(St. Louis, MO) – The surprising Jacksonville State Gamecocks have their next assignment. Friday the fifteenth seeded Gamecocks will open the NCAA Tournament with a monumental task of taking on second seeded Louisville, in a Midwest Regional’s opening round game.
JSU has produced one of the greatest turnarounds in this campaign’s basketball season. After winning eight games last season, first year head coach Ray Harper engineered a 20-14 record and an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament victory.
The veteran JSU squad will have its hands full with the 24-8 Cardinals. OVC Tournament MVP Malcolm Drumwright (12.6 points and 3.8 assists per game) leads a balanced Gamecock attack as one of four players that average double figure scoring.
Greg Tucker (11.3), Eric Durham (11.1) and Norbertas Giga (10.4 & 8.1 rebounds) were the other leading scorers. Christian Cunningham (8.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game) edged Giga as the leading rebounder.
Of course, Louisville is coached by hall of fame coach Rick Pitino and are led by all-ACC guard Donovan Mitchell. The Cardinals return to the NCAA Tournament after a one year ineligibility (disciplinary action) absence. Prior to last season’s imposed ban, Louisville had gone to the ‘Big Dance’ nine straight seasons.
This is the Gamecock’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
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