The NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship is from March 22-29 this year at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson. Here are some features from the tournament. 

A huge number of volunteers spend countless hours making sure the tournament runs smoothly. Members of the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68 have been working with the tournament since the late 1940's. 

When Monroe University Mustangs from New Rochelle, New York make it into the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship, they know the tradition will continue and they will have a group of Hutchinson fans cheering them on! For many years, when the team comes to Hutchinson, they contact Darrin Regier, Senior Program Director with the Hutchinson YMCA, to set up a free basketball camp for any youth in first through sixth grade. They do not have to be YMCA members to participate. The basketball team not only helps the young people's basketball skills, but they give them Monroe Mustang t-shirts and they pay for their tickets into the tournament! The youth have a fabulous time cheering on their adopted team and they receive autographs from the players and sometimes their basketball shoes. "We become like their second family for them when they come to the tournament," said Darrin Regier. "When they arrive at the hotel, we meet them with signs as they come off of the bus. They even texted me when they arrived safely back in New York, there is always a great connection with their coaching staff." Unfortunately Monroe University Mustangs lost to South Plains in their second round game but Regier and all the youth and their parents are looking forward to them coming to Hutchinson and the NJCAA Tournament again!

Many volunteers are Team Hosts for the 24 teams that come to Hutchinson / Reno County for the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship. Chief Judge Daniel Gilligan of the 27th Judicial District and Reno County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson volunteer their time to help the teams during the tournament. 

Chief Judge Daniel Gilligan was a host for Cowley College.

Reno County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson was a host for Monroe University.

The Reno County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard presented the colors before the start of the evening games Sunday and Monday nights of the 2025 NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson.

Many people come to Hutchinson to watch the games, and former Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team coach Steve McLain was seen watching the games from the opposite sideline during the Cowley College vs Triton College basketball game. McClain was the head basketball coach at Hutchinson CC from 1991 to 1994 and his team won the NJCAA National Championship game during the 1993–94 season. 

There were two teams from Kansas representing at the tournament. Defending champions Barton Community College and Cowley College. 

Barton Community College

Cowley College

Here are other features from the tournament:

Brunswick Community College from North Carolina

Triton College from River Grove, Illinois

#1 ranked Snow College from Utah was upset when they lost their first game to Oklahoma's Connors State.

Hutchinson's Pointe School of Dance dancers performed during half time of the Monroe vs South Plains game Monday evening.

Trinity Catholic High School brought their pep band and their drum line performed during time outs in the game.