South Atlantic Conference Announces Change In Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference has announced a change in the seedings for the 2010 Food Lion SAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
After further review, the conference office adjusted Mars Hill's conference record to 5-6. The Lions will now be the fifth seed, and travel to play at fourth-seed Lincoln Memorial University in Wednesday's quarterfinal action.
"Now that I have had the benefit of a few days to consider the situation and look at all the facts, I have concluded that it is in the best interest of the conference to nullify Mars Hill's five wins during the first half of the conference season and not the losses," SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz said.
The conference record for the other eight schools will not change. That is consistent with the NCAA's nullification process, Britz said. This will change Mars Hill's conference record to 5-6 and drop them from the fourth to the fifth seed. As a result, Lincoln Memorial will move from the fifth seed to the fourth seed. No other seeds or first-round matchups will change as a result of this adjustment.
"The past four days have been challenging and I appreciate the input and support from everyone in the conference," Britz said. "While I do not like to change the pairings and seeds that were released Saturday night, I feel this is the right thing to do and is the fairest option for all those involved."
On Friday it was decided that Mars Hill will nullify its first eight conference games after it was determined that one of its men's basketball student-athletes was deemed ineligible for participating in organized competition prior to his initial collegiate enrollment. Specifically, per NCAA Division II bylaws, a student-athlete must serve an academic year of residence upon enrollment at any Division II institution if they compete in organized competition that occurs subsequent to the date of their high school class graduation and prior to their initial collegiate enrollment. Mars Hill withheld the individual from competition for the remainder of the season and continues to work with the NCAA and the SAC office to seek reinstatement for the student-athlete.