Hoosiers? NDSU Goes Dancing
By: SCUBA
With 14 slots filled for the NCAA tournament, one team found its way with a last second shot to get an automatic bid into the 'big dance'. Most impressive about this berth - this was their first year of eligibility for the NCAA tournament.
The North Dakota State University Bison men's basketball team, beat Oakland in the Summit League championship game advancing to their first ever appearance in the big dance.
What was most impressing was how they did it. Down by 10 with with seven minutes left in the game, NDSU came alive.
A string of a two 3-pointers, a quick jumper, and a 3-point play gave the Bison their first lead, since the opening basket, 64-62 with less than two minutes left.
Oakland tied the score 64-64 after a quick dunk.
Then Ben Woodside, NDSU senior, hit a jumper with 4 seconds left, lifting the Bison into an on-court frenzy of students storming the court to celebrate the schools first ever bid to the tournament.
Every year their is a 12 or 13 seed that becomes the 'cinderella' story of the tournament - the George Mason factor. Why not NDSU?
What makes them a good candidate for a Cinderella?
- They will most likely be a 12/13 seed
- Experience - 4 starting seniors
- Head coach with upset experience
Head coach Tim Miles is no stranger to road upsets. Miles has lead his Bison to huge upsets on the road by beating, then #9 Marquette in 2006 and #15 Wisconsin the season before.
They finished the season Summit Conference champs with a 26-6 overall record, 16-2 in conference.
Every year we want a cinderella team in the tournament. Every year we need a cinderella team in the tournament. The 12 seed is a dangerous seed almost every year ripe for an upset.....why not NDSU?