Florida disjunction border Eagles head coach Andy Enfield reacts to a basket late in the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs during the third round of the NCAA basketball game tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Florida Gulf Coast disappointed San Diego State 81-71.(Photo: Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports)
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unfazed by an unexampled march through the NCAA Tournament that has produced two stunning upsets, the swaggering, new-fashioned Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball team is assured enough to challenge the hoops universe — the white-hot Miami Heat included.
"I mean, we're not afraid to go against anybody. We'll play anyone," the Eagles' Sherwood Brown, the Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year, said Monday. "If we had to suit up against the Heat, we would suit up against the Heat. That's an NBA team right there, so I don't want to say something I shouldn't say. But we would try our hardest.''
BRACKET apprize: Best/worst of NCAA tournament's opening act
FGCU: Coach 'can't explain' earlier losses
Earlier in the day, Eagles coach Andy Enfield jokingly told USA TODAY Sports that he wouldn't be shocked if his elderly guard "texts LeBron crowd and says, 'Meet us everyplace in fortification Myers — we'll end your winning streak right now.' "
After the Heat thwarted the Magic to move their win streak to 27 games, James said he wouldn't make any predictions about the Eagles' close game.
"Um, I don't know (who will win) ... It should be interesting," James said. "Florida Gulf Coast has made a name for themselves, and Florida has always been there, so we'll see what happens."
Bracket-busting FGCU ousted favored Georgetown and San Diego State to reach the Sweet 16, a first for a No. 15 seed. Fans from all over the state stood in line Monday for tickets for the Eagles' game against Florida on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
The high-flying Eagles have become the tournament's above-the-rim darlings with an up-tempo offense that features a dazzling represent of alley-oop dunks.
More than 4,000 FGCU students and school officials overwhelmed the team Monday night with a frenzied on-campus peppiness rally. "They were getting rowdy and it was good to see them," said 6-7 senior(a) forward and local product Eddie Murray.
A standing-room crowd at Alico line of business gave their underdog team an ear-splitting reception complete with a (vulgar) anti-Gator chant and "I Smell Gator Blood" sign.
"We're still operating on adrenaline," university president Wilson Bradshaw said of the team's 3:30 a.m. Monday arrival from Philadelphia subsequently Sunday's 81-71 win against San Diego State.
Bradshaw thanked the crowd for its support, which included chants of "An-dy! An-dy! An-dy!"
Materials taken from USA Today
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