2021 Spring Hit The Road

This weekend was setup to be the 2nd NCAA open period of the spring.  With the NCAA shutting down D1s until June, we don't get that.  But that doesn't mean teams stay home.  This weekend most Minnesota teams hit the road.  There are a couple small local tournaments as well.  As it was to be an open period, I'll focus solely on the 17U teams here.

Kansas City
Prepare for a traffic jam on I-35 going south during the day on Friday and coming home Sunday afternoon.  23 17U teams from Minnesota will make the trip south, not to mention all the other levels. Feels like this year's midwest version of Las Vegas. 

15 of those teams are in the Prep Hoops event.  That includes both teams from D1, Fury, Select and Magic plus 4 Heat teams including their top 2.  MSP Elite, Northstar Titans Terhaar and Real Phenom (not sure which team) make up the rest.  

Games of Note
Fri 8:10 SD Attack vs Heat MacDonald
Sat 1:25 D1 vs Power5 3SSB
Sat 6:50 D1 vs Team Lavine 3SSB
Sun 9:05 D1 vs Dallas Showtyme Elite
Sun 9:05 Fury Wilde vs Iowa Barnstormers Gold
Sun 12:20 D1 vs Team Impact UAA
Sun 1:25 D1 Prospects vs Tulsa Hawks

A couple of fun regional games with Heat Mac taking on South Dakota Attack and Fury Wilde getting the top Iowa Barnstormers squad.  I wish we did more of those (similar to what we saw in Ames last July).  If only my dream of a 16 team regional championship could ever get off the ground.  D1 Minnesota's top team struggled last week going 0-4 in Chicago.  They get more shoe competition and a Dallas Showtyme group that was undefeated last week.  The D1 Prospects can get revenge for the top team against the Tulsa Hawks.  The Hawks were one of the teams to beat D1 last week in a 5 point game.

In the Recruit Look Kansas City session, Grassroots with their top 2 teams and Howard Pulley get their seasons underway.  Hustle Hard, Real Phenom (again not sure which team), MN Lightning Ellerbusch and 2 Minnesota Suns teams round out the local delegation.  

Games of Note
Sat 4:05 Howard Pulley vs KC Run GMC
Sat 5:10 Grassroots-Weston vs Nebraska Supreme
Sat 7:20 Grassroots-Caldwell vs Kingdom Hoops
Sun 1:55 Grassroots-Weston vs Colorado Hawks

Howard Pulley doesn't have to wait until their tournament for their annual meeting with KC Run GMC.  Grassroots-Weston gets fellow Under Armour member Nebraska Supreme and Isaac Traudt.  That Nebraska Supreme team is a merger between the Team Factory and Lincoln Supreme programs that were so good the last couple of years.  In the Sunday game, the Colorado Hawks feature top 5 2023 big man Baye Fall.  

For those with Baller.TV, the games from both tournaments will be live there.

The Rest
NY2LA teams will be in Louisville for a gigantic 3 organization event.  Long time AAU followers will probably recall the old Eddie Ford event that went on there.  That event includes the MN Comets, Team GetShook and Gain Elite.  A few other teams will make the trip to Sioux Falls. West Central Wildcats, Crossfire-Pederson, SW MN Stars, MN Rise, Comets Belka and West Central United are all in the top bracket there.  A little mid Minnesota crime there as WC United gets Comets Belka at 6:30 on Saturday night.

Locally
Minnesota Select and D1 Minnesota both have small tournaments in town this weekend.  E1T1 with 2 teams and Starks Elite in the D1 tourney.  Howard Pulley's other teams are playing up in the Select tourney.  Northstar Titans Barker and Rip City amongst the others in that 17U bracket.