Loyola To Play No. 2 Ohio State In NCAA East Regional Thursday
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Not the best pick, but it could have been worse. The Loyola men's basketball team learned their match-up in the NCAA Tournament Sunday. Players and students are pumped.
Adam May reports.
The Loyola Greyhounds cheered with excitement when their team was announced on national TV during the CBS March Madness selection show.
"The dream is to win one game and advance to the next round now," said one.
The 15th-seeded men's basketball team will play Ohio State Thursday, a second-seeded team coming off a busy schedule.
"I'm a little worried because they're more physical and bigger but if we can get it going early with the score, we'll find out-- and they just played three games," Loyola's basketball coach Jimmy Pastos said.
This is the first time Loyola is headed to the big dance since 1994 after winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship. Students are stoked.
"Everyone's excited! We're ready to go!"
"You never know. Everyone has high hopes. You can't assume anything. It's exciting for us."
"I've been following Loyola since I was a young kid, so I've seen them excel in basketball. Its been a great experience."
Erik Etherly, Loyola's 6'7" forward, spoke to WJZ's Mark Viviano.
Viviano: "What's it going take to beat Ohio State?"
Etherly: "Its going to take a few days of practice, getting into the mentality of the MAAC Tournament-- preparation and execution."
Thursday's game will be in Pittsburgh.
