NCAA Basketball Tournament graphic MBB WBB

NCAA Tournament Preview: Both Basketball Teams Ready for Postseason Journey

3/5/2026 10:57:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

JCU Women's Basketball will host, while Men's Basketball is in central Illinois

For the first time since 2015, both John Carroll Basketball teams are playing in March.

With the fun of the NCAA Tournament set to begin, it's time to lock in and support the Blue Streaks. If you can make it to the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center, the John Carroll Women's Basketball team would love your support. After all, this is the first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament that the DeCarlo Center has seen.

But if you're out of town or are tied up, then you can watch the games from the comfort of your own home and listen to WJCU broadcasts.

Before you read about the games, here are important links and information about how to follow the games. NCAA Tournament games are streamed via Hudl TV on NCAA Champs Pass (more on that below), but John Carroll Sports Information students will continue coverage for the home women's basketball games.

QUICK LINKS

Women's Basketball:
Live Stats
Tickets
Listen on WJCU.org or WJCU 88.7 FM

Men's Basketball:
Live Stats
Listen on WJCU.org or WJCU 88.7 FM

CLICK HERE TO WATCH JCU BASKETBALL

Click the link above, then under the Winter Championships headline, select DIII Women's Basketball or DIII Men's Basketball and select the game you want to watch.

NCAA Championship Pass can also be found on Roku, Amazon Fire, or Apple TV.

Women's Basketball
Immaculata University vs. SUNY New Paltz, 5:30 pm
JCU vs. The College of New Jersey, 8 pm
University Heights / DeCarlo Center

History is set to be made when the jump ball happens on Friday evening, as University Heights will see NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament action for the first time in the 56-year history of the JCU Women's Basketball program.

The #11 Blue Streaks are excited to host, though eager to avenge a loss in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Still, by virtue of a difficult conference schedule (the NCAC got 4 teams into the tournament for the first time ever), JCU garnered the #9 spot in the NPI selection rankings.

This is a John Carroll team with ample 3-point shooting but also an outstanding defense. Along the way to the NCAC final, JCU held four straight foes under 50 points for the first time since 1977-78. This Blue Streaks squad finds joy in defense, which could take this JCU team far in the tournament.

But the 3-point shooting really does wow the fans. Graci Semptimphelter and Ava Ryncarz form the top tandem, as both rank in the top-10 nationally in 3-point categories. Ryncarz owns both the career and single-game record for triples and is approaching the single-season program record. Nicci Finazzo, Brooke Laub, and others can also drain shots from downtown when open.

Carly Perusek, an All-NCAC pick alongside Semptimphelter, primes the pump for the offense with strong defense. Kaylie McKenney is another key cog as a playmaking forward for JCU.

The College of New Jersey will face JCU at 8 pm. The Lions enter as one of the lower ranked teams in terms of NPI in the tournament, but TCNJ is coming off of a win over #23 William Paterson. The Lions won the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament title, 78-55, the program's first conference crown since 2008. However, the Lions do have the best NCAA playoff record of the four-team pod, with a 16-13 all-time mark.

Katie Fricker helps to power the Lions. The senior captain topped the team with 17 points in the NJAC Championship. A second team All-NJAC pick, Frick averages 11.8 points per game. Meanwhile, Amanda Baylock is the team's top shooter, ranked in the top 25 nationally with 2.6 makes per game. The sophomore poured in a career-best 33 points earlier this year vs. Kean.

The preceding First Round game between Immaculata and SUNY New Paltz should also be a great game for basketball fans.

Immaculata may sound familiar to movie-goers, as the 2009 movie, "The Mighty Macs," helped to popularize Immaculta's three-peat of national championships in the AIAW (the women's precursor to the NCAA) from 1972-74. The Mighty Macs are making the program's second straight postseason appearance and third overall in the NCAA following a 74-49 conquest in the Atlantic East Championship. Immaculata stands at 24-3 overall on the year with a 16-game win streak. Last season, the Mighty Macs lost an 87-42 game at Ohio Wesleyan in the First Round.

Carly Coleman is the heart of the Mighty Macs. The AEC Championship MVP netted her 18th double-double of the season in the win over Marywood, notching 20 points and 13 rebounds. Coleman is averaging 17.2 points per game and also plays excellent defense. Olivia Ettorre helps facilitate things with 56 assists on the year as well as a 12.6 points per game average. She was a Second Team All-AEC pick as a senior.

SUNY New Paltz is a powerhouse making the program's eighth postseason appearance. The Hawks rolled for an eighth and final SUNYAC appearance before New Paltz moves to the NJAC next year. The Hawks are ranked #21 in the latest D3hoops.com poll, riding a 17-game win streak and a 25-2 overall record.

Brianna Fitzgerald is one of the best players in this tournament, if not Division III. The graduate student suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 before returning this season better than ever. The Dix Hills, New York native has twice been named an All-American and thrice been honored as an All-Region and SUNYAC Player of the Year. The 5'10" star tops the team with 17.5 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game, plus a team-high 99 assists, 91 steals, and 36 blocks. Back on January 23, Fitzgerald recorded the NCAA's first quadruple-double since 2020. Other playmakers abound on the roster, including Ramapo College transfer Karly Wittenbauer, who enters with 12.4 ppg and 5.8 rpg.

The winners of Game 1 and Game 2 will meet on Saturday at 8 pm in the DeCarlo Center.

Men's Basketball
JCU vs. Grinnell College, 5:10 pm
Bloomfield, IL / Shirk Center

If you enjoy watching a fast brand of basketball, this game is for you.

John Carroll likes to play quickly, but Grinnell plays at a frenetic pace. The Pioneers love to play quick defense and then go back down the court and fire up 3-pointers. Grinnell stands second in the country in points per game (103.6), steals per game (15.4), and 3-point attempts (39.2). By shooting plentiful shots, Grinnell gets more offensive rebounds per game (17.8) and free throw attempts per game (30.1) than just about anyone else in Division III.

The Pioneers dominated the Midwest Conference Tournament Championship, beating Monmouth College, 85-56. "The System" as it's called, has powered Grinnell to the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Gabe Garcia, a first team All-Midwest Conference pick, tops the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game. Zach Rosen, a second team conference selection, averages 11.6 points per game and helps to anchor the defense. Speaking of defense, Tyler Copes won the MWC's Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year awards while leading Grinnell with 2.6 blocks per game, along with 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Grinnell generally likes to play a 5-in, 5-out system that Mike Moran's teams used to play, though the Pioneers like to play deeper into the bench. The NCAA allows you to dress 15 players, expect each and every one of the 15 Pioneers to play significant minutes.

John Carroll is not as deep, but most definitely is excited at the prospect of playing fast. Luke Chicone thrives on shooting quick open 3-pointers early in possessions, as fans saw in the NCAC Tournament Championship game vs. Denison.

The Blue Streaks' speed will be tested following the program's third straight conference tournament title. JCU's quickness has certainly been an important factor in the team making a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Chicone, the recently crowned NCAC Player of the Year and NCAC Top Defensive Player, set the school's single-season scoring record on Saturday. His jaw-dropping ability to find the open man on a no-look pass and ability to swipe an unsuspecting opponent and race down the court for a layup are fun to watch.

Kasey Hunt joins him as a bigtime scoring threat. The senior was just distinguished as a Second Team All-NCAC pick, as the star stands second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. Kyle Irwin and Aidan Fitzgerald have both become prolific 3-point threats.

Saint Ignatius budding stars Jack Zapolnik and Mike Lamirand will likely be key if the team wants to make a run. Veterans such as Sean Collins and Brandon Rose will be vital to help anchor JCU emotionally and physically.

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