The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1 Madness begins:
Eagles advance to face East No. 1 North Carolina.
Florida Gulf Coast makes quick work of Fairleigh Dickinson, and Wichita State routs Vanderbilt in NCAA Tournament First Four games Tuesday.
DAYTON, OHIO — Florida Gulf Coast showed once again that it can rise to the occasion in the NCAA Tournament.
It wasn’t the same “Dunk City” gang that captured the nation’s attention during an improbable Sweet 16 run in 2013, but the Eagles controlled the rebounds and blew past overmatched Fairleigh Dickinson 96-65 in a First Four game Tuesday night.
Marc-Eddy Norelia opened the game with a dunk, two of his 20 points on the night to lead the Eagles (21-13). FGCU never relinquished the lead, going on a 23-6 run in the first 10 minutes and opening a 40-19 lead at the half.
Fairleigh Dickinson got some looks but couldn’t get much to fall, shooting just 33 percent from the field while playing lackluster defense. It was one of the team’s worst shooting performances of the season.
Florida Gulf Coast relied on outmuscling its opponent’s big men inside and controlling the rebounds, while making 60 percent of its shots from the field.
“That’s what got us here,” Norelia said of the inside game. “Coach made the game plan and said we’re going to do what we’ve been doing, and it worked for us.”
Julian Debose and Christian Terrell each scored 14 for Florida Gulf Coast, and Demetris Morant added 10 points.
After Norelia’s opening dunk, Brian Greene Jr. closed the scoring with a dunk for FGCU.
Norelia was 10 for 11 from the field while adding 10 rebounds. FGCU outrebounded the smaller, less-aggressive Fairleigh Dickinson squad 52-33.
“We knew they were very good, very long, very well-coached,” Fairleigh Dickinson coach Greg Herenda said. “And tonight they played that way.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t play our basketball, Fairleigh Dickin- son basketball, in the first half.”
Earl Potts Jr. led Fairleigh Dickinson (18-15) with 16 points despite sitting a good portion of the second half with four fouls. Marques Townes added 13 points.
The 19 points at halftime was the lowest offensive output of any half for Fairleigh Dickinson.
Florida Gulf Coast, which improved to 3-1 in the NCAA Tourna- ment, will need some more magic as it takes on top-seeded North Carolina on Thursday.
“We’re just going to stay confident and believe in ourselves and give it our best effort,” Norelia said. “Anything can happen.”
The Eagles already proved that three years ago. Wichita State 70, Vanderbilt 50: Wichita State’s guards used their Final Four experience to pull out a defense-dominated First Four game, leading the way to a victory over Vanderbilt in Dayton, Ohio.
Fred VanVleeet — the two-time Missouri Valley player of the year — scored 14 points, and Ron Baker also had 14 as Wichita State (25-8) took control at the start of the second half and held on. The seniors were part of Wichita State’s 2013 Final Four team.
The Shockers play Arizona on Thursday in Providence, Rhode Island.
Vanderbilt (19-14) couldn’t take advantage of its pronounced size advantage on offense and never led in the second half. Joe Toye and Riley LaChance had 10 apiece.
LSU coach takes blame: Coach Johnny Jones expected to be anywhere but conducting a season-ending news conference on the LSU campus Tuesday.
Despite having the projected No. 1 NBA draft pick in Ben Simmons on the roster, Jones and the Tigers struggled down the stretch to finish 19-14 and no appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m disappointed we’re here and not playing in the NCAA Tournament at someone’s site,” Jones said. “We came off a year where we went to the NCAA Tournament. We had players returning and a top recruiting class coming in. There was a lot of hope. We fell short and I assume all responsibility.”
The decision was also made Sunday that LSU would not participate in the NIT.
So, Simmons’ college career ended, in all probability, with a 33-point loss to Texas A&M in the SEC semifinals.
Jones acknowledged that he has not spoken to Simmons the past two days and would not say if the freshman attended classes this week. But the coach sounded as though Simmons’ basketball days at LSU were over.
“I would take a oneand-done like Ben again,” Jones said. “It has been a joy coaching him. Not a lot of coaches have the opportunity to coach the No. 1 high school player in the country.”