The 2019 Division I NCAA Tournaments begin this week with a total of thirteen Kiwis involved - four of them from Harbour. Zara Jillings is the lone Harbour representative in the Women’s Tournament with the trio of Matt Freeman, Dan Fotu and Jack Salt suiting up in the Men’s Tournament.

The most prestigious event in NCAA Basketball, also known as March Madness and the Big Dance, features 68 teams in the Men’s Draw and 64 teams in the Women’s competition.

The former Westlake Boys and North Harbour standouts Jack Salt and Matt Freeman, are returning to the tournament for a second successive year.

In fact, Jack and the Cavaliers have progressed to the Big Dance every year during his five years (his first as a red shirt freshman) at Virginia University. The Tall Blacks centre is in good form having posted a career high 18 points (7/8FG, 4/5FT) last week against North Carolina State.

In something of an upset Virginia were ousted 69-59 at the semi-final stage of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament by Florida State. Despite the defeat Virginia are still headed to the NCAA Tournament as one of four top seeds on the back of an outstanding season in which they have won 29 games and suffered just 3 defeats. Jack will play his 132^ndgame for Virginia when they take on Gardner-Webb University on Saturday.

Matt Freeman and the Oklahoma University Sooners, like Virginia, didn’t qualify automatically but received an at-large invitation and will face the University of Mississippi in the first round on Friday. The sophomore forward has made 82 appearances for Oklahoma. This will be the Sooners sixth NCAA appearance in the last eight seasons. 

Dan Fotu and St Mary’s College California claimed automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament after the Gaels became West Coast Conference Champions by upsetting #1 ranked Gonzaga 60-47 in the Tournament Final. Dan has played in all 33 games for the Gaels making a start on four occasions in his freshman year. Cantabrian Quinn Clinton, also a freshman, has made 21 appearances for the Gaels. St Mary’s will take on Villanova in the first round on Saturday.

Zara Jillings and the Fordham University Rams were crowned Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament champions after defeating fellow Kiwi Akiene-Tera Reed and Virginia Commonwealth University 62-47 in the Conference Final last week. 

Fordham (25-8) is currently riding a 12-game winning streak but face a stiff challenge in the NCAA Tournament opening round travelling to Syracuse (24-8) ranked 12^thof the 64 competing teams. Zara, as last year, has played in every game for the Rams making that 74 consecutive appearances to date.

Fordham also have the duo of Mary Goulding (Canterbury) and Kendell Heremaia (Waikato) in its ranks.

NCAA First round games featuring Harbour players (NZ Time).

Men

Friday March 22, 12.20pm; St Mary’s (Dan Fotu & Quinn Clinton) v Villanova

Saturday March 23, 5.40am; Oklahoma (Matt Freeman) v Mississippi

Saturday March 23, 8.10am; Virginia (Jack Salt) v Gardner-Webb

Women

Sunday March 24, 6.00am; Fordham (Zara Jillings, Mary Goulding & Kendell Heremaia) v Syracuse