They are everybody's new favorite team, this school with the clunky name and the joyous game. Florida Gulf Coast University, the first No.15 seed to ever get to the NCAA’s Sweet 16, plays the University of Florida Friday at around 10 p.m.
The Gators are 13-point favorites – the largest point spread among the Sweet 16 games. But I hope Florida Gulf Coast wins again – not only that one, but the next three after that, too. Because if the Eagles can pull it off, they will become the best NCAA tournament story ever.
FGCU, located in Fort Myers, Fla., was only established in 1997. It has only been eligible for the NCAA tournament for two years.
All of the Eagles’ high-flying players are older than the school. They have scored almost 20 percent of their baskets in this tournament on ferocious dunks that have made millions of Americans chest-bump in delight.
They play basketball the way we all think we could play it if we could grab the rim with both hands – celebratory and creative, with an appreciation for the moment that often seems lost on the blueblood schools that get to this point of the tournament nearly every year. The players sign autographs in the stands after games. They do chicken dances on the bench. They literally click their heels.
Now they probably will lose, either Friday night or not long after. Although widely known as the team that beat Miami earlier this season, Florida Gulf Coast also has a secret that gets lost in the YouTube “Dunk City” shuffle. This team can be maddeningly inconsistent. FGCU lost twice to Lipscomb (12-18) this season, as well as to Stetson (15-16), East Tennessee State (10-22) and Maine (11-19).
But I hope the Eagles keep winning. Because this has serious potential. This is a basketball story that could be better than N.C. State in 1983. Better than Villanova in 1985. Better than George Mason in 2006 or Davidson in 2008.
(Read more about FGCU in my column in Friday's Charlotte Observer).
We're moving!
9 years ago
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8 comments:
Not unlike UNC Charlotte in 1977! Eerily familiar!
You live in charlotte, right down the street from Duke and you are pulling for FGC? WEAK!!!
Sorry but their Cinderella run will end. Florida is going to stomp them.
GO GATORS!!!!
Other than they are clearly the Cinderalla team of the year, why are they entitled to the championship? The other remaining teams in the tournament have a much better winning record throughout the year and have worked just as hard, if not harder, to get into this tournament.
They play good defense and can score several different ways, but they do seem to have a weakness against a press. If their starters can stay out of foul trouble, they have a legitimate chance. If they get by FLA, Indiana will give them trouble, but after watching their last 2 games, they are not afraid of anyone.
Love watching that team as well. I understand Billy D wouldn't play them because he was worried they'd hurt the UF RPI.
Uh, what?
Wearing my Blue & Green!!!!! Go Eagles!
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