Long wait to join the Madness

Golden Eagles embrace late start

GREENVILLE, S.C. Since the moment Sunday evening when the Marquette men’s basketball team learned of its inclusion in the NCAA Tournament, the Golden Eagles have been itching to take the court at Bon Secours Wellness Arena against South Carolina.

Waiting is the hardest part for any team getting ready to participate in March Madness. That challenge is an especially high hurdle for Marquette and South Carolina, which aren’t scheduled to tip off until approximately 8:50 p.m. Friday, which is just shy of 10 p.m. local time.

“That’s going to be a weird game,” Marquette redshirt junior guard Andrew Rowsey said. “We’re just glad to be here. Whatever time we got we were going to be happy with. It’s just about going out there and playing and trying to win.”

“I hope I don’t nod off on the bench,” South Carolina coach Frank Martin added.

Playing in the second-tolast game of the opening round of the tournament provides an unusual situation for both teams. It’s a later tipoff than they’re used to and it means waiting through two days of hype, drama and excitement before they even

get on the court.

Many fans will be well past the point of basketball fatigue by the time the Golden Eagles and Gamecocks get going, but as players and coaches, they’ll all need to be ready to perform at the highest level.

Some might argue that the long layoff might make it harder for Friday night’s participants to feel like they’re part of the NCAA Tournament. That’s not unreasonable considering for a large chunk of time they have been relegated to watching on television just like everyone else.

Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski doesn’t see things that way.

“I think in some respects it’s an advantage to be able — although we’ve been very busy today with our preparation, whether we’re at meals, whatever — you get to see the games going on,” Wojciechowski said. “You really start to feel a part of the tournament.”