The WashU Bears will host a pair of NCAA Tournament first round games at the WashU Field House, Friday night. (Photo: Primo Greenway)
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University men’s basketball team got a double bit of good news on Monday.
First, not only had the Bears earned an at-large bid into the 2024 NCAA Division National Championship Tournament. The team will also serve as hosts for first- and second-round games when the tournament begins this weekend on Friday and Saturday.
WashU was selected as one of 16 schools to host opening round games, with the winners advancing to the Sweet 16, which will be played next weekend at sites to be determined.
WashU’s first round opponent will be Wisconsin-Lutheran, the Northern Atlantic Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament champions. The Warriors (24-4) will be making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.
The Bears (18-7), third place finishers in the UAA, will be making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, after last missing the Big Dance in 2019 (and in 2021, when the entire tournament was cancelled due to covid).
That game will tip off at the WashU Field House on Friday at 6:50 p.m. It will be preceded by the night’s other NCAA First Round game between the University of Dubuque (21-6) and Illinois College (23-4). That contest will tip off at 4:20 p.m.
The winners of the two games will then meet in a second round game on Saturday, also at the WashU Field House, and also set to tip off at 6:50 p.m.
Friday, March 1
Game 1: Dubuque vs. Illinois College – 4:20 pm | Live Video | Live Stats
Game 2: WashU vs. Wisconsin Lutheran – 6:50 pm | Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, March 2
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 6:50 pm | Live Video | Live Stats
WashU Women Make Tournament Too
The WashU women’s team also received some good news on Monday, as it also received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Bears will go on the road to Waukesha, Wisc., to play Wisconsin-Stout in a first-round matchup. That game will also be played on Friday, with tip off set for 5:30 p.m.