Cinderella (a.) – resembling Cinderella in being elevated suddenly to a position of honor, glory, etc. a Cinderella team in a basketball tournament
Enter the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison. The Bison earned the state of North Dakota’s first ever bid to the Men’s NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament by defeating Oakland University in the Summit Conference Tournament title game. The Bison are elated. Redshirt senior, Ben Woodside, knocked down a jumper with 3.3 seconds to go win the game. Ray Rotto said it best: “And if Ben Woodside ever has to buy a drink in the state ever again, we’ll be very disappointed in our Dakotan brethren. You see, this is why the tournament is at its best in these three weeks — the two weeks of conference tournaments, and the first weekend of the real tournament. It is open to everyone for dreaming purposes, but you still have to earn your way in by surviving the first two weeks — the perfect egalitarian structure.”
Notice that euphoria below?
NDSU received the a 14th seed in the Midwest Regional in Minneapolis, MN where the Bison take on the 3rd seeded and defending champion Kansas Jayhawks. Bill Self of Kansas knows that North Dakota State isn’t going to play dead (you have to hit the play button). Bill Self isn’t exactly happy about play in the Twin Cities. When NDSU played the Minnesota Gophers in football, they brought 30,000 fans to the Twin Cities. The Hokie Guru expects the same for the matchup with Kansas.
Govloopers, we’re talking about an NDSU Bison team who has four redshirt seniors, including star guard Ben Woodside.
Could this be the story of Hoosiers?
The Hokie Guru doesn’t have the guts to pick the upset, but would be happy for his home state of North Dakota if it happened… every year 65 teams get together and put on a show in March… and dream to play for a national title… have fun these next few weeks with the Hokie Guru 🙂
I would love it if they beat Kansas. I bet NDSU is strong eating that bison. Love the bison at Ted’s or the Bison burger at Martin’s in DC
V for Villanova!!!!!!!!
OK–so we are a #3 seed… I think that would qualify for Cinderella. Maybe Snow White? 😉
Tracy, I have ‘Nova going pretty deep in the tourney (no Cinderella… smile… gotta be a 13 seed or higher to be in that role) Join Govloop’s Bracket Challenge… you’ll see the contest in one of my other blog posts.