to the NAIA Opening Round, as their quest to leave the NAIA as national champions will continue.
Jessup earns a 16 seed and a matchup with the College of Idaho in the opening round, as the race to win six games and cut down the nets inside Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium is on.
The Warriors have been placed in the Caldwell Regional of the Liston Bracket, as one of 64 teams to qualify for the postseason. Joining them in Caldwell will be the College of Idaho, Cornerstone, and Carrol. It will be the Warriors' first trip to Caldwell since the 2020-21 season when they played back-to-back games against the Yotes.
College of Idaho, the host school for this regional, draws a one seed and is the defending NAIA National Champions.
The at-large selection is the fourth in the history of the men's basketball program at Jessup, and this will be the fifth all-time appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. Jessup most recently received an at-large selection in 2022, resulting in a run to the quarterfinals in Kansas City.
Jessup's 2022 run began with the NAIA Opening Round on their home floor in Rocklin.
This will be the first NAIA Opening Round appearance for the Warriors away from Rocklin, as the NAIA adopted the 64-team format in 2021. Jessup made their first tournament appearance in 2011, then in NAIA Division II, after winning the Cal Pac Tournament. The Warriors also earned at-large bids in the 32-team field in 2016 and 2019.
Jessup is 4-4 (.500) all-time in the NAIA National Tournament. Their most wins (3) came in 2022 when they beat Warner, Oregon Tech, and Indiana Wesleyan before falling to Arizona Christian. Guards
Myles Corey and
Ty Artis are the only two remaining players from the 2022 team, along with assistant coach
Travis Timmons.
Official game times have not been confirmed, but Jessup will be on the court next Friday, March 15, from the Activities Center in Caldwell, Idaho. With a win, Jessup would advance to the NAIA Opening Round Championship on March 16.
The final 16 teams will then advance to Kanas City, Miss. Action inside the Municipal Auditorium starts on March 21.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
