Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall took on Notre Dame and Mike Brey
back in 2007. His shocking upset of ND by that Winthrop squad was another
black mark against The Irish in the NCAA tournament.
Can this year's Irish team overcome the ghosts from those past losses?
"We were so well-prepared, so fired up," said former Winthrop player Antwon Harris. "There was no way we were going to lose that game."Related
Wichita State's Fred VanVleet celebrates a three pointer that gave Wichita State the lead late in the first half against Kansas. |Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle›[/URL]‹[/URL]
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That 74-64 win represented the culmination of nine seasons of work for Marshall at Winthrop. He pushed the Eagles to seven NCAA Tournament spots, never higher than a No. 14 seed until 2007. That team went 28-4, 14-0 in the Big South, and defeated Mississippi State, Missouri State and Old Dominion in non-conference play to earn a No. 11 seed.
"This is our best chance," Marshall said.
The Eagles - who lost by 10 points to Gonzaga in 2005 and 63-61 on a last-second shot to Tennessee in 2006 - didn't waste the reward from the NCAA selection committee. Experience favored the Eagles, even though Notre Dame started seniors Russell Carter and Colin Falls, junior Rob Kurz and freshmen Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody. The Eagles believed their guards could handle Notre Dame's backcourt and their big men enjoyed an edge.
"Everything we worked for was not to make the NCAA Tournament, but to win in the NCAA Tournament," Winthrop guard Torrell Martin said.
Notre Dame invented the fiery pre-game speech of legend and lore. This time, the "Win one for the Gipper" factor went against the Irish. Marshall told his team that the Irish had been invited to march in Spokane's St. Patrick's Day parade the next day. To this day, he isn't sure how true the story is. He ran with it and his players will never forget. News reports from the time confirm that Notre Dame coach Mike Brey did at least consider the possibility of joining the parade.
"The Irish, of course, being Irish, had been asked to be grand marshals or something," Marshall said. "That's what we had been told. I made mention of that to my team, of course."
Gaynor remembers Marshall's speech this way: "They were supposed to be the grand marshal for the parade. We'll make them invite us instead. They're already celebrating and thinking they'll walk all over us and go to a parade the next day."
No parade for the Irish.
"Marshall had a knack for giving speeches," Martin said. "He had a knack for winning"
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article16205624.html#storylink=cpy
Calling Ghostbusters
back in 2007. His shocking upset of ND by that Winthrop squad was another
black mark against The Irish in the NCAA tournament.
Can this year's Irish team overcome the ghosts from those past losses?
"We were so well-prepared, so fired up," said former Winthrop player Antwon Harris. "There was no way we were going to lose that game."Related
Wichita State's Fred VanVleet celebrates a three pointer that gave Wichita State the lead late in the first half against Kansas. |Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle›[/URL]‹[/URL]
PHOTOS: Wichita State dominates Kansas to advance to the Sweet 16
Where is Wichita State's Gregg Marshall headed? To Cleveland, silly
What are your Wichita State watch party plans?
Report: Alabama will make a big-money run at Wichita State's Gregg Marshall
That 74-64 win represented the culmination of nine seasons of work for Marshall at Winthrop. He pushed the Eagles to seven NCAA Tournament spots, never higher than a No. 14 seed until 2007. That team went 28-4, 14-0 in the Big South, and defeated Mississippi State, Missouri State and Old Dominion in non-conference play to earn a No. 11 seed.
"This is our best chance," Marshall said.
The Eagles - who lost by 10 points to Gonzaga in 2005 and 63-61 on a last-second shot to Tennessee in 2006 - didn't waste the reward from the NCAA selection committee. Experience favored the Eagles, even though Notre Dame started seniors Russell Carter and Colin Falls, junior Rob Kurz and freshmen Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody. The Eagles believed their guards could handle Notre Dame's backcourt and their big men enjoyed an edge.
"Everything we worked for was not to make the NCAA Tournament, but to win in the NCAA Tournament," Winthrop guard Torrell Martin said.
Notre Dame invented the fiery pre-game speech of legend and lore. This time, the "Win one for the Gipper" factor went against the Irish. Marshall told his team that the Irish had been invited to march in Spokane's St. Patrick's Day parade the next day. To this day, he isn't sure how true the story is. He ran with it and his players will never forget. News reports from the time confirm that Notre Dame coach Mike Brey did at least consider the possibility of joining the parade.
"The Irish, of course, being Irish, had been asked to be grand marshals or something," Marshall said. "That's what we had been told. I made mention of that to my team, of course."
Gaynor remembers Marshall's speech this way: "They were supposed to be the grand marshal for the parade. We'll make them invite us instead. They're already celebrating and thinking they'll walk all over us and go to a parade the next day."
No parade for the Irish.
"Marshall had a knack for giving speeches," Martin said. "He had a knack for winning"
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article16205624.html#storylink=cpy
Calling Ghostbusters
