Conference Tournament Play Continues / Rankings and Statistics

A total of 17 conference and independent berths will be awarded this week on the way to Kansas City. The field of 32 will be filled out by 15 at-large berths open for teams which will be determined by the final regular season rating. 

For a look at the final regular season rating, click here... 
To follow conference play, click here....
To check out the latest NAIA stats click here…

The National Championship bracket will be released March 17.

9. Johnny Orr – two-time NAIA All-American at Beloit College (WI). He remains the winningest coach in the history at two major schools - Iowa State (218-200) and Michigan (209-113). His teams played in 13 postseason tournaments, including 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament, and posted eight 20-win or better seasons
10. Scottie Pippen - University of Central Arkansas (’87 graduate). He averaged 23.6 points and 10 rebounds as a senior…Seattle Supersonics made him the number 5 pick of the 1987 NBA draft…1992 United States Dream Team Member and two-time Olympic gold medal winner…voted as one of 50 greatest NBA players of all time in 1996…currently in his 17^th NBA season…has played with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
11. Terry Porter – Wisconsin - Stevens Point (’85 graduate)… In four seasons at Stevens Point, Porter averaged 13.5 points and shot an astounding 58.9 percent from the field. Twice with the Pointers, as both a junior and a senior, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American. 24^th pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA Draft…17 year NBA playing career with Portland, Miami, Minnesota, and San Antonio…current coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
12. Willis Reed - Grambling (La.) (1961-63-64) – led Tigers to 1961 championship and 3^rd place finish in 1963…scored 265 points in 12 tournament games and led the event in that category in 1963…named to all-time NAIA team (1952-70)…NAIA Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1981…distinguished pro career with NY Knicks, recognized as one off the all-time great centers…NAIA Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1975…currently the New York Knicks Special Basketball Advisor
13. Dennis Rodman - Southeastern Oklahoma State (1982-86) –He was a First-Team NAIA All-American in each of his three seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State, leading all NAIA players in rebounding as a junior (15.9 rpg) and as a senior (17.8). In the 1986 National Tournament he averaged 27.4 points and 19 rebounds per game. He lasted into the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft, when the Detroit Pistons selected him with the 27th overall pick. Rodman went on to an eccentric 14 year career in the NBA, winning 5 NBA championships and being regarded as one of the best rebounders ever to play the game.
14. Jack Sikma – Illinois Wesleyan University – 3 –time NAIA All-American from 1975-77. Inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1983. 6’11 center drafted by Seattle Supersonics in 1977 with the 8^th pick of the NBA draft. His #43 jersey was retired by the Sonics in 1992 after 9 years wth the club.
15. Elmore Smith - Kentucky State (1970-71) – the big "E" helped the Thorobreds to national titles in 1970 and 1971 and led the tournament in rebounding both years…two-time All-America pick…went into 1972 draft as a hardship and drafted by Buffalo in 1^st round…averaged nine blocked shots in college.
16. Clarence "Foots" Walker - West Georgia (1974) – "Foots" played in only one NAIA tournament, but was named the Most Valuable Player in 1974, leading the Braves to the national championship…had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists vs. Alcorn State in championship game…two-time All-America pick…playmaking guard who could score, averaged 21 points and 14.5 assists in his career…9^th pick in 1974 NBA draft by Cleveland and concluded 10-year pro career with New Jersey in 1984.
17. John Wooden - Indiana State…led Indiana State to the NAIA finals in 1948…brought the first black player to the national championship…later went on to become a Hall of Fame coach at UCLA.

See the past two issues of newsletters - Issue 3, Feb. 20 and Issue 4, Feb. 27 - for descriptions of significant events.

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This email newsletter is to keep the Kansas City Metropolitan Area aware of the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. Forward this to your friends and family so that they may sign up now to receive this newsletter.  Contact information you provide will not be shared and will be used only to provide periodic updates about the Buffalo Funds NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.  This e-newsletter is published by the tournament host, Olathe Chamber of Commerce, 142 N. Cherry, Olathe, KS 66061.

American Midwest Conference – 1 Automatic Qualifier

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference – Robert Morris College Eagles (29-3) Chicago, IL 

Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Voorhees College Tigers (12-17) Denmark, SC 

Frontier Conference – 1 Automatic Qualifier

Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference – 2 Automatic Qualifiers

Golden State Athletic Conference – 2 Automatic Qualifiers

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference – 2 Automatic Qualifiers

Mid-South Conference – 1 Automatic Qualifier

Red River Conference – 2 Automatic Qualifiers

Sooner Athletic Conference – 2 Automatic Qualifiers

TranSouth Athletic Conference – 1 Automatic Qualifier

Independents – 1 Automatic Qualifier

The Olathe Chamber of Commerce and the NAIA would like to send a special thank you to this year’s sponsors of the National Championship: BlueCross and BlueShield of Kansas City, Buffalo Funds, Cedar Creek Properties, DST Systems, Inc., Coca-Cola North America, City of Kansas City, Fox 4 Love Fund, Gilmore and Bell, Harlan C. Parker Insurance Agency, Inc., Hereford House, KCP&L, Metro Sports, Olathe Ford, The Kansas City Star, The Majestic Steakhouse, US Bank and all Honorary Coaches.  See the complete details on sponsors at sports.olathe.org!

Tournament Schedule
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