Disney Classic to tip off

"The CCAA is extremely excited and happy to help sponsor this expanded Disney Classic event," CCAA Commissioner Robert J. Hiegert said. "This is a premier event and it has already proven to add to the prestige of Division II basketball. I am pleased to continue our relationship with Disney."

The tournament format calls for four games - two men's and two women's - to be played each day over three days.

The men's field will be comprised of Alaska-Anchorage, Fort Lewis College, Humboldt State, Southwest Minnesota State. The women's field will include Cal Poly Pomona, Central Washington, Concordia, St. Paul and the University of Indianapolis.

Three of the four teams on the men's side advanced to NCAA post-season play during the 2007-08 campaign. Alaska Anchorage captured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) title and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals. Senior forward Cameron Burney (5.5 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 1.3 apg.) is the lone returning starter from last year's Seawolves team that concluded the season with a program-best 29-6 overall record.

Fort Lewis College also enjoyed a program-high in wins after posting a 24-6 overall record, capturing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) before suffering a first-round loss in the NCAA Championships.

Humboldt State grabbed a share of the 2008 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title after posting a 22-8 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in conference play. After being upset in the first round of the CCAA Tournament, the Lumberjacks suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA West Regional Championships.

Sophomore guard Ernie Spada is the top returning player for Humboldt State after averaging 6.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.4 rebounds a contest.

Southwest Minnesota State registered a 17-12 overall mark a year ago and finished third in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) with an 11-7 conference mark. Junior forward Ross DeMasi returns as the Mustangs' leading scorer after averaging 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.

On the women's side, Cal Poly Pomona recorded a 12-16 overall record, including an 8-12 mark in CCAA play. After finishing third in the regular-season standings, the Broncos advanced to the second round of the CCAA Tournament.

Central Washington concluded the 2007-08 campaign with a 13-13 overall mark and placed eighth in the GNAC with a 5-13 record.

Concordia, St. Paul captured the NSIC Tournament title before suffering a first-round loss in the first round of the North Central Regional Tournament. The Golden Bears concluded last season with a 28-3 overall mark, including a 16-2 record in conference play.

The University of Indianapolis tied for first place in the East Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) with a 13-6 conference mark before falling in the opening round of the Great Lakes Regional Tournament and concluding the season with a 22-8 overall record.

Game 1 - Southwest Minnesota State vs. Alaska-Anchorage; Noon

Game 2 - Fort Lewis College vs. Humboldt State; 2:30 p.m.

Game 1- Concordia, St. Paul vs. Central Washington; 5:00 p.m.

Game 2 - Indianapolis vs. Cal Poly Pomona; 7:30 p.m.

Game 3 - Concordia, St. Paul vs. Cal Poly Pomona; Noon

Game 4 - Central Washington vs. Indianapolis;  2:30 p.m.

Game 3 - Humboldt State vs. Southwest Minnesota State; 5:00 p.m.

Game 4 - Alaska-Anchorage vs. Fort Lewis College; 7:30 p.m.

Game 5 - Fort Lewis College vs.  Southwest Minnesota State;  11:00 a.m.

Game 6 - Humboldt State vs.  Alaska-Anchorage; 1:30 p.m.

Game 5 - Indianapolis vs. Concordia, St. Paul; 4:00 p.m.

Game 6 - Cal Poly Pomona vs, Central Washington; 6:30 p.m.