For the third consecutive year, both Monroe Mustang basketball teams will be playing in their respective national tournaments simultaneously. The #15-ranked defending national champion Monroe women’s team will tip off in the NJCAA Division II Women’s National Tournament on Tuesday, March 20 in Peioria, IL. On that same day, 600 miles to the south, the #3-ranked men’s team will begin play in the NJCAA Division I Men’s basketball tournament in Hutchinson, KS. Both teams won District Championships on their home court at the MAC (Monroe Athletic Complex) this past weekend.
Since 1991, the Monroe men’s team has a remarkable winning percentage of .742 while the women have been even better with three national championships and an out-of-this world .817 winning percentage since 2001. Monroe is undeniably home to New York’s most successful basketball program.
“Our long standing motto is ‘together we aspire, together we achieve’,” said Athletic Director Bert Shillingford. “Our success in basketball, and all our sports for that matter, is a glowing commentary on what can happen when talented and dedicated people work in concert, including our administrators, coaches, support staff, and most important, the student/athletes themselves.”
The road to the nationals for Coach Jeff Brustad’s 30-3 men’s team has been a straight one. They finished third in the 2011 national tournament and the goal since day one has been to win it all in 2012. They were ranked #2 to start the season, but turned that into a #1 with an early season win over a top team. They were brought down to earth somewhat with their three losses through the season, but have climbed back with strong play of late, having won their last seven games.
The Mustangs won the Region title with a heart-stopping win over Harcum and then in the game that propelled them to their third straight national tournament, obliterated Hagerstown in the District final that was as much a coronation and celebration as it was a basketball game.
“The opportunity to have a team as talented and unified as this one doesn’t come around too often,” said Coach Jeff Brustad, “and with our six players who were with us at the national tournament last year, we think we’re going to give it a pretty good run in Kansas.”
All five of Monroe’s starters were named Region All-stars. Men’s national tournament information is here.
Monroe will begin play in the National Tournament on Tuesday at 12:00noon (1:00pm, NY time) against the team that emerges from District 11 (Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas).
The road for the 27-6 Monroe women has been a little bumpier. With only one returnee from their national title team, they began the season with a new coach, some player disqualifications, and other off-court issues that seemed to intrude on their play at times. But in a program known for seizing opportunity – they won last year’s National Championship as an eleven-seed – it appears that with two strong victories in the District tournament over Region champion CCRI and an overwhelming performance against Lackawana, they just might be doing it again.
“This team can be as good as it wants to be and that’s as good as anybody,” said Coach James Robinson, Jr. “We’re hoping that in Illinois our players will realize that we have a real shot to repeat and take the bull by the horns and make it happen.”
Sophomore Aivah Parham was the Region MVP and Jasmine McRoy was a First-team-all star.
The seedings and pairings for the women’s national tournament are not yet set. Women’s national tournament information is here.