2:00 pm - Bulls @ Warriors
The Bulls (9-5) and Warriors (12-2) kick off the semifinal action at 2:00 pm with their first matchup of the year. Despite being on the schedule against each other back in Week 10, the two teams were not able to square off, as the Bulls had three different players out of town, and a fourth player injured, forcing them to forfeit the game. In a very intriguing matchup of teams that have a lot of depth in their starting five - but not on the bench - both teams have shown their ability to score the ball in bunches. The Bulls finished second in the East, and are led by their Big 3 - Seth Johnson, Benito Munoz, and Bobby Crivokapich. Johnson is a player of the year candidate, as he comes in second in the league in scoring (22.2 ppg), and first in rebounding (13.4 rpg). Munoz has taken the league by storm this season, averaging 21.4 ppg, good for fourth best in the league, and being in the running for first-team all-league. Crivokapich meanwhile, who got off to a slow start this season, has bounced back to average 15.2 ppg and 9.2 rebounds per game, good for fourth in the K1 League. He is averaging more than 19 ppg in his past seven contests. In addition to these three players, Marcell Maiden averages 9.3 ppg, but has missed the past three games with an ankle injury. The Bulls will need him, as well as Matt Wells to play well, if they are to matchup for 40 minutes. For the Warriors, who finished first in the West, they enter this game with the most dynamic offense in the entire league, as they average a league-best 82.1 points per game. They have five different players in double figures, led by their "Big 4." Martavias Laster leads the way at 16.7 ppg, shooting over 52% from the field. Big-game player Tyree Mosley averages 15.8 ppg, while Sammie Hines is averaging 15.3 ppg. The man in the middle Latrell Tidwell is averaging 10.9 ppg and is the team's leading rebounder at 9.8 rpg. In addition to Tidwell and Johnson matching up for the first time, it will be exciting to see how these two teams try to slow one another down. The Warriors have won seven straight games, and are looking to make the championship game in their inaugural season. The Bulls meanwhile have won six of the past seven games that they have played in, and are hoping to avenge last year's semifinal loss against Tyree Mosley. Don't miss this one as these two teams square off for the first time this season in Semifinal #1, as the Bulls hope to keep pace with the league's best offensive team in the Warriors.
3:30 pm - Spurs @ Bucks
The Spurs (11-3) and Bucks (10-4) face off in the second semifinal matchup at 3:30 pm in what we hope is a much more competitive game than the two teams had back on August 29th, with the Spurs winning 75-44. Although both teams will have a slightly different look to their rosters for Sunday's matchup, one theme will remain the same, can the undersized Bucks hold their own on the boards against the Spurs? The Bucks have been perhaps the league's most impressive surprise this season, finishing at 9-4 and winning the East. They defeated seven of the nine teams that they faced, falling to the Warriors in OT, and getting blown out by the Spurs back in Week 3. Despite finishing with the third best record in the league, the Bucks did not win the rebounding margin in any of their final seven regular season games. This figures to be problematic for the Bucks on Sunday, as the Spurs rebound the ball better than any team in the K1 League. They are the defending champions for a reason, with five different players averaging double figures, and averaging more than 50 rebounds per game as a team. In addition to the rebounding battle, the big storyline on Sunday will be the absence of Trey Johnson, perhaps the best big man in the entire league. As Johnson is out of town for Sunday's action, Austin Halcomb (9.2 rpg and 7.2 rpg) will need to step up, however his status is uncertain as he tweaked his back for the third time this year during the All-Star Game. Another key player whose status is unknown is Kale Maupin, who is the Bucks' best player and the reigning K1 player of the year. He has played in just four of the team's 14 contests this year, and needs to be there on Sunday if the Bucks have any chance of holding their own on the glass. Look for Darien Bosby of the Bucks to continue his hot play, as he is averaging 21 points per game in his past seven contests. Jaquan Boxley and Jordan Logan are each averaging 12.3 ppg, and Christian Straw averages 10.8 ppg. The Spurs will counter will guards Chris Green (13.0 ppg) and Ray Lawrence (11.7 ppg), as well as forwards Dennis Koger (14.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg) and Ryan Kvasnicka (13.2 ppg and 8.7 rpg). This game certainly figures to be closer than when the two teams squared off back in August, but the Bucks will have to light it from behind the three point line, especially if they are without Maupin, as the Spurs figure to announce their presence on the boards. Semifinal #2 figures to be a good one, between two teams that share the ball as well as anyone in the K1 League.
5:00 pm - Championship
The winner of the two semifinal games will play for the Fall 2021 K1 League Championship at 5:00 pm.