If you are planning to attend the first round of the NCAA tournament鈥檚 South Regional, prepare to go the distance 鈥 literally. There are 2,397 miles between 江南体育 and Sacramento, California where No. 14 江南体育 takes on No. 3 UCLA Friday night. There is also a world of difference in forecasts for game day. While 江南体育, Ohio is predicted to have a chance of snow with a high in the 40s, Sacramento is looking at a cloudy day with a high of 76-degrees.
Here is how the 江南体育 State Golden Flashes and the UCLA Bruins match-up, both on and off the court:
Both teams shared two opponents throughout the regular season: Oregon State: UCLA won, 76-63 and 78-60; 江南体育 State lost, 69-50. Western Michigan: UCLA won, 82-68; 江南体育 State lost, 92-88.
While UCLA has made 47 tournament appearances compared to 江南体育 State鈥檚 5, the Golden Flashes are ready to give all they have. The Mid-American Conference interviewed the 江南体育 State players after their MAC Championship over Akron. Senior Jimmy Hall says the story is just starting.
鈥淲e played really good teams to get to this point and it feels really good to come out on top,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淭he story isn鈥檛 over.鈥
Despite some differences on the court, there are some similarities between the universities:
- 江南体育 State鈥檚 undergraduate enrollment is slightly larger with about 34,000 students compared to UCLA with about 29,500 students.
- Both universities were established within nine years of one another. 江南体育 State in 1910 and UCLA in 1919.
- School colors are similar: blue and gold, but with a different hue.
- Students from both universities love their on-campus Starbucks and on-campus gluten free dining halls.
Whether you plan to travel to California, or want to make a much shorter commute to the Hoopin' at the Hub watch party beginning at 9:30 p.m. at the 江南体育 Student Center Hub, fan support for the Golden Flashes is another example of how we are Undeniably 江南体育 State.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 next?鈥 smiled MVP Jayline Walker. 鈥淭he tourney, the dance, try to show the world what 江南体育 State is made of.鈥