Sometimes it doesn’t pay to know too much. Or, in this case, have friends that seem to recall everything about college basketball.
This particular buddy met me for lunch on Wednesday, wanting to talk NCAA postseason hoops. Our discussion centered around Northern Kentucky University’s upcoming NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech. The Norse (26-8) face the Red Raiders (26-6) on Friday afternoon in Tulsa, making it three straight years NKU has earned postseason bids.
Two years ago, NKU won the Horizon League Tournament and earned the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. A year ago, the Norse captured the Horizon League’s regular-season title and played in the NIT. Now, another trip to March Madness for NKU. I simply pointed out it’s the most impressive beginning in NCAA history for a tournament-eligible hoops program that transitioned from Division II to Division I.
“I think you’re forgetting a team or two,” the friend said, chuckling and shaking his head. “What about Old Dominion?”
Old Dominion earned a bid to the NIT in 1977 in its first year of NCAA Division I competition. The Monarchs almost captured the ECAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that year but lost to Syracuse, 67-64.
Old Dominion then earned a bid to the NIT in 1977 in its first year of Division I competition. The Monarchs almost captured the ECAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that year but lost in the championship game to Syracuse, 67-64. Old Dominion was selected to play in the NIT and hosted Villanova in the first round, dropping a 71-68 decision in overtime. The Monarchs finished their inaugural Division I season with a 25-4 record.
“Can you imagine how good Old Dominion must’ve been?” he asked. “They still had a roster of Division II players and almost made the NCAAs.”
Nothing like good friends with great memories who call you out — on your own research and a one-year old story.
“Yeah, but that’s just one season,” I replied, quickly using Google to see when the Monarchs first appeared in the NCAA Tournament. “It took Old Dominion three more years (1980) to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. NKU’s been to national tournaments three straight years.”
After a couple of minutes of verbal sparring on the Old Dominion subject, he then landed a haymaker that resulted in a hoops-discussion TKO. “OK, what about Alcorn State?” he asked. “Name any school that ever did what Alcorn did. They’re unbeaten in their final transition year to D1 and go to the NIT. They beat Mississippi State on the road in the NIT. Barely lose at Indiana in the next game. And the next year they go to the NCAA Tournament and win a game.”
Speechless, I quickly Googled for the information on Alcorn State basketball and its unbeaten season, NIT, etc. Turns out my buddy was absolutely correct. Alcorn State went 27-0 during the 1978-79 regular season, but the Braves’ conference — the Southwestern Athletic Conference — was in the final year of transition to be NCAA Tournament eligible. Instead, Alcorn State received a berth in the NIT and defeated a powerful Mississippi State team in Starkville.
Alcorn State posted a 27-0 record during the 1978-79 regular season. The Braves received a berth in the NIT and defeated a powerful Mississippi State team in Starkville.
“That’s plenty remarkable,” I conceded. “I didn’t remember all that.”
“Told you,” he laughed.
Nothing like good friends who recall everything about college basketball.
Now, about this Friday’s NKU/Texas Tech game…
I don’t normally make a lot of predictions about basketball games. Too many unknown variables that change from second-to-second, possession-to-possession. Foul trouble. Injuries. Illness. Bad matchup. Motivation. Emotion. Who can possibly predict any of it? Not me.
Jalen Tate (right) attempts to block Wright State’s Malachi Smith during NKU’s 68-64 win in January. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
Despite what the oddsmakers are currently saying — those who have made Texas Tech a two-touchdown favorite (-14) even though this is basketball we’re focusing on — I believe NKU will be in this game until the final minutes. This is a tough-minded, well-coached NKU team. The Norse are 26-8 and aren’t going to be intimidated. In fact, I’m of the opinion if there is to be a 14 seed upset over a 3 seed in this year’s March Madness, this will be the one. Why, you ask?
Hoops karma, college athletics style.
Three years ago, current Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard accepted the job at Nevada-Las Vegas. He stayed at UNLV for two weeks, then quickly job-hopped his way to Lubbock, Texas, when the Red Raiders coaching position became available.
Before taking the UNLV job, Beard coached at Arkansas-Little Rock. In his final game at UALR, Beard’s 12th-seeded Trojans upset No. 5 seed Purdue, making him an instant national target for coaching vacancies.
He bolted UNLV after signing a five-year contract. His explanation for leaving UNLV after just two weeks?
“It’s like when Bear Bryant left Texas A&M for Alabama,” Beard rationalized during his press conference in 2016. “He said, ‘When momma calls, you’ve gotta go home.’ Texas Tech is my momma, and I’m home. I’m so glad to be here.”
Umm, yeah.
Like I mentioned earlier — hoops karma, college athletics style. It always catches up at the most unexpected time. Maybe this Friday in Tulsa? Wouldn’t it be entertaining to see how Beard’s “momma” would react if NKU pulls off the upset of the favored Red Raiders?
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport
