Firebirds Miss Tournament Selection

WASHINGTON, DC: MARCH 4, 2007—The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds did not receive the coveted invitation to the 2007 NCAA Division II Basketball Championship Tournament. UDC is not in a conference, therefore the only way they could have received a bid was to have been highly ranked in the East NCAA Region.

The Firebirds finished a remarkable season last week, with a 20-9 record, after going 1-22 in the 2005-06 season. It nearly became a Cinderella story, but the glass slippers never arrived for the Firebirds.

Never-the-less, the team treated the University community to a fun filled, exciting season during which they were ranked as high as 5th in the NCCA East Region. They gave Coach Julius L. Smith, Jr., his first 20 game season win, and with no seniors on the squad the team will be intact next year and poised to win as many and probably more games.

Twenty-two conferences have been awarded automatic qualification. The remaining 42 teams were selected at large by the committee. Seven of the regional tournaments, consisting of eight teams each, will be conducted March 10, 11 and 13 at regional sites. T

The West regional will be conducted March 9, 10 and 12. The eight quarterfinalists will advance to the finals at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, March 21, 22 and 24.

The field of 64 teams for the 2007 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship includes the perennial powerhouse Virginia Union Panthers, which was the only team UDC played this season to receive a bid to the big dance. Others going from the East Region are Barton College, Queens College (NC), West Virginia State, Alderson-Broaddus College, Millersville University, Mount Olive College, California University (PA), and West Liberty State.

Thank you Firebirds for a wonderful season.