USK, BENU Face Top Seeds in Opening Round

When the 2022 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Rounds tip off this Friday, March 11, the two California Pacific Conference qualifiers will face a daunting but not insurmountable task—take down the top seed that share the distinction of compiling the most wins this season (31). California Pacific Conference champion Saint Katherine is on the road to Park City, Kan., where the Firebirds will face Oklahoma Wesleyan, and conference runner-up Benedictine-Mesa draws Loyola (La.) in the opening round and travels to New Orleans, La.

The winners at each of these sites will advance to the 2022 NAIA National Championship Final Site in Kansas City, Mo., at the 84^th annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, March 17-22.

Opening Round Schedule | NAIA Championship Bracket | NAIA Hoops

USK, the California Pacific Conference champion, is one of four newcomers to the Opening Round in this year's field. The other first-timers are Indiana Northwest, Ottawa (Ariz.), and Florida College. The Firebirds (18-7 overall) are making their first NAIA trip and do so on an 11-game win streak which includes a Cal Pac tournament sweep.

BENU (13-16) earned its trip to New Orleans by winning the Arizona pod and reaching the league final by upsetting #3 Antelope Valley and #2 Simpson. Loyola (31-1), the NAIA host team in the Naismith Quadrant, enters the national tournament riding a 15-game win streak.

OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS

LISTON QUADRANT

Host: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Park City, Kan.

March 11-12

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles (31-2)

8. IU South Bend Titans (25-6)

9. Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes (22-10)

16. Saint Katherine Firebirds (18-7)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

NAISMITH QUADRANT

Host: Loyola (La.) | New Orleans, La.

March 11-12

1. Loyola Wolf Pack (31-1)

8. Evangel Valor (22-9)

9. Florida College Falcons (30-3)

16. Benedictine-Mesa Redhawks (13-16)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS