BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL |
No. 16 Hutchinson (28-6) vs. No. 12 Chipola (19-4)
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| When: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Where: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, KS Tipoff: 7:15 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:00 p.m. - Glen Grunwald (PBP); Dan Naccarato (Color) Video: ESPN+ X: @bluedragonsport BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Blue Dragon Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team looks for a little NJCAA Tournament revenge on Tuesday night when the No. 11-seeded Blue Dragons meet the No. 6-seed Chipola Indians.
The 16th-ranked Blue Dragons (28-6) meet the No. 12-ranked Indians (29-4) in a second-round matchup at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) at Noon with Glen Grunwald (play-by-play) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action beginning approximately at 7:00 p.m. All NJCAA Tournament games are being streamed on ESPN+.
Since going to the 24-team format in 2013 the Blue Dragons are 3-4 in second-round games. The Blue Dragons have lost their last three second-round games in 2018, 2021 and 2022. The 2022 loss came at the hands of Chipola, which defeated Tommy DeSalme's first Blue Dragon team 82-65.
The Blue Dragons advanced to the second round by winning its seventh-straight NJCAA Tournament opening-round game on Monday defeating USC Salkehatchie 98-82. Kamryn Thomas and Kernan Bundy scored 20 points each and Russell Branch came off the bench to provide a first-half spark after the Blue Dragons trailed twice by 11 points. Branch had 10 of his 12 points in the opening 20 minutes as Hutchinson rallied to lead 50-43 at halftime.
The Blue Dragons hit 11 3-pointers against USC Salkehatchie, which moved the 2023-24 Blue Dragons into third place on Hutchinson's all-time team 3-point list.
Going 10-2 in league play, Chipola won the Region 8 Tournament championship defeating Indian River State 93-80 in the quarterfinals, Tallahassee 83-68 in the semifinals and Northwest Florida State - an NJCAA Tournament at-large selection - 50-48 in the title game.
This will be the third all-time NJCAA Tournament matchup between the Blue Dragons and Indians. The first came in 1988 when Hutchinson topped Chipola in the opening round 70-64, which started the Blue Dragons' run to a first national championship.
The Blue Dragons' Jayhawk Conference-leading offense, which averages 82.5 points per game will be tested by Chipola's No. 7-ranked nationally ranked defense, which allows 63.0 points per game.
The Blue Dragons are making their 24th all-time tournament appearance. The Blue Dragons have an all-time NJCAA Tournament record of 52-27.
The Hutchinson/Chipola winner advances to the quarterfinal round and will play the Salt Lake/Connors State winner at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday.