MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College’s return to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament will take them to Wisconsin, where the Fighting Scots will face UW-Platteville on the Pioneers’ home court in the first round Friday at 7:30.
It will be the first meeting in program history between Monmouth (20-7) and Platteville (22-4), but that doesn’t mean Monmouth coach Todd Skrivseth is totally unfamiliar with the Wisconsin school. An assistant at UW-Whitewater for 10 years prior to coming to Monmouth in 2011, Skrivseth has more than just a passing knowledge of his first-round opponent and their head coach. The Warhawks faced Platteville annually in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play.
“I’m very familiar with Coach (Jeff) Card and his style of play,” said Skrivseth. “I spent many a winter night in that gym coaching against him. It’s a great facility with a great atmosphere for small college basketball.”
The Scots enter the game on a nine-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 13 games. After winning the Midwest Conference title outright, Skrivseth’s team punched their ticket to the Big Dance with two thrilling wins at last weekend’s MWC Tournament at Glennie Gym. That’s exactly the type of atmosphere Skrivseth is counting on at Platteville.
“The atmosphere we had in our gym last weekend was special,” said Skrivseth. “Our guys really appreciate the support the students, the college and the community gave us. It’s a big reason we’re still playing this weekend. I expect the same atmosphere at Platteville. They really get out and support their basketball and that will help us. Our guys thrive on that kind of environment.”
The other two teams in the four-team pod at Platteville are Sul Ross State University from Alpine, Texas, and St. Olaf College out of Northfield, Minn.
It’s Monmouth’s sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament and their first since 1990.
For more information throughout the week, check out the official Monmouth College Fighting Scots website HERE.
