After winning their third straight Southland Conference championship last Wednesday, the McNeese men’s basketball team learned of their position in the bracket yesterday. They’re the No. 12 seed in the South Region and will face the fifth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. Cowboys head coach Bill Armstrong says the team is going to enjoy the ride.
“For a lot of the guys on the team, it’s their first time to participate in the NCAA Tournament. For some of the staff, it’s the first time in the NCAA Tournament. I think, in moments like this, you just have to take it all in and enjoy it, because you don’t know if you’ll get it again,” Armstrong said.
It’s not the first time for senior guard D.J. Richards Jr. – he’s been with the Cowboys all three years of the Southland three-peat. He says especially after leading McNeese to an upset win over Clemson in the first-round last year, he’s not intimidated by the big stage.
“I feel like, as far as emotions, it really doesn’t change. It’s just, now, like, don’t run away from the emotions. You accept the emotions are faster, just coming and going. It just feels like a regular game,” Richards Jr. said.
Armstrong, who spent 11 non-consecutive years as an SEC assistant coach, says he’s familiar with Vanderbilt, and he will have his Cowboys ready to play Thursday.
“I’ve watched them a lot. They’ve got a lot of good players. They play a fun, up-and-down style, so it should be a very entertaining game,” Armstrong said.
Those of you partaking in Office Pool Monday, give serious consideration to picking McNeese to spring the upset. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, at least one 12-seed has advanced to the second round in all but five years.
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