Some changes will be in place next week when Danville Area Community College hosts the NJCAA Division Two Men’s National Basketball Tournament. But they will likely not be noticed by fans. Tournament chairman Brian Hensgen says the NJCAA decided there should not be an opening banquet for the sixteen teams coming to Danville….
{AUDIO: ”The banquet isn’t going to be able to go off this year, but we are going to create some welcome videos that we’re going to send out to all the qualifying teams just welcoming them to our community. We’re going to have what we’re calling ‘hotel survival kits’ sent out to all the hotels with a bunch of snacks and things which are personalized to their team, so that they feel as if we put just a little extra effort into welcoming them into the community. And then we are going to recognize all of the players prior to their first game.”}
In past years each player involved in the National Tournament in Danville received medallions. But the NJCAA also decided that should not happen this year. Hensgen says he wants to keep late tournament director Dick Shockey’s vision alive honoring the players and their accomplishment getting to the National Tournament.
And not only will the players be introduced at their first game, but their coaches will be recognized as the District Coach of the Year.
Hensgen notes there will be no limitations on attendance this year at the games. And masks are optional. Teams will also be welcome to view other games – something they could not do last year because of the pandemic. Families and teams will also be able to mingle this year. That’s something else they were not allowed to do last year.
