Tennessee State Looks Ready

Tigers Face Iowa State

(St. Louis, MO) – Tennessee State is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years. This HBCU has toiled away in virtual obscurity for years but was on the rise under coach Brian ‘Penny’ Collins. New coach Nolan Smith pushed them right into the Big Dance and Tennessee State looks ready.

The Tigers (23-9) face second seeded Iowa State (27-7) at 1:50 here in St. Louis and are a 23.5 point underdog in today’s first round contest. As we saw during the tournament’s first round and our long experience of enjoying the madness, anything can happen.

While the TSU players and coaches are excited to be dancing, they also want show the outside world that they ‘belong’.

The head coach brings a championship pedigree to the table and it has helped his team believe they can be champions. As a former ACC ‘Player of the Year’, NBA draft choice and assistant coach at his alma mater Duke, he has seen it all.

His experiences aren’t limited to his time with the Blue Devils, he also worked at Louisville and Memphis.

Smith’s message to his team has been about staying true to what made them Ohio Valley Conference champions.

“Now for the players, their dreams are coming true,” said Smith. “For our guys to throw themselves into the moment. Be caught up in the moment and be excited for the moment and be us. I have been saying that for the last week and a half since winning the OVC Tournament. It is being the team that we have become, which is a championship team.”

What Will it Take?

He doesn’t want his team to wonder if they belong.

“We have been OVC champions in the regular season and tournament,” said Smith. “We know what it takes. We’re excited to play a really good opponent in Iowa State. They are tough, they are physical. If we are soft, it could be a long night. We are not preparing for that. Our guys are tough. We are excited for a big-time game tomorrow afternoon.”

Point guard Dante Harris has been through these kinds of battles before. His history in the Big East, the ACC and in the American Athletic Conference has helped him lead his inexperienced teammates.

Smith says Harris is cool under pressure and guiding his teammates.

“He is so valuable,” said Smith. “When you are able to get a kid in today’s climate that has been in the Big East, ACC, in the American league, and now to come to this league and now be here on this stage, he’s built for this stage. He has won at every school he has been at. Watching him walk around now, he is extremely calm. That’s as a head coach, when your point guard looks like that, every head coach looks at their point guard. Look at your point guard he will make you feel a lot more at ease as far as how you are going to look tomorrow afternoon.”

Iowa State will be the big favorite in today’s game, but Tennessee State looks ready.

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