Written by Dick Allen (Allen is traveling with the FGCU Men’s Basketball Team)
At 4 am, a bus load of “Dirty Birds” left Alico Arena bound for PNC Stadium in Raleigh, NC to cheer on their beloved Eagles. Visions of sugar plumbs were replaced by visions of taking part in the next historic moment in FGCU men’s basketball resume. Kyle Schmidt, Director of ticket sales was up all night making sure the expected 350 fans would all be seated together.
The headline in Raleigh’s The News Observer reads: Top-seeded Tar Heels not looking past Florida Gulf Coast. The story goes on stating that North Carolina didn’t know much about Florida Gulf Coast. Then a 31 point victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first game played in this years NCAA tournament changed all that. Coach Roy Williams said cautiously, “I was very impressed”
The Eagles during the 2013 NCAA tournament became the first no.15 seed to reach a regional semifinal, and the Sweet Sixteen. Now they’ll try to become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed.
By Wednesday Williams and his players had heard the rumblings – that if ever a No. 16 seed could beat a No. 1, it might be a team that looks like the Eagles. “Generally speaking, I think the size and athleticism that they have, you usually don’t see on a 16 seed”, Williams said. Tar Heel player interviews on TV all spoke to the “disrespect” Carolina was getting by the media. This could be motivation for William’s chargers or plant a seed of doubt.
On the flip side, FGCU returned to the team hotel last night after dinner all gritty and loose as a goose. It seemed that the half court shot made at Wednesday’s shoot-a-round meant much more than an omen. Coach Dooley put dessert on the table if Flip or Christian Terrell could drain one from half court. Flip shot first, no second shot was needed as Cvjeticanin’s ball swished the bottom of the net! Not sure what it cost Dooley, but it clearly points out the “Eagle Advantage”. FGCU will enter tonight’s game without the burden of expectations. They are supposed to lose, after all, just like every No. 16 before them. That’s exactly the same expectations the Eagles faced the last trip to the Big Dance in 2013. That would be the last time the NCAA history books had to be rewritten courtesy of FGCU!
The game will be televised nationally on TBS with tip off scheduled at 7:20 p.m. Look for us, we’ll wave, cheer, and yell a lot. Most of us will be in FGCU green. An appropriate color for St. Patties Day, don’t you think! Perhaps some of the luck of the day can rub off on those South West Florida Giant Killers!!