Danville Area Community College officials have been informed by those in attendance at Friday’s (April 14th) meeting that the National Junior College Athletic Association Board of Regents has awarded the NJCAA Division II Basketball Championships to DACC for two more years. DACC recently completed its 30th consecutive year of hosting the tournament.
Tournament Chairman Brian Hensgen says as of now, DACC will need to bid again in two years, following the NJCAA’s latest bidding schedule. But Hensgen would love to see a permanent designation sometime in the future.
AUDIO: I’m hopeful that as we get into further conversations with the NJCAA, that they will bless our community with a designation of being the permanent host for the Division II national tournament for the foreseeable future. We continue to make upgrades to our facility; we continue to run a solid tournament.
For DACC president Dr. Stephen Nacco, he says this is a moment like what once happened at the Oscars. “They like us, they really like us.”
AUDIO: During the tournament; and the feedback we’ve gotten from the coaches, the players, and the NJCAA people; was that they really are happy to be here, and they want to stay here. And they really can’t compare the way Danville and Vermilion County support this tournament to anywhere else.
Next year, the tournament increases from 16 to 20 teams, with games beginning Monday rather than Tuesday. Brian Hensgen says; yes indeed, they’re already trying to figure it all out.
AUDIO: I think at this point it is going to be a full tournament of opportunity for all teams to get several games in during the week. But it is going to be an extra day of activity, an extra day of competition; and it’s certainly going to be a full week of activity here at Mary Miller Gymnasium.
2024 will be year number 31 of Danville Area Community College hosting the tournament.
