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| Friday, February 28 Cinderellas comments ESPN.com |
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After uncovering the ESPN.com offices from the deluge of Cinderella Watch e-mail, we've skimmed off the best responses for your enjoyment and edification.
"22-5. 40-point conference victories. 85 RPI. Hotbed for college basketball-rural south Alabama. Five words: The Mighty Trojan Death Machine -- Troy State."
"Hey I think you've seriously made a mistake by overlooking the Troy State University Trojans. Maybe you guys should send more road scouts out to observe teams like us. Don't believe everything you see in the local to local newspaper articles. Just come see for yourself. We need the votes, we have the team, but we can't do anything without the votes to show."
"Where are the Troy State University Trojans? Why aren't the even listed anywhere. They are 22-5. Come on, give them a little credit. They did receive a vote for the AP top 25 this week. Take a look at them, you will not be dissappointed."
"The Trojans of Troy State University definately has my vote for the Cinderella Watch after their 117-70 victory over Stetson on Feb 27. They are 22-5 (13-2 A-Sun) and have 10 players that can be in double figures any given night. Guard Ben Fletcher's 3-point shooting and center Rob Lewin's rim-jarring slam dunks is a show in itself. Couple that with a tenacious defense that creates turnover after turnover and you have a team that will provide more than enough excitement than you can stand. They are the team to watch. Look for a huge upset in the first round."
"Where are the Bears? Mercer University is having the best year in school history. The Bears are 21-5 and 13-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. They are in first place and are favorites to win the regular season title and conference tournament. Mark Slonaker is leading the Bears to the best win/loss turn around this year and maybe in the history of the NCAAs. He has done the best coaching job period! They have won 10 straight and gone 13-1 in their last 14 games. The Bears have an experienced starting five and go deep off the bench. They lead the conference in scoring and are second in rebounding. The Bears have four guys (Emerson, Muhammed, Wilson, Baker) that average double figures in scoring. The Bears run the triangle offense with exceptionally strong inside play. They have made more free throws than their opponents have shot. This is a balanced team with a balanced attack and should make some noise in March. The Bears are a team to Watch!"
"As if beating Georgia State for the first time in 15 years isn't enough, Mercer is an absolute shoe-in for a team on the Cinderella Watch. As an avid student/fan since '97, I've watched this team stubble around the 300th rank for the last five years. Their play this year has been absolutely stunning with the addition of several new key players, Clarence Baker and Jay January, along with the power house trio of Scott "Debo" Emerson, Aleem Muhammed, and Wesley Duke. Coming off a record 10th straight win last night against Jackonsville, the Bears enter the last game of the season 20-5. With the continued fan support of the frontline "Orangemen" America better watch out, we're bustin' through to the dance."
"You cannot talk major Cinderellas without mentioning the Terriers of Boston University. A team that should ge to the Dance through an automatic big provided by the America East Conference. Even though they come from a tiny conference, BU has had huge exposer from playing many top teams, including Arizona and Stanford. BU Played both these teams tough and are ripe and ready for a Big Dance upset!"
"Where did Butler go? One again my team gets no respect. They are on the verge of winning a fourth straight Horizon League title and are still not ranked even though they have the fourth-best record in the NCAA. Butler is a team that has done well in both the Tournament and the NIT. Lose a couple and all of a sudden they get dropped. As an alum and big supporter of Butler basketball I have seen Butler do some great things over the past five years. Why won't more teams come to Hinkle to play them. I'd like to see Duke, Arizona, Creighton, etc. come to Hinkle and play Butler, but most teams are scared they may lose face to come in and lose at Butler. Look at IU six years ago, Bobby Knight said he would never return to Hinkle. Onward Dawgs ... to the NCAA Tournament at large or winner of the HL Tournament."
"Is it too much to ask for the committee to pick two mid-majors from the same conference? The Panthers from UW-M and the Butler Bulldogs are both going to finish the season with more than 20 wins and possibly more than 25 a piece. They will probably be seeded 1 and 2 in the Horizon tournament and, God willing, will provide for a fantastic tournament finale. So why can't we say that both of these teams are Cinderella teams ready for the Big Dance?"
"How about giving some love to Morehead State University. They have just won the OVC regular season crown. Not to mention they have the best player in the conference in Rick Minard. If he isn't enough you have Chez Marks as well. How about you stop the presses on Austin Peay and give some credit to the MSU Eagles."
"OK, here's your chance to get it right ... replace College of Charleston with UNC Wilmington. CofC lost at home to UNCW, and lost to East Tennessee State whom UNCW defeated. It's time to let go of those early season wins at the Great Alaska whatever it was, and recognize that CofC is not the outstanding team the RPI tries to sell it as. Unfortunately, CofC's two non-Div I games only serve to pad their record ... and I think maybe, UNCW was excluded this year from out of conference tournaments because of the presence of Brett Blizzard and Craig Callahan. They led the show last year against USC, and we're riding their coattails for all its worth again this year, one last hurrah!"
"Weber State most definitely deserves to stay on the Cinderella Watch list after a most recent win at Eastern Washington a few moments ago. The 'Cats, who knocked off the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels in the 1999 tournament, have been able to put together an outstanding season. With the exception of 3 stupid losses in the preseason to sub-100 teams. Weber remains undefeated in league play at 13-0 with one game remaining Saturday evening at Portland State, a team that matches up very well with Weber State. Weber has won 14 straight and I look forward to seeing them in the Big Dance, even if they some how fail to win their tournament that will take place in Ogden in 12 days! Peace"
"I think to fairly include all conferences in the Cinderlla Watch, we need to look at Wagner College. They have six straight wins, look like the favorites of the NEC conference (which ESPN rarely, if at all, mentions) and right now could give some of these other Cinderella teams a run for their money with Hall and Dye providing a lethal 1-2 punch. Hall alone would make some players in the Big 10 and Big 12 re-evaluate their own levels of play for such so called high-caliber conferences."
"The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky are ascending once again. The regretable departure of big man Chris Marcus has at least removed a distraction -- evidenced by their eight-game win streak and road win at Louisiana-Lafeyette. On this 10 year anniversary of their NCAA Sweet 16 trip, look for them to reach new peaks."
"Since when did the 'Gonzaga Rule' get re-named the 'Creighton Rule'? I realize that Gonzaga has had a streaky season this year, but let's not forget how this name came about. Gonzaga has, over the past five years, established itself as a strong program, with four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and with an Elite Eight appearance and Sweet Sixteen appearances in three out of those four trips. What has Creighton done? Gonzaga has paid its dues and as such has deserved the recognition of a strong program. I don't mean to diminish the accomplishments that Creighton has had this year, but let's not get carried away."
"Appalachian State is 18-8 if they win at ETSU Saturday. Have played WAY above expectations all season. Playing with confidence and having fun. Shawn Hall is probably the best unknown point guard in the NCAA. As a team, ASU is leading the NCAA in points scored per game. No at large bid if they don't win SoCon tournament but an NIT trip would be good."
"Everyone is so caught up with College Of Charleston, that they fail to see the real Cinderella. University of Chattanooga at Tennessee. UTC has beaten CoC two times now, and everyone wants to vote for CoC.You guys are crazy. Put UTC on the Cinderella Watch, they deserve it."
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