Schedule
QF 1 -- #3 Ashland (22-9) vs #6 Ferris St. (23-8) | 12 PM ET, Saturday, March 11 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
QF 2 -- #2 Missouri-St. Louis (21-10) vs #7 Wisconsin-Parkside (21-8) | 2:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 11 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
QF 3 -- #1 UIndy (26-4) vs #8 McKendree (18-12) | 5 PM ET, Saturday, March 11 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
QF 4 -- #4 Hillsdale (23-6) vs #5 Northern Michigan (24-7) | 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 11 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
SF 1 – QF 1 winner vs QF 2 winner | 5 PM ET, Sunday, March 12 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
SF 2 – QF 3 winner vs QF 4 winner | 7:30 PM ET, Sunday, March 12 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
F – SF 1 winner vs SF 2 winner | 7 PM ET, Tuesday, March 14 | Nicoson Hall | Indianapolis, IN
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Projected Starters
#1 UIndy: #1 Kendrick Tchoua, Jr., C, Silver Spring, MD/Benet Academy (14.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg); #2 Josiah Tynes, Jr., G, North Preston, Nova Scotia/Regina Mundi Catholic/Santa Fe College (8.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg); #3 Jesse Bingham, So., G, Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central (15.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3 apg, 1.1 bpg); #15 Bruno Williams, Sr., G/F, Milwaukee, WI/Wisconsin Lutheran/Lewis (8.5 ppg, 1 spg); #23 Jakobie Robinson, Sr., F, Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central/McKendree (6.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg)
#2 UMSL: #3 Matt Enright, Fr., G, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves (7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg); #11 Isaiah Fuller, Jr., G, Oak Park, IL/Oak Park and River Forest (15.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 spg); #22 Bowen Sandquist, Sr., G, Johnston, IA/Johnston/Midland University (11.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg); #23 Drew Cisse, Jr., F, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo/San Diego City College (4.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg) #32 Victor Nwagbarocha, Sr., G, Milwaukee, WI/St. Pius XI/Drury (10.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.5 spg)
#3 Ashland: #1 Brandon Haraway, Sr., G, Norwalk, OH/Norwalk (16.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.9 apg); #10 Simon Wheeler, Fr., G, Detroit, MI/Phoenix Prep (10.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.4 spg); #23 James Manns, Sr., F, Columbus, OH/Kingston Prep/Wright State (9.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg); #33 Ethan Conley, Sr., G, Dayton, OH/Franklin Monroe (6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg); #35 Victor Searls, Jr., C, Hilliard, OH/St. Charles (12 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
#4 Hillsdale: #2 Kyle Goessler, Sr., F, Brunswick, OH/Brunswick (11.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg); #3 Jack Gohlke, Sr., G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (13.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg); #5 Cole Nau, Sr, G, Brookfield, WI/Central (6.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg); #20 Peter Kalthoff, Sr., F, Hillsdale, MI/Hillsdale Academy (13.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg); #33 Joe Reuter, So., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (12.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
#5 Northern Michigan: #3 Max Weisbrod, Fr., G, DeForest, WI/DeForest (12.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5 apg); #4 Max Bjorklund, Sr., Orono, MN/Orono/Bemidji St. (20.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg); #5 Carson Smith, So., Menomonee Falls, WI/Hamilton Sussex (7 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.2 spg); #25 Dylan Kuehl, Fr., F, Hustisford, WI/Hustisford (12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg); #34 Sam Privet, Fr., Caledonia, MN/Caledonia (5.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
#6 Ferris St.: #00 Dolapo Olayinka, Jr., F, Chicago, IL/Nigeria/Mather/Northern Michigan (9.7 ppg, 6 rpg); #3 Ben Davidson, Jr., G, St. Clair, MI/St. Clair (13.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg); #11 Solomon Oraegbu, So., G, Chicago, IL/Fenwick/Parkside (18 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.2 spg); #23 Mykel Bingham, So., F, Grand Rapids, MI/Catholic Central (6.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg); #24 Jimmy Scholler, So., G, Grand Rapids, MI/Forest Hills Central (5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.7 apg)
#7 Parkside: #1 Rasheed Bello, So., G, Chicago, IL/DePaul Prep (18 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.5 spg); #3 Josiah Palmer, So., G, Flossmor, IL/Homewood-Flossmor (11.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg); #12 Nick Brown, So., F, Elkhorn, WI/Elkhorn Area (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg); #20 Colin O'Rourke, So., F, Plainfield, IL/North (11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.1 bpg); #24 Jamir Simpson, So., F, Lima, OH/Lima/Pikesville (14.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
#8 McKendree: #1 Eric Powell II, Sr., G, Lexington, KY/Lafayette/Asbury (12.2 ppg); #2 Carson Parker, Jr., G, Nashville, IL/Nashville (3.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) #3 Caleb Zurliene, So., G/F, Aviston, IL/Mater Dei Catholic/Purdue Northwest (10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 spg, 2.2 bpg); #13 Bryson Bultman, Sr., G, Nashville, IL/Nashville (16.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.2 spg); #31 Milos Vicentic, Jr., F, Belgrade, Serbia/OKK Belgrade (16.3 ppg, 5 rpg)
Scouting the Contenders
#1 UIndy: A tradition-rich program, Indianapolis captured the top seed for Midwest Regional thanks to an 18-game win streak from the beginning of December to mid-February, capturing the GLVC regular season title in the process.
The Greyhounds have a potent and deep lineup headlined by GLVC Player of the Year Kendrick Tchoua, a rugged post-presence, and the scoring punch of fellow GLVC first-teamer Jesse Bingham. But while Indy's offense has been a big part of their success, it's a GLVC-best scoring defense that's been the true key to getting the top seed.
Two of UIndy's four losses have come in the last two games, both to #2 Missouri-St. Louis, and that wobble means the Greyhounds are no longer an overwhelming favorite to win their first-ever regional title – but their talent level and overall resume ensures they remain the favorite, nonetheless.
#2 UMSL: It's been an up-and-down season for the Tritons, who opened the year with a 12-0 start and looked like the favorites to host the regional as 2023 started, before going 6-8 in their next 14 games and playing themselves onto the NCAA Tournament bubble. A strong finish that saw UMSL beat top seeded Indianapolis twice in two weeks, however, has the Tritons safely in the field and back among the top contenders for the Midwest Regional crown.
UMSL reached the Midwest Regional final in 2022 but graduated all five starters and returned just two of the 13 players that saw the court for that team this season. However, the Tritons have reloaded around holdover Isaiah Fuller, who led UMSL in scoring and earned GLVC Defensive Player of the Year honors this season. Transfers Bowen Sandquist, Victor Nwagbarocha and Donovan Vickers have provided scoring punch, while freshman point guard Matt Enright has stepped right into the starting lineup and excelled.
There's no denying the Tritons are one of the favorites to break through and win their first DII Regional title since 1971-72, but UMSL will need to show more consistency to get through a tough draw and claim the crown.
#3 Ashland: The G-MAC Tournament champions, Ashland is surging into the NCAA Tournament on the back of an impressive weekend and 10 wins in their last 11 games against DII competition.
G-MAC Player of the Year Brandon Haraway has been a dominant force for the Eagles this season, while G-MAC Freshman of the Year Simon Wheeler has quickly developed into one of the top point guards in the Midwest Region in his first season. Wright State transfer James Manns is a strong contributing piece, while Ashland's post rotation of junior Victor Searls and redshirt freshman Maceo Williams gives the Eagles physicality that's hard to match inside.
The Eagles have a tough draw with perennial NCAA Tourney participant Ferris State in the first round, but have the tools to navigate another bracket unscathed if they can put it all together for a second straight weekend.
#4 Hillsdale: The defending 2022 Midwest Regional champions, Hillsdale was written off by many at the start of the season after 2022 Midwest Region Player of the Year Patrick Cartier transferred to Division I, but the experienced Chargers rallied to put together an excellent 23-win season and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight campaign.
Hillsdale's veteran lineup includes four senior starters, including three who were in the starting lineup for the Chargers in last year's Midwest Regional title run – sharpshooting first-team All-G-MAC guard Jack Gohlke, second-team All-G-MAC guard Kyle Goessler, and experienced point guard Cole Nau. The emergence of center Peter Kalthoff, also a first-team All-G-MAC player, has meant the Chargers have remained strong in the post in Cartier's absence, while 2022 G-MAC Freshman of the Year Joe Reuter has continued to build as a starter, earning second-team All-G-MAC honors in 2022-23.
While Hillsdale isn't the favorite to bring home a second-straight Midwest Region title, its experienced, battle-tested lineup and stingy defense that concedes just 62.8 points per game mean that no one will be surprised if the Chargers end up lifting the trophy again this weekend.
#5 Northern Michigan: The high-scoring Wildcats emerged from a chaotic GLIAC Tournament to claim the title and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2000. NMU averages 80 points a game behind star guard Max Bjorklund, who averages 20 points by himself.
Freshmen Max Weisbrod and Dylan Kuehl have been huge additions, averaging double figures for the Wildcats, who enter the Midwest Regional having won nine of their last 10 games. A big factor in that recent run has been the return from injury of sophomore post Sam Schultz, a standout as a freshman who is rounding into form and providing instant offense in the post off the bench for the Wildcats.
NMU has a tough opening-round matchup in Hillsdale, who beat the Wildcats at home by 21 points, but that result was several months ago, and neither team is the same as it was then. The Wildcats also didn't have Schultz, who missed the game with an injury. A healthier NMU could be a dark horse in the region this weekend.
#6 Ferris State: Historically one of the best teams in the Midwest Region, year in and year out, two losses in their final three games, including a GLIAC Tourney semifinal defeat to NMU, have the Bulldogs seeded lower than many probably expected at the start of the season.
But make no mistake, this is still a dangerous squad that could run the table this weekend. Despite suffering heavy graduation losses from last year's GLIAC Championship squad, Ferris has reloaded around its lone returning starter, forward Jimmy Scholler, and gotten huge contributions from All-GLIAC First Team guards Ben Davidson and Solomon Oraegbu, who've stepped into starting roles this year. The Bulldogs also have a deep bench led by one of the Midwest Region's top sixth men, Ethan Erickson.
With no seniors in the lineup and only two juniors starting, Ferris State might be a year or two away from a truly great squad, but the pieces are in place for the Bulldogs to arrive a season early this weekend if it all comes together.
#7 Parkside: The Rangers ended a six-year tourney drought with a special season in 2022-23, claiming the outright GLIAC regular season title. A first-round upset to eighth-seeded Michigan Tech in the GLIAC Tournament slid Parkside down the seeding list, but the Rangers are still in the tournament, three wins from the title, and capable of doing damage.
For Parkside, it all starts with sophomore Rasheed Bello, the 2022-23 GLIAC Player of the Year, who leads the team in scoring, assists and steals. But the Rangers are far from a one-man show -- fellow sophomores Josiah Palmer, Jamir Simpson and Colin O'Rourke are all double-figure scorers as well, while fifth starter Nick Brown is close.
A young lineup may explain some of the up-and-down results for Parkside this season, as the Rangers have a significant number of both exciting victories and blowout losses in 2022-23. But the bottom line is this is a talented team, and one that could make a deep run if it can get past an UMSL team that beat them by 22 on New Year's Eve earlier this season.
#8 McKendree: A true Cinderella story, the Bearcats were nowhere near the NCAA Tournament field when the GLVC Tournament started last week, but after pulling off three straight upsets, the Bearcats claimed the title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tourney for the first time in school history.
While McKendree will be a huge underdog in the field this weekend, the Bearcats have momentum on their side, and enough talent to potentially stick around for a while. Senior guard Bryson Bultman has long been one of the GLVC's top players, but McKendree has taken another step this season with the emergence of Milos Vicentic as a credible top scoring threat. Guards Eric Powell and Caleb Zurliene are also solid offensive players for the Bearcats.
In order to stick in the NCAA Tourney, McKendree will have to upset a UIndy squad that beat the Bearcats by 25 in their lone meeting this season, and it'll have to do so on the Greyhounds' home floor. But if there's one truth everyone knows in March, it's that you can never count out a motivated underdog.
Other Notes
- Among the eight programs in the 2023 NCAA Midwest Regional, Ferris State leads in terms of appearances, making their 16th trip this season, and also is the only school to capture a NCAA DII national title, in 2018. Ashland is second with 14 appearances and three regional titles, most recently in 1990-91, while host UIndy has 13 appearances but is seeking their first-ever regional title. Northern Michigan has nine all time tournament appearances and two regional titles, but is in the tourney for the first time since 2000, while the Wildcats' first-round opponent, Hillsdale, has eight appearances and is the defending regional champion. Parkside has seven appearances and is in the tournament for the first time since 2016-17, while UMSL is making its sixth trip, with a regional title in 1971-72. McKendree is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after reclassifying from NAIA in 2011-12.
- Hillsdale is 5-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament appearances, and making an unprecedented third-straight trip to the Dance. Four of Hillsdale's five NCAA Tournament wins have come in the last two seasons, including three to win last year's Midwest Regional title. The Chargers have made it to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons and will look to continue their streak this winter.
- Hillsdale has a 24-29 record in a long series against Northern Michigan dating back to 1974-75, but are 11-3 in the last 14 contests against the Wildcats, including a 74-53 victory at Hillsdale on Nov. 20 this season.
- When the Chargers recorded their 23rd win of the season by beating Cedarville on Tuesday, the 2022-23 squad joined a short list of the best teams in program history, becoming one of just 10 squads in the 123-year run of men's basketball at Hillsdale College to reach 23 wins in a season. The all-time record for wins in a season is 28, set by the Chargers' NAIA Final Four squad in 1980-81, while Hillsdale's wins record as an NCAA DII member is 24, set in 2011-12.
- Already the winningest head coach in Hillsdale College history, John Tharp achieved a special milestone on February 16, as Hillsdale's 90-64 win over Malone was his 500th win as a college coach. That victory makes him just the 17th active coach at the NCAA DII level to reach the 500 win mark. Tharp is also closing in on another milestone, needing just three victories to become the first Charger men's basketball coach with 300 wins in program history, a possibility if the Chargers can make a postseason run.
- In dealing with the graduation of All-American center Patrick Cartier, the Chargers have replaced one of the best players in program history with impressive offensive balance. Six different Chargers have led Hillsdale in scoring in the first 29 games, and four players are averaging 11 or more points per game, with point guard Cole Nau and reserve Charles Woodhams each chipping in over six points a game as well. The ability to get significant scoring punch from all five positions is helping the Chargers pose real problems for defenses so far in the 2022-23 season.
- Centers Peter Kalthoff and Eric Radisevic barely saw the court before this season, with just a combined 179 minutes played in the last three years, but have done an admirable job filling the void in the middle left by Cartier. Kalthoff is currently second on the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game and has been named the G-MAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week three times. Radisevic also is chipping in 5.9 points per contest off the bench for the Chargers as its top post substitute.
- Chargers senior Jack Gohlke had a game to remember in an 82-73 loss to Ashland on Thursday, Feb. 2, going 10 for 19 from the 3-point line to tie the Chargers' single-game record set by Tim Homan against Saginaw Valley State on Dec. 13, 2007. Gohlke has worked his way into the Chargers' record books as a sharpshooter – his 178 career 3-pointers are the eighth-most all time by a Hillsdale player, and his 92 3-pointers in 2022-23 are third most all-time in a single season, behind Charger legends Mike Lake (105 in 1994-95) and Homan (93 in 2007-08).
- Hillsdale's Kyle Goessler has been reliable at the free throw line throughout his career as a Charger, and his 84.7% from the charity stripe to date ranks sixth all-time in Hillsdale history among men's basketball players with at least 100 made free throws – just ahead of former teammate Dylan Lowry (83.8%).