MANKATO, Minn. - The NCAA released the 2024-25 bracket for the 64-team Division III Men's Basketball Championship on Monday morning and Bethany Lutheran (14-13) drew a first round matchup with No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan (22-5) that will be played on the campus of UChicago at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 7th. On the other side of the bracket, No. 6 Saint John's will take on UChicago at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the winners of both contests meeting on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Game Details
Location
Ratner Athletics Center
5530 S Ellis Ave
Chicago, IL, 60637
Streaming Links
Watch Live: https://athletics.uchicago.edu/sports/2023/7/21/m-basketball-live-video.aspx
Live Stats: https://athletics.uchicago.edu/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Tickets
Ticket information to come at a later time.
The Series
Friday's contest will mark the first ever meeting between the two schools.
Scouting the Vikings
Bethany comes into the game winners of 11 of their past 14 games. The senior laden group is led by Drew Sagedahl who averaged a UMAC-leading 20.9 points per game which ranks 11th off all players in the tournament while also finishing top five in rebounding in the conference at 6.6 per game. Fellow seniors Jax Madson, Dominik Bangu, and DJ Akpati also average double figures for Bethany with Madson's 17.0 points ranking sixth in the UMAC.
The Vikings have picked up their play on the defensive side of the ball in the second half of the season, as they held opponents under 45.0 percent shooting from the floor in 10 of their last 14 games after allowing their opponents to surpass that mark in 10 of their first 13. Bethany also ranks in the top 50 nationally in blocks and 10th of all teams in the tournament with 107 on the season.
Scouting the Titans
Ranked No. 16 in the latest d3hoops.com poll, Illinois Wesleyan comes into the weekend with a 22-5 record and winners of the CCIW Conference Tournament. They've had a very balanced attack with all five starters averaging over 9.3 points per game but it has been Nick Roper leading the way as he averages 15.9 to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Hakim Williams also averages double figures at 10.3 points and he quarterbacks the offense as he adds in 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals.
The Titans have been especially strong on the glass so far this season, ranking 10th in all of NCAA Division III with a rebound margin of +9.4 rebounds per game. They also rank top 20 nationally in opposing field goal percentage as they hold opponents to just a 39.0 percent field goal percentage on the season.
