The next stop for ETSU is Columbus, Ohio.
Drawing a predictable 13 seed, the Bucs will face fourth seeded Cincinnati Bearcats just an hour and a half away from Cincy’s home.
“I know Cincinnati well – I have played them many times,” said Murry Bartow about his former rival in the USA Conference.
“Bob (Huggins) is a great coach. They’re a very physical, aggressive and tough type of team.”
The Bearcats just came off a Conference USA title win over Depaul 55-50. Cincy (24-6) is ranked 13th in the Associated Press Poll.
They have an impressive list of teams they have beaten this year including Memphis, Louisville and UNC-Charlotte.
Ben Rhoda, an Ohio native, is pleased to be returning home for a NCAA matchup with Cincy.
“I was kind of excited and hoping for an Ohio venue all week.” “It’s nice to go home and play in front of people that saw you play in high school. There are a great team and so are we. If we play them well I think we can beat them,” Rhoda said.
An anxious crowd of fans, coaches and ETSU ball players awaited their matchup to be called on the Selection Show on CBS. As ETSU was called out at a 13 seed, CBS’s Clark Kellogg said that Cincinnati would face a “tough No. 13 matchup.”
“We’ve got to go out there and jump in head first,” said Jerald Fields. “They’re an athletic team and so are we. I know we are going to have to do a lot of boxing out on this team.”
“Actually I was happy to be there last year. But this time, I want a win.”
Bartow’s tenure at UAB has paid off as he faced the Bearcats more than once. He has also developed working relationships with the coaching staff in Cincy.
“I spent a day at Cincinnati when I was off last year,” he said. “My link there is Andy Kennedy. He played at UAB for my dad and worked for me at UAB. He is one of Bob’s assistants and we talk all the time.”
ETSU’s first round game will be on Friday, but the time is unknown as of press time. It’s a possibility that the Bucs could face the winner of Illinois/Murray State if ETSU makes it past Cincy in the first round.
A Sweet 16 birth could face a No. 1-seededDuke.
“The first thing I think of with them is that they are a very tough and physical team. Bob expects that kind of play out of his guys,” Bartow said.
Even after a week to think about their matchup and victory, Zakee Wadood sees this as a sweeter NCAA Tournament than last years.
“It’s that much more sweet to have a chance to play in a second NCAA Tournament,” he said. “This is something most people don’t get to experience and I’m getting to experience it for the second time. My face lit up once I saw who we were playing.”
Tim Smith continues to get press from the major media outlets such as Sports Illustrated.
Sport Illustrated’s Seth Davis said that Smith’s quickness would lead ETSU a long way in the tournament.
Bartow feels that having Smith at the point gives ETSU a much-needed advantage.
“Having a player like Tim at the point helps us. We’ve got a lot of good components on this team but we have a fantastic point guard,” he said.
“It’s seems like the bigger the game the better he plays. He likes that big stage, he wants the ball in his hands. He’s a fun player to coach.”
Smith says he’s ready to play the big game with Cincinnati.
“We just have to come out and play hard,” he said. “I think we can pull an upset on them. I think we have better chemistry this year and know how to win. Hopefully, we can play better than we did last year.
“Last year, we got down early because we weren’t loose. This year, we can’t do that. We have to defend well and hopefully get a win.

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