NCAA Rejects CLU’s Appeal to Move Playoff Site
The NCAA Division III basketball playoff committee has turned down Cal Lutheran’s appeal to change the site for Saturday night’s second-round game between the Kingsmen and the winner of Thursday night’s Pomona-Pitzer-UC San Diego contest.
Cal Lutheran Coach Mike Dunlap proposed that the game be played at Occidental College at 7:30 p.m. after the Division III playoff committee announced that the Kingsmen (24-2) would have to play at the home court of the winner of Thursday night’s game.
Cal Lutheran, top-seeded team in the West region, was expecting to play host to a second-round game after a first-round bye, but the size of its court (smaller than the standard 94 x 50 feet) and the limited seating capacity (800) at its gymnasium do not meet the NCAA’s specifications for a playoff site.
Moorpark College was available, but it could be guaranteed only for an afternoon game because the Raiders could be playing host to a Southern California regional final that night if the Raiders defeat Southwestern tonight.
The Division III playoff committee believed it was unfair for the Pomona-Pitzer-UC San Diego winner to have to play Saturday afternoon after playing Thursday night.
“It’s hard to get the NCAA to change anything,” Dunlap said. “Now we just need to get off of this and get on to preparing for Saturday night.”
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
