The Indian Hills Men's Basketball team will be making its 17^th all-time appearance at the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship in Hutchinson, KS as the Warriors earned the No. 7 seed in the upcoming tournament. The Warriors, who received a first round bye, will open up play at 8:30 PM Tuesday, March 15 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

With a first round bye, the Warriors will play the winner of No. 10 Northwest Florida State and No. 23 Trinidad State (CO) who will square off at 4:30 PM Monday.

DETAILS

SENDING THE WARRIORS OFF TO HUTCH

The team will be making the trip south to Hutchinson with a departure time of 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. The Warriors will be leaving from the Hellyer Center parking lot and students, faculty and staff, and fans of Warrior Nation are encouraged to come out and send the Warriors off to 'Hutch'.

*Fans that purchased apparel from the Indian Hills team store are able to pick up their gear at the Hellyer Center Friday and Saturday, 12-5 PM and at 10:00 AM on Sunday.

HOW TO WATCH IN OTTUMWA

Fans in Ottumwa and surrounding areas will have a number of ways to watch with the local Warrior fanbase.

• Indian Hills will host an on-campus watch party, open to students, faculty and staff, and the community in the Formal Lounge.
• Godfrey's Ale House in Ottumwa will stream each Indian Hills game throughout the tournament.
• Warehouse Barbecue Co. & Brewhouse will stream each Indian Hills game throughout the tournament.
• GoHillsTV will provide an audio-only broadcast of all Indian Hills games throughout the tournament. Fans can tune into GoHillsTV on Facebook or KIIC 96.7 FM.
• Fans can purchase pay-per-view options of their own via the NJCAA Network
  • One Day Pass: $10.00
  • Championship Pass: $30.00

HEADING TO THE GAME(S)?

The Indian Hills fanbase has long been known to fill the grandstands at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. Whether 2022 will be your first trip to 'Hutch' or your 17^th, here's everything you need to know if you're making the trek.

• Prior to tip-off, Indian Hills will host a special edition of the Coaches Show at 7:30 PM Monday night at AJ's Sports Grill in downtown Hutchinson (1221 E. 23^rd Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502). The Warriors will be in attendance for a meet-and-greet with the fans.
• Fans attending the games have options to purchase tickets:
  • All-session tickets, which are good for the duration of the tournament, are $65.00
  • Single session tickets, including Tuesday night's game, will give you admission to the two games prior to Indian Hills' matchup, as well as the Warriors' game. Single session tickets cost $8.00 - $14.00.
  • Tickets can be purchased here: NJCAA DI MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKETS
  • Looking for hotels? Visit: 2022 NJCAA DI MEN'S BASKETBALL ACCOMODATION LISTINGS
  • Down time between games? Visit: HUTCHINSON VISITOR'S GUIDE

WARRIORS AT HUTCH

• 2022 marks the 17^th appearance at 'Hutch' for the Warriors, and first since 2019. The Warriors earned a berth in 2020, but the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19.
• The 17 tournament appearances are tied for the eighth-most all-time. Indian Hills also claims the third-most consecutive appearances in NJCAA history with its seven year run from 2014-2020.
• Indian Hills enters the tournament as a No. 7 seed for the first time in program history. The tournament moved to a fully-seeded bracket in 2013. This will be the fifth-time in eight tournaments that the Warriors have earned a single-digit seed, including a pair of No. 1 seeds in 2014 and 2018.
• Head coach Hank Plona will be making a program record sixth appearance at Hutch.
• The Warriors are three-time NJCAA National Champions (1997, 1998, 1999) and have 10 top-16 finishes and seven top-eight finishes, including a runner-up finish in 2014.
• The Warriors' first-ever tournament appearance came in 1993.
• The Warriors are 27-17 all-time at the national tournament.

HOW WE GOT HERE

• The Warriors (27-5) claimed its 14^th district championship in program history by defeating Dawson (MT) 115-99 at the Hellyer Center on March 5. The Warriors also claimed the NJCAA Region XI title with a win over Southeastern, the team's 19^th all-time region title.
• Indian Hills has won 13 consecutive games heading into the national tournament, the longest active streak of any team in the nation.
• The Warriors are a combined 12-1 on the year in true road/neutral contests.

SIZING UP THE RAIDERS

• No. 10 seed Northwest Florida State received one of eight at-large bids to the tournament with a 26-5 overall record after falling in the NJCAA Region VIII semifinal round to eventual champion Chipola.
• Ranked No. 11 in the final NJCAA poll, the Raiders jumped out to a 21-1 record before dropping four of its final nine contests.
• The Raiders have won two national championships and rank 10^th all-time in tournament wins with 34.
• The Warriors are 1-2 all-time against Northwest Florida State. Indian Hills edged the Raiders 89-88 in Niceville, FL in 2013. The Raiders have won the last two matchups - an 86-72 decision at the Hellyer Center in 2018 and a 65-64 victory in Niceville, FL in 2019.

SIZING UP THE TROJANS

• Winners of the Northwest Plains District Championship, No. 23 seed Trinidad State upset top-seeded Otero on a buzzer-beater to win its first district title since 1986.
• The Trojans are averaging 79.9 points per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the floor.
• Dejour Reaves leads the Trojans with 20.7 points per game on the year.
• Indian Hills and Trinidad State have met one time previously with the Warriors earning an 81-60 victory at the Western Nebraska Tournament in 2018.

WHAT'S NEXT?

With a win, the Warriors will advance to the quarterfinal round where they will play Thursday at 2:00 PM. The Warriors would play the winner of No. 2 Dodge City (KS) and its second round opponent, which would either be No. 15 seed Snow (UT) or No. 18 seed Lee (TX) who play Monday afternoon.