One game at a time. One game at a time. Let’s not worry about Elite 8 or failure stuff yet (we’ve kind of talket that to death all season anyways).
Um, if you want to see the ETSU-Pitt match-up, there’s a good chance you can get tickets — cheap.
Do the UD fans who bought tickets for tourney games at the Arena use their tickets Friday afternoon to watch the Pittsburgh Panthers, a No. 1 seed, or do they find a TV and watch the Flyers play West Virginia in Minneapolis?
Both games start at about 3 p.m.
“I am angry,” said Steve Waddell, a Bellbrook resident who called the NCAA to complain about the scheduling conflict. “I can’t believe that is not part of the standard operating procedures. I think it had to be a terrible oversight or mistake on their part.”
UD Arena hosts four games Friday, two in the afternoon and two at night. Each session requires a ticket with a face value of $66.
Here’s your standard article regarding a #16 seed. They just want to play. They won’t be intimidated.
There was little sign that ETSU was four days away from facing the Pittsburgh Panthers and one of biggest first-round challenges in the NCAA Tournament. Little sign that the Bucs were intimidated or scared straight. And little sign that East Tennessee State (23-10) prepared to treat its East Region contest against the Panthers (28-4) as anything other than what it is: a game. And that’s just the way Bucs coach Murry Bartow wants it.
“All I can do for our team is get our team ready to play,” Bartow said. “We can’t get overly concerned with who we’re playing. Obviously, we’re playing one of the best teams in the country, and it’s a hard matchup because of [their] strength and size. But all we can do is keep keeping on; keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Hopefully the players mean what they say about being a #1 seed and not taking anything for granted.
“I definitely don’t want to say that having a No. 1 seed is going to make anything easier,” senior Sam Young said, “because I almost don’t believe it because we’ve been upset so many times.”
Other No. 1 seeds went to Louisville — which also is playing in Dayton — North Carolina and Connecticut. The Big East is the first conference to have three No. 1 seeds.
“(Being a No. 1 seed) is a great thing,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “But it doesn’t mean anything at this point. There are 65 teams and every one of them thinks they can win it.”
Okay, just one little look ahead. Tennessee is not happy with its draw.
“We’re not looking ahead, I can guarantee you that,’’ said Pearl who has guided the Vols to the NCAA tournament in all four years of his UT tenure. “Oklahoma State has about the 19th RPI; they’re probably the toughest No. 8 seed in the tourney.’’
The Cowboys went on a season-ending run that included wins over Big 12 powerhouses Texas (68-59) and Oklahoma (71-70) before they fell to eventual conference tourney champion Missouri (67-59) on Saturday.
“Oklahoma State won eight of its last 10 and they shoot 38 percent from three,’’ Pearl said. “They’re very guard oriented and very athletic.’’
The Cowboys run a four-guard offense — just like the Mississippi State team that defeated the Vols 64-61 in the St. Pete Times Forum on Sunday afternoon to earn the SEC’s automatic bid.
I love that everyone — player or coach– by the way, feels they have the toughest path in the NCAA Tournament. It is almost standard.
“I think we have the toughest bracket,” Jermaine Dixon said. “But it’s really not a problem for us. Pittsburgh is always in a tough bracket, so we kind of expected it.”
Pitt has not advanced to a Final Four since 1941 and has not reached the Elite Eight since ’74.
The Panthers, who are making their eighth consecutive appearance in the tournament, have experienced some bitter disappointments in the past few years, including an early exit at the hands of Michigan State in the second round last season when many predicted a deep tournament run.
The expectations are even higher this season. The Panthers are being picked as one of the favorites to win the national championship.
“We got the No. 1 seed,” sophomore center DeJuan Blair said. “It’s not over. We have a long way to go.
“This is a long march. We’re going to have fun.”
Yes. Winning is fun. To quote Ebby “Nuke” LaLoosh, “I love winning. You know what I mean? It- it’s like better than losing!”
