Given the impressive run the 2011 team was on, and using 2008 as a guide, it seemed reasonable to expect that the Red Foxes’ seed would land somewhere in the 7-10 range. The Red Foxes were keenly aware of the implications of getting either an 8 or 9 seed. Either would entail a strong probability of a bus ride to Storrs, Connecticut, home of the back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies, who would be a top seed this year. Marist had enjoyed its warmer-weather locations of the last several years (three trips to California and one to Louisiana since 2007) and was hoping for something similar. The good news is, Marist earned its second-best seed in program history. The better news was the location. As a #10 seed, the Red Foxes were on their way to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, where they would face #7 seed Iowa State in round one. Marist had played Duke at the Blue Devils’ fabled home court in its second game of the 2006-07 season, meaning that it would be the first collegiate game there for this group of Red Foxes. Iowa State had established itself as a model of consistency under head coach Bill Fennelly and had made a considerable amount of noise in recent NCAA play. The Cyclones were making their fifth straight NCAA appearance and had reached the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen the last two seasons. The 2010-11 squad arrived in North Carolina with a 22-10 record, offensive prowess, and size.
75
Thank You, Coach Giorgis
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker