Ten years ago this weekend a fifteen seed from the State of Tennessee defeated second seeded power conference team in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Middle Tennessee defeated Michigan State 90-81 and Friday, fifteenth seeded Tennessee State (23-9) faces number two, Iowa State (27-7) with a chance to repeat history in St. Louis.
While no one on the planet is liable to pick the Tigers in this matchup with the Cyclones, the TSU players and coaching staff are a confident bunch. Iowa State is taller, stronger, deeper and is an overwhelming favorite in this first round game.
So, how can the Tigers repeat history?
Head coach Nolan Smith says his team has to excel on defense and continue to play hard-nosed basketball.
“On the defense we have to gang rebound,” said Smith. “All five guys have to be in that paint, in that fight. On the offensive end we have to value the ball. We have to get a shot up every possession or it needs to be a dead ball turnover. It can't be a live ball turnover where we give them run-outs and give them easy points.”
Each of these teams average just over 80 points per game, but Iowa State holds its opponents to just 65 points per contest. TSU allows 73.
Tiger players are determined to show the basketball world that they belong on the NCAA Tournament stage. Ohio Valley Conference ‘Player of the Year’ Aaron Nkrumah says his team will put its best foot forward.
“Once you are here, you are here,” said Nkrumah. “You got to put on a show for the world. That's what we are ready to do. We are going to put our best foot forward and do what we can to get that win.”
Nkrumah and all-OVC guard Travis Harper II are outstanding scorers, and Nkrumah is second nationally in steals. They are the key players in terms of production and attitude. They are confident players with unique skills.
Each is averaging over 17 points-per-game and they are converting over 35 percent of their three-point attempts. The two, 6’6 wings have combined to make 132 of TSU’s 204 triples.