Basketball in St. Bonifacius hits different. If you’ve ever stepped into the Athletic Center on a cold Minnesota Tuesday, you know the vibe. It isn't just a game; it's a grind. But last year, the stakes got a whole lot higher than a standard UMAC rivalry.
Most people looking for info on the crown college basketball tournament are actually looking for two very different things. You’ve got the local fans tracking the Polars through the NCCAA and UMAC postseasons, and then you’ve got the national crowd confusing the school with the brand-new "College Basketball Crown" tournament in Vegas.
Let's get the record straight right now.
The 2025 NCCAA DII National Championship
Crown College didn't just play in a tournament last year; they hosted the whole show. After a heartbreaker in the regionals—a 103-101 overtime loss to Trinity Bible College where a buzzer-beater basically sucked the air out of the room—the Polars had to pivot fast.
Hosting a national tournament is a logistical beast.
Honestly, the pressure was immense. You have teams flying in from across the country, and you're the ones who just lost a nail-biter. But that’s the beauty of the NCCAA DII bracket. It’s scrappy. It’s raw.
Tyrus Buckner was a monster on the glass during that stretch. The guy was pulling down 17 rebounds like it was a casual Sunday afternoon. Watching him and Carter Behne try to carry the offensive load was something else. Behne was lights out from deep, specifically going 6-for-10 from three in that Trinity game.
Why the "Crown" Name Causes Chaos
Here is where it gets weird for SEO. In 2025, Fox Sports and AEG launched a postseason tournament called the College Basketball Crown.
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It’s a 16-team invitational held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If you're looking for the Polars and you end up seeing scores for Georgetown or Nebraska, you’ve hit the wrong "Crown."
The Vegas tournament is for the big dogs—teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East that missed the NCAA March Madness cut. It’s basically the NIT’s newer, flashier cousin with more neon.
Historical Dominance and the 2024 Title
You can’t talk about the crown college basketball tournament history without mentioning 2024. That was the year. The Polars actually took home the NCCAA Division II National Championship title.
They weren't just "participating." They were dominating.
It was a massive milestone for the program, especially since the school transitioned into the NCAA Division III era back in 2008. Winning a national title in 2024 cemented the Polars as a powerhouse in the Christian college circuit. It changed the recruiting landscape for them, too.
- 2024 Result: National Champions (NCCAA DII)
- Key Player: Tyrus Buckner (Tournament standout)
- Coach: Jordan Strom (Building a culture of "toughness")
Surviving the UMAC Gauntlet
While the national tournaments get the headlines, the UMAC (Upper Midwest Athletic Conference) tournament is the bread and butter.
Lately, the road to the title has gone through places like Bethany Lutheran and UW-Superior. In January 2026, the Polars picked up a massive conference win against Bethany Lutheran, winning 78-69.
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It was a statement.
The UMAC is a "bus league." You spend hours on a freezing bus, get off in a tiny gym, and have to shoot 45% from the floor just to survive. John Grigsby has been a quiet assassin in these games. He’s one of those players who doesn't need 20 shots to impact the scoreboard. He just finds the gaps.
The Realities of D3 Postseason
Let’s be real: Division III basketball is about the love of the game. There are no NIL deals here that are going to buy you a Ferrari.
Players like Jacob Van Dam and Parker Behne are playing for the jersey. When the crown college basketball tournament season rolls around in late February, the atmosphere in St. Bonifacius turns electric.
The student section—the "Storm" or the "Polars" depending on how long you’ve been a fan—gets loud. Like, ringing-in-your-ears-for-three-days loud.
What to Expect in 2026
If you’re tracking the current season, the Polars are in the thick of it. They’ve had some ups and downs, like a tough loss at Martin Luther where they fell 69-79 despite a furious second-half rally.
But this team has a habit of peaking in February.
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They play a style that is heavy on the perimeter. If the threes are falling, they can beat anyone in the region. If they're cold? It’s a long night. But with the NCCAA tournament experience from hosting last year, this roster is more seasoned than most.
Scouting the Competition
To win the next crown college basketball tournament cycle, they have to jump over a few specific hurdles:
- Consistency in the Paint: Relying on the three-ball is dangerous in playoff basketball.
- Defensive Rotations: They’ve struggled at times with transition defense, especially against faster squads like North Central.
- Closing Games: That OT loss to Trinity Bible still haunts some of the upperclassmen.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Recruits
If you are planning to follow the Polars or attend the next crown college basketball tournament event, here is the move.
First, check the official Crown Athletics site to distinguish between UMAC conference play and NCCAA postseason. They often run concurrently, which is confusing.
Second, if you're a recruit looking at this program, realize that Crown is one of the few places where you get a dual-track postseason. You’re playing for an NCAA D3 berth and an NCCAA national title simultaneously. That’s double the "win or go home" energy.
Keep an eye on the schedule for late February. The UMAC quarterfinals usually kick off the madness, followed by the NCCAA regionals in early March. If the Polars keep their core healthy, another deep run isn't just a hope—it's the expectation.
Stay tuned to the live streams on the Polars' portal. The production quality has jumped significantly, making it easier to catch the action even if you aren't in Minnesota.
Make sure to verify the venue before you travel. Between the Athletic Center in St. Bonifacius and neutral sites for regionals, the location can shift overnight during tournament season. Pack for snow; it's Minnesota in March, after all.