Congrats to UB for turning the corner and building nice basketball team this year. I voted for Reggie Witherspoon as the MAC Coach of the Year. Look below for some prints from today's Buffalo News.
By the way, it just goes to show you, if you win, they will come. Also, anyone notice that Southern Illinois lost last night in their quarter finals? I swear they do that on purpose. In this way, the Missouri Valley Conference will have two teams into the big dance while the MAC will likely have just one. This would be the 5th staright year for this crap. Tell me that if WMU loses to either Toledo or Buffalo in the second round that they get in? Of course, the MVC is the only mid-major team with a rep on the selection committee, but that doesn't carry any weight now does it?
"Following Sunday's practice, Witherspoon was asked about Cleveland, the Gund Arena and the quarterfinals of the MAC tourney.
"The only time I've been to Cleveland," he said, "is for MAC meetings."
Indeed, this is totally new territory for the Bulls. They have never won a MAC Tournament game, losing first-round matchups over the years to Marshall, Ohio, Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois by an average of 17 points. Then the Bulls opened a slew of eyes by beating Kent State on Feb. 25. Beating Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Miami was one thing, but the Bulls had to get past Kent to be taken seriously. The Golden Flashes, despite their four-game losing streak, are currently the benchmark for the MAC.
Yet UB enters the tournament with the league's longest win streak, and has won 11 of its last 13 games. It would be difficult for any team not to see that NCAA carrot dangling before their eyes.
"It's hard, but we're definitely taking it game by game," said sophomore swingman Mario Jordan. "Having our first home game here is a good thing so we're just going to take it game by game."
With the Bulls desperately trying to advance to Gund Arena, and with fans having taken to this team like few in recent history, everyone expects another boisterous environment in Alumni, perhaps eclipsing the Kent State game. A standing room only crowd of more than 8,000 is expected and there's talk of students camping out on the doorsteps of the Arena to land prime seating. There's also unfounded rumors around campus that classes will be canceled today. Whatever happens, expect "Sea of Blue, The Sequel," tonight. "
Entire Article:
<a href='http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040308/1041786.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040...308/1041786.asp</a>
![[Image: 16.jpg]](http://www.marshall.edu/www/photogallery/images/16.jpg)
