2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship “Sweet 16”

Friday and Saturday  – March 11 & 12

At Ban Johnson Arena

Snapshot of the Pioneers’ “Sweet 16” Bracket

 

March 8, 2022 by C. Jay Prescher

The 2022 NCAA Division III “Sweet 16” is coming to Marietta, Ohio. “The BanJo” is primed and ready for three more exciting college basketball games this coming Friday and Saturday. Pioneer fans need to get ready for some more “March Madness”.

The #2 nationally ranked Marietta College Pioneers earned the right to host one of the four 2022 Sweet 16 brackets. The team left standing after Saturday’s Sectional Final will head to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the NCAA Division III Final Four.

First, a look at the four schools in Marietta College’s bracket. Later in the week, a few keys that might help the Pioneers’ advance to the “Elite 8” game on Saturday. Finally, an overview of who’s left in the 2022 NCAA Division III Sweet 16 field, with a couple of hunches on which eight might survive to play on Saturday.

2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship “Sweet 16” Bracket – Marietta, Ohio

Friday and Saturday Game Schedule
Fenton Court at Ban Johnson Arena

• Game #1 @ 4:00 pm – Friday, March 11
Christopher Newport Captains (26-2) vs. Stockton University Ospreys (26-4)
• Game #2 @ 7:00 pm – Friday, March 11
Marietta College Pioneers (27-2) vs. Oswego State Lakers (27-2)
• Game #3 @ 7:00 pm – Saturday, March 12
Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner

Winner of Saturday’s “Elite 8” Sectional Final
advances to the NCAA Division III  Men’s Final Four
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Friday and Saturday March 18-19.

Tickets for “Sweet 16” games at Ban Johnson Arena can be purchased at the Marietta College Online Ticket Platform
Ticket information available on the Pioneers’ Men’s Basketball website.

The Marietta College Pioneers “Sweet 16”

A Bracket Snapshot

"Sweet 16" Bracket @ Ban Johnson Arena - Marietta College - March 11-12

When comparing the won/lost records for all NCAA DIII “Sweet 16” teams, the four set to play in Marietta, Ohio, make up the strongest foursome. Here’s a quick comparison of the Pioneers’ Sweet 16 bracket.

  • Each head coach or coaching staff playing in Marietta was named “Coach or Coaching Staff of the Year” in their respective conference
  • All four teams are ranked in the D3Hoops.com top-25 national poll
  • Marietta is ranked # 2, Christopher Newport # 4, Oswego State # 17, and Stockton # 23
  • Only one other Sweet 16 site has all four schools ranked in the top-25.
  • Marietta, Christopher Newport, Stockton, and Oswego State have collectively won a total of 106 basketball games this season
  • In 2021-2022, these four teams lost a grand total of 10 games between them
  • Current team winning streaks: Marietta, 25; Christopher Newport, 23; Stockton, 10; Oswego, 7
  • Marietta and Christopher Newport have not lost since the third weekend in November

Bracket Facts and Statistics

  • Marietta is ranked 20th in Division III in scoring offense, Christopher Newport is 47th, Oswego State is 56th, and Stockton ranks 69th in the nation
  • Marietta is the 19th best three-point shooting team in the country. Stockton is 32nd, Christopher Newport ranks 93rd, and Oswego State is 163rd
  • Oswego State is ranked 3rd in the country for creating the lowest field goal percentage on defense, Christopher Newport is 36th, Stockton ranks 102nd, and Marietta is 180th
  • Christopher Newport is ranked 7th in the nation for best rebound margin per game, Oswego State ranks 10th. The Pioneers are 64th and the Ospreys rank 157th
  • Marietta is ranked 1st in NCAA Division III in assist to turnover ratio per game
  • The Pioneers are 3rd in NCAA Division III for fewest total turnovers, the only team left in the 2022 NCAA DIII tournament in the top-50
  • Stockton ranked 9th for most three-point attempts, with 848 triples
  • Marietta College ranks 60th, with 697 total three-point attempts during the 2021-2022 season

On Friday night, a final buzzer will announce the end of that day’s final game.
Two promising seasons will have come to a disappointing end on Fenton Court.
The two teams left standing will come “dressed for battle” on Saturday.
The winner will advance to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Here’s a look at all four teams set to play in Marietta.

Marietta College Pioneers (27-2)

Marietta College is a private liberal arts college in Marietta, Ohio. Marietta was started in 1797 as the Muskingum Academy, the first institution of its kind in the Northwest Territory. In 1835, the school was officially chartered as “Marietta College”. Marietta College has an approximate full-time enrollment of 1,200 students.

Snapshot of the 2021-2022 Marietta College Pioneers Men’s Basketball Team

The 2021-2022 Marietta College Pioneers Men's Basketball Team (27-2)
  • Head coach Jon VanderWal is in his 15th season at Marietta College
  • Since 2010, the Pioneers men’s basketball team has averaged 22 wins per season
  • Marietta College plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), the third-oldest small college athletic conference in the nation
  • Marietta is currently ranked #2 in the D3Hoops.com national poll
  • The Pioneers are 27-2 overall and have won a school record 25 consecutive games
  • Marietta has won or shared seven out of the last eight regular season OAC championships
  • The Pioneers have won back-to-back regular season titles and OAC tournament championships
  • Marietta has only lost one OAC basketball game in the last two years
  • Marietta College’s 17-0 record in 2021-2022 tied the OAC record for best undefeated season in history, matching the 1938-1939 Wooster Fighting Scots
  • Marietta College has the 20th best scoring offense in the country with 84.7 PPG and the 13th best scoring margin per game
  • The Pioneers have the 19th best three-point shooting percentage in Division III
  • The 2021-2022 Pioneers have five seniors, four juniors, and 11 freshmen on their roster
  • Marietta is led in scoring by four Pioneer seniors: Jason Ellis (17.3 PPG), Lukas Isaly (15.3 PPG), Tim Kreeger (11.8 PPG), and Mason Lydic (10.8 PPG)
  • Sahmi Willoughby leads Marietta in rebounding with (7.9 RPG). Kreeger, Ellis, Lydic, Cooper Parrott, and Addy Black all average at least 3.0 rebounds per game
  • Jason Ellis has 99 assists on the season, followed by Lukas Isaly with 86
  • OAC All-Conference: First-Team All-OAC – Lukas Isaly and Jason Ellis (Dick Reynolds Player of the Year). Tim Kreeger and Mason Lydic were named honorable mention All-OAC
  • Jon VanderWal was named OAC Coach of the Year

Oswego State University Lakers (27-2)

The Lakers’ official school name is State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego, or Oswego State for short. It is a public university. Oswego was founded in 1861 as Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School. Current enrollment is approximately 6,600 undergraduates.

Snapshot of the 2021-2022 Oswego State Lakers Men’s Basketball Team

  • The Oswego State University Lakers are coached by Jason Leone in his 10th season
  • Oswego State plays in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)
  • The Lakers finished first in the SUNYAC regular season with a 17-1 record
  • Oswego is 27-2 overall and has won seven straight games
  • The Lakers are ranked # 17 in the D3Hoops.com national poll
  • Oswego State defeated SUNY Oneonta, 81-60, to win the SUNYAC tournament
  • This is Oswego State’s third appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16
  • The Lakers average 81.1 points per game and surrender 60
  • Oswego State ranks 6th best in the country for scoring defense
  • At 21 points per game, Oswego has the 3rd best scoring margin in the nation
  • The Lakers have six seniors and five juniors on the roster
  • Oswego State has eight players 6’5” or taller
  • The Lakers are led by Devin Green (11.8 PPG), Jeremiah Sparks (11.6 PPG), Julien Crittendon (10.7 PPG), and Christian Simmons (10.0 PPG). In Oswego’s two 2022 NCAA tournament games, Jamal Achille leads the team in scoring with (19.5 PPG).
  • Green, Sparks, Simmons, and Brendan Mulson all average over five rebounds per game
  • Sparks leads the Lakers in assists with 79, followed by Ahkee Anderson with 75.
  • SUNYAC All-Conference: Jeremiah Sparks first-team, Devin Green second-team, Julien Crittendon and Brendan Mulson third-team
  • The Oswego State coaching staff was named the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year

Christopher Newport University Captains (27-2)

Christopher Newport University is a public university in Newport News, Virginia. The school was founded in 1960. CNU is named for “Captain Christopher Newport”, the captain of a ship that carried settlers to Jamestown. Christopher Newport has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,600 students.

Snapshot of the 2021-2022 Christopher Newport Captains Men’s Basketball Team

  • The Christopher Newport Captains are coached by John Krikorian. CNU has had four coaches in 53 seasons.
  • Under Krikorian, the Captains made their first two Final Four appearances, in 2016 and 2019
  • Christopher Newport is a member of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (C2C)
  • Christopher Newport beat Mary Washington, 80-69, to win the inaugural C2C tournament and an automatic NCAA bid
  • The Captains are making their 25th NCAA tournament appearance overall and sixth consecutive
  • Including making two DIII Final Four appearances, CNU is in its fifth Sweet 16 since 2015. The Captains have made nine Sweet 16s in school history
  • The 2020 NCAA Championship was canceled, with CNU set to play in the Sweet 16
  • Since 2011-2012, Christopher Newport won at least 20 games in nine out of ten seasons. The Captains did not play in 2020-2021
  • The Captains are 26-2 overall this year
  • Christopher Newport averages 81.7 points per game and surrenders 66.0
  • The Captains are ranked 10th in the nation in scoring margin at 15 points per game
  • Christopher Newport has four seniors on its roster, including one 5th senior and one graduate student. There are four juniors on the Captains’ roster
  • The Captains have six players, each 6’6” or taller
  • CNU is led in scoring by Jahn Hines (15.0 PPG), Jason Aigner (12.8 PPG), and Trey Barber (11.4 PPG). Both Darian Peterson and Ty Henderson average over (9.0 PPG)
  • Barber and Peterson both average (8.0 RPG), and Hines averages (6.9 RPG)
  • Henderson leads the Captains with 85 assists, and Hines and Peterson both have 64
  • All C2C Honors: First-team – Jahn Hines (C2C Player of the Year), Trey Barber, and Jason Aigner. Darian Peterson was named to the Second-team. Coach Krikorian was named C2C Coach of the Year

Stockton University Ospreys (26-4)

Stockton University is a public university located in Galloway Township, New Jersey. The Stockton University campus is approximately 20 minutes from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The school was founded in 1969, and has an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students.

Snapshot of the 2021-2022 Stockton Ospreys Men’s Basketball Team

  • The Stockton Ospreys are coached by Scott Bittner,in his sixth season
  • The Ospreys play in the New Jersey Athletic Conference
  • Stockton won the regular-season conference title with a record of 15-3
  • The Ospreys defeated Rowan, 95-91, to win the NJAC tournament and earn the conference’s automatic NCAA bid
  • Stockton University’s overall NCAA tournament record is 25-18
  • In 2009, the Ospreys lost to Washington University in the championship final, 61-52
  • Stockton averages (80.5 PPG) and gives up (68.1 PPG), which is the 24th best scoring margin in the nation
  • D. J. Campbell leads Stockton in scoring at (20.2 PPG), 46th best in the country. Luciano Lubrano averages (14.4 PPG), Kadian Dawkins (12.1 PPG), and Kyion Flanders (11.2 PPG)
  • Campbell leads the Ospreys in rebounding at (5.8 RPG), followed by Flanders at (5.2 RPG) Four other Ospreys average over four rebounds per game
  • Dawkins leads Stockton with 136 assists, tied for 36th best in the nation
  • Campbell and Flanders rank 19th and 33rd in the nation for total steals
  • Stockton ranks 28th in the country as a team for total steals
  • The Ospreys have three seniors and 12 juniors on their roster
  • Stockton has four players, each 6’5” or taller
  • There are no freshmen on the Ospreys’ active roster
  • Campbell and Flanders were both first-team All-NJAC. Dawkins was an All-NJAC honorable mention. Campbell was named the NJAC Player of the Year
  • Head coach Scott Bittner was named NJAC Coach of the Year

Fenton Court at Ban Johnson Arena – Marietta College

Ban Johnson Arena is quiet at the moment. But "The BanJo" won't be quiet come Friday night!

Ban Johnson Arena, on the campus of Marietta College, is one of four host sites for the 2022 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship Sweet 16. These are four of the best 25 small college basketball teams in the nation coming to Marietta, Ohio.

Everyone snagging their ticket to the “Sweet 16 at The BanJo” this weekend can expect to see some outstanding games. The second of Friday’s games will involve our own Marietta College Pioneers. Pioneer fans hope there’s another “call to duty” on Saturday night.

It’s NCAA March Madness, small college style. When our Pioneers take the court, they’ll be on a mission. Pioneer fans need to be “Loud and Proud”! The BanJo needs to go “Delirious”!

The Word Jester is not employed by Marietta College, and is not affiliated with the Ohio Athletic Conference or D3 Hoops.com

The opinions expressed in this article are the exclusive viewpoints of the author.

They do not reflect the points of view, policies, or principles of any outside agency or organization.

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