Four first-timers in NCAA field
The American Eagles decided to hang out at a campus food court Sunday. No, they weren’t there for the burgers and fries.
The champions of the Patriot League gathered with several hundred of their newest friends to receive a formal invitation to the First-Timers Club.
They aren’t the only ones, either.
Let’s also welcome Maryland-Baltimore County, Texas-Arlington and Portland State.
Those four schools will be making their first appearances ever at the NCAA tournament, a giddy time that also comes with a warning: Hazing is still allowed when it comes to March Madness, and the neophytes will be expected to cram all the fun they can into a one-and-done, then turn over the stage to usual powers such as North Carolina and UCLA.
Until then, the score is nothing-nothing.
“It’s great to see our names being called,” American junior Derrick Mercer said. “As a little kid you wish to see your team out there, and here I am now.”
The Eagles (21-11) are the next-to-last seed in the East Region, which earned them a tough matchup against No. 2 seed Tennessee in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday. But this wasn’t a day for worrying about matchup problems.
American had its best season since 1981-82, when coach Gary Williams – now at Maryland – led them to the National Invitation Tournament. American’s only trip to an NCAA tournament came way back in 1960, when it reached the Division II semifinals.
Up the road in Baltimore, UMBC is seeded 15th in the Midwest, which makes the Retrievers a huge underdog heading into their game against Big East power Georgetown.
But that game in Raleigh, N.C., isn’t until Friday. The Retrievers (24-8) can talk big until they actually take the court against the Hoyas.
“We know what we’re capable of doing, and we’re going to go out there and do it, no matter who our opponent is,” forward Cavell Johnson said. “Yes, they have national recognition and a lot of respect across the country. We’re going to give them respect, but we’re going to play the way we know how.”
Texas-Arlington earned its spot Sunday with an 82-79 victory over Northwestern State in the title game of the Southland Conference tournament.
Portland State (23-9) claimed its spot last week by winning the Big Sky Conference tournament. Like Texas-Arlington, the Vikings received a No. 16 seed and will face powerhouse Kansas, champion of the Big 12, in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday.