March 20, 2007
ON-FIRE FOXES' LUCKY 13
It didn't take very long after the men's regional semi-final brackets were set that people started grumbling about the lack of any lower-seeded teams making a run deep into the tournament. While it may be a reflection of what a good job the tournament selection commitee did in seeding the teams, it does rob March Madness of some of its special magic. For those in absolute need of Cinderella-level enchantment, look no further than the women's tournament, where 13-seed Marist continues its regular season winning ways through the post season. After a 24-5 season in the regular season and an OT win in the MAAC conference champsionship, Marist certainly deserved its berth in the women's NCAA field of 64. The tiny college that is home to 4,000 students on the banks of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, however, only merited a 13-seed when the opening brackets were announced. After an opening wins against 4-seed Ohio State and 5-seed Middle Tennessee St., the Red Foxes are now in the Sweet 16 for the first time and will likely face 1-seed and perennial national title contendor Tennessee.
Perhaps no one predicted this, but it happened: The Marist College women's basketball team defeated Middle Tennessee State, 73-59, in the second round of the NCAA tournament, advancing to play in the Sweet 16 round in Dayton, Ohio, this Sunday.
The Red Foxes had only reached the Big Dance twice before this past weekend, falling to Oklahoma in 2004 and Georgia last year.
Seeded 13th, Marist defeated No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday, setting up Monday's matchup. By beating the Blue Raiders, Marist snapped Middle Tennessee's 27-game winning streak - the longest in the country - and became only the third No. 13 seed to ever advance to the Sweet 16.
I think Marist College senior Brian Hodge put it best when characterizing his school's team:
But this is no "Cinderella." "Cinderella" smacks of a sort of undeserving cuteness, even an unworthiness that belies the skill, talent, and drive required to upend two talented teams.
I agree; and here's to continued success.
Posted by Lexiphane at March 20, 2007 9:54 AM
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Comments
Where's the props for ND holmes!!!!!!!!
Posted by: anon at March 20, 2007 11:52 AM
So far, ND's a 9-seed that barely upset an 8-seed. Good luck to 'em, but I'll withhold the props until they upset 1-seed UNC.
Posted by: Lexiphane ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.lexiphane.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 20, 2007 12:22 PM