The NCAA women’s tournament selection show was 20 minutes old. Three regionals had already been revealed, but the St. Peter’s College women’s basketball team had not heard their name called. The Peahens gathered together at SPC’s McIntyre Lounge and were prepared to learn their travel itinerary together on a big projection television.
Although St. Peter’s was guaranteed its third NCAA berth in four years by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title the prior weekend, there still was a moment of apprehension about their destiny.
And as the selection show continued, there was even more concern about a possible first-round matchup with neighboring Rutgers.
"It would be good to play Rutgers in the regular season," said senior Lawanda Greene, the MVP of last week’s MAAC Tourney. "But not now. It’s right down the road. I don’t want to go there for the last game of my college career."
"No one wants to go there," said senior center Mercy Aghedo, who is one of three current SPC players making their third trip to the Big Dance. "It’s right there in Piscataway. I want to see another part of the country."
About 10 minutes later, there was a low roar in the room when the team saw their name appear paired with Mississippi State in the first round, to be held at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
St. Peter’s (23-7) gained the 14th seed in the West Region and played third-seeded Mississippi State (23-7), the runnerup in the powerful Southeast Conference, Friday night.
Immediately, the players were asked if they knew where Oregon actually was. None had ever been there. Some were familiar with Portland, but the instant geography lesson was somewhat of a disaster.
"I just found out where it is,” said Aghedo, the third leading rebounder among players participating in the tournament at 11.8 per game. "I knew it was out west, so I was set to bring my bathing suit. But I heard it’s cold and rainy there, so it kills my expectations. But I’m just happy to get in."
Veteran head coach Mike Granelli, who is making his sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament during his 28-year tenure at SPC, was hopeful that his team would receive a 13th seed. According to the latest RPI ratings, St. Peter’s was 77th, which was higher than three teams (Pepperdine, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Rice) that received 13th seeds. And Granelli’s team was paired with Mississippi State, ranked 12th in the latest Associated Press poll, but ninth in the RPI.
However, Granelli was encouraged that for the first time, St. Peter’s will be playing an NCAA Tourney game on a neutral floor. In each of its five previous trips, St. Peter’s played its game at its opponent’s home, including last year in a first-round loss to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and in 1997 to Louisiana Tech in Rushton, La.
"At least we’re not getting someone on their home court," Granelli said. "We’re catching a little bit of a break there. I’m not happy that it’s Mississippi State, because they’re one of the best teams in the country. I’m also disappointed that our local people can’t see us play. If we were in Boston or Norfolk, we might get some fans. But being way out there, it’s going to be tough."
"Maybe the fans in Oregon will take to us like a Cinderella team," Greene said. "Maybe Cinderella might be us this year."
Mississippi State is enjoying its finest season ever, winning 23 games before losing to powerhouse Tennessee in the SEC tourney finale last Wednesday. Sharon Fanning, in her fifth year as head coach at MSU after a long career at Kentucky, was named SEC Coach of the Year and 6-2 freshman center LaToya Thomas (20.8 ppg, 8.0 rebounds) was the SEC Newcomer of the Year.
Although the Peahens have never won an NCAA Tourney game in their history, the experience of making its third trip in four years has to help. It has already boosted the team’s confidence.
"We have a lot of experience going to the tournament," said senior guard Yolanda Daniels. "We’ve been there before, playing big teams. We want to win this time, be the first team in the school’s history to win. We all have that desire."
"We’re veterans, but we still have something to prove by winning a game in the tourney," Aghedo said. "We’re just going to go out there and play our hardest."
It won’t be easy for the Peahens, but they’re in the Big Dance. And that’s all they can ask for – the chance to dance.