GNAC Announces Updates to 2022 Men's & Women's Basketball Tournament Formats
The GNAC has announced there will be a 12-team postseason field for the 2022 conference tournaments.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ditching Divisions, Top-12
Set to Qualify for Tournament
WINTHROP, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference Athletic Directors' Council this week voted to approve changes in postseason format for both the 2022 GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, as announced on Friday by the league office.
Rather than the top-4 teams by division qualify for an eight-team playoff field, the top-12 teams regardless of division will qualify for this year's postseason tournament. The top-four teams will receive automatic byes into the quarterfinals, and there will be no reseeding throughout.
Due to the inevitable scheduling inequities brought upon by the recent COVID-19 Omicron wave, which has caused multiple GNAC postponements in recent weeks, the GNAC athletic directors and coaches felt it best to adjust the original tournament format for this season. The increased playoff size (12-of-13) will allow for more teams the opportunity to play their way through given the unique nature of the 2021-22 campaign.
From a seeding standpoint, the newly created first-round on Tuesday, February 22 will feature 5v12, 6v11, 7v10 and 8v9 matchups, with the top-four seeds receiving a bye into the quarterfinals the following day on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
The semifinals are now scheduled for Friday, Feb. 25, with the GNAC Championship tilt to follow on Sunday, Feb. 27 (the original GNAC Tournament schedule called for a Tues-Thurs-Sat eight-team format).
Details are subject to change as GNAC administrators continue to adhere to local and campus guidelines and weigh the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
FIRST ROUND: Tues, Feb. 22
QUARTERFINALS: Wed, Feb. 23
SEMIFINALS: Fri, Feb. 25
CHAMPIONSHIP: Sun, Feb. 27
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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