We’ve played all year for this. Or more importantly, the thousands of student-athletes in Division III basketball have played all year for this.

I’m just excited to be heading to a Final Four in Salem where I’m familiar with all four teams. Usually I’m not lucky enough to see two teams at the Final Four that I have watched play four times each, but that’s what we have in Amherst and Wooster. I saw Wash U play at NYU back in February (though I have to throw that game out because what I saw does not suggest a Final Four team). We saw a Virginia Wesleyan team very similar to this one last year in Salem, and I saw them in last year’s sectionals.

On the women’s side, I’ve only seen Wash U and NYU play this year, but that’s still pretty good. Haven’t seen Mary Washington since last season and DePauw is on the to-do list, with about 600 other programs of the 800 I haven’t seen play.

We’ll have more coverage through the week but wanted to send our official congratulations to the eight teams advancing to Salem and Springfield!

And don’t forget to spring your clocks forward if you haven’t already. 🙁