LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – The McNeese men’s basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year on Wednesday after defeating Stephen F. Austin 76-59 in the Southland Conference Championship. On Sunday, the Cowboys found out their first-round dancing partner: Vanderbilt.
The 12th-seeded Cowboys will face the fifth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores on Thursday in Oklahoma City. First year head coach Bill Armstrong said it is a dream come true.
“A dream come true is my first reaction to be able to lead a team into the NCAA Tournament, to be able to watch Selection Sunday knowing that you’re in, and then just finding out where you’re going,” said Armstrong.
While it may be Armstrong’s first time leading a program to the big dance, seniors DJ Richards and Javohn Garcia know what it takes to win in March. The two were a part of the team that upset Clemson in the first round last year.
“We’ve done it before, and we have like the same amount of talent, if not more,” said Richards. “So I definitely feel like the position that we’re in is… we love our position. We feel like we can compete with anybody.”
Richards is confident in this roster as they prepare to play the Commodores.
“I feel like we got big moment players. I mean Larry Johnson, Tyshawn (Archie) and Garwey (Dual) and I could go down the list like they’re ready,” he said. “I wouldn’t be more like comfortable and go to war with any other players that’s playing on my side. You know, JG coming back and them so like I’m just excited that they are going to get that type of recognition. You can’t hide when you’re on March Madness and people have to watch us and we have really talented players so it’s a good opportunity for all of us.”
Tip-off Thursday is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The game will air on TruTV.
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