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Inside the Online Community of DIII Basketball Superfans

“Those with a passion for D-III hoops appreciate what makes it special, and want to share it with the world."

Author

Steve Ulrich
December 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes


DECEMBER 17, 2024 | written by STEVE ULRICH

News and notes on the largest and best Division in the NCAA. #whyD3
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Good Tuesday Morning DIII

Headlines
🖥️ The DIII Online Basketball Community
🏀 Emory Tops Men’s Poll
📊 Top Four Remain Same in Women’s Ranking
🔥 Luxury Firewood

🗓️ What’s Happening This Week. The DIII Championships Committee meets virtually today, while the Membership Committee does the same on Thursday.

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TOP STORY
1. ‘Good Basketball is Good Basketball’: Inside the Online Community of DIII Basketball Superfans

Matt Snyder, Zac Snyder, Ryan Whitnable, Bob Quillman and Riley Zayas (from right to left)

by Riley Herron, Washington U. Student Life

“When lifelong sports fan Jason Marquart began working in WashU’s Office for International Students and Scholars in 2005, he thought the on-campus basketball scene would not be worth watching.

But after a conversation with John Schael, WashU’s Athletic Director at the time, Marquart checked out a game during the 2005-06 season, when WashU’s men’s team went on to win the Division III national championship. Marquart quickly began following the Bears’ teams, and eventually began to live-tweet their games, creating a basketball-focused X account under the nickname “Hilltopper” in August 2020.

“I just started tweeting a lot of basketball stuff, and suddenly parents were following me, players were following me,” Marquart said. “You know, there’s people in the D-III community who do the same thing. And I just kind of got caught up in it and haven’t stopped.”

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