You want tough? Try this tournament

Thursday the Madness that is the NCAA Tournament will continue with Sweet 16 games, but I just finished witnessing college basketball’s toughest tournament.  The NAIA wrapped up last with Oklahoma Baptist defeating Azusa Pacific 84-83 for their first national crown since 1966, Thanks to A.J. Hawkins last minute 3 pointer.  National Player of the Year Nate Brumfield made the shot possible with an offensive rebound and an assist.   

The NAIA tournament is called college’s toughest tournament because it is.  To claim the crown a team has to win five games in seven days.  The first three days of this 32 team tourney there are eight games a day.  The first contest tips off at 9am and the last game of the night usually gets going about 10:30 or 11 at night depending on how many overtime games occur earlier in the day.

This is a tournament of both mental and physical stamina.  Depending on the schedule, you might get a day off between your first and second round games and you might not, so you could be playing five games in six days to win the whole thing.  Azusa Pacific lost two starters during the tournament to injury and still managed to come within a last second shot to win it all.

Played in Kansas City’s historic Municipal Auditorium, the site of more NCAA tournament finals than any other venue, the NAIA tourney has featured such great players as Willis Reed, Lucious Jackson, Travis Grant, Dennis Rodman and Terry Porter.  Grant, who along with Elmore Smith led Kentucky State to three straight titles in the early 70’s, once poured in 60 points in a tournament game and averaged over 42 a game for the week.  

Last night as he was honored on the 40 year anniversary of Kentucky State’s first title,  Grant, who was nicknamed “Machine” told me he still has found memories of the historic building, but wished people would talk more of his 20 rebound game and defensive abilities. 

You want to talk about powerhouse programs?  Azusa Pacific was making it’s fifteenth straight trip to the tournament and Oklahoma Baptist coach Doug Tolin had his team there for the tenth time in ten years.  Despite the heartbreaking loss, Azusa coach Justin Leslie, who has played and coached in 42 tournament games, said one game doesn’t define their program.  That one day they’ll win it all, but his real job is turning these players into men who will contribute in the real world.

Now that’s a great tournament tradition.