Spring Break
Brokenhearted Drexel snubbed from NCAA Tournament
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
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"Stanford."
Never could one word emotionally hurt over 18,000 Drexel students as much as that one.
Drexel officially found out that it was not heading to the NCAA Tournament after Stanford was announced as the last team in the bracket of 65 on Selection Sunday, March 11.
Before the 65 teams were announced, there was nothing but celebration for the men's basketball team at the Drexel University Faculty Club on the sixth floor of MacAllister Hall.
When the players walked in, they received a standing ovation that resonated throughout the room. Drexel Athletic Director Eric Zilmer and Senior Vice President Anthony Caneris had beaming contagious smiles that spread to every Drexel affiliate in presence. There were several Drexel posters, highlighting their achievements throughout the season, including wins at Syracuse, Creighton and Villanova.
Initially, Dominick Mejia's and Chaz Crawford's eyes were glistening, as they waited in anticipation for the announcement of the colleges headed to the Big Dance. But one by one, hopes and dreams for an NCAA appearance slowly faded.
Old Dominion. Illinois. Arkansas.
Drexel had one last chance to make the tournament after Louisville was named as the No. 6 seed. VCU earned a No. 11 seed, while ODU earned a No. 12 seed. The Dragons were hoping to get the last No. 11 seed in the south bracket and play in Lexington, Ky.
But a split second after Stanford was named as the last team in the tournament, photographers took hundreds of pictures of Flint and his team, as they were the ones looking from the outside in. All hope was lost as the resume of their magical season was not good enough to get them an at-large bid. This year, the Dragons would not get a chance to rewrite history and have "Drexel" tattooed on any glass slippers.
The Drexel basketball players left their hearts on the basketball court every game, and now they left their teardrops in a room full of silence and desolation. It was supposed to be a time for merriment, but instead it ended in severe disappointment.
Never could one word emotionally hurt over 18,000 Drexel students as much as that one.
Drexel officially found out that it was not heading to the NCAA Tournament after Stanford was announced as the last team in the bracket of 65 on Selection Sunday, March 11.
Before the 65 teams were announced, there was nothing but celebration for the men's basketball team at the Drexel University Faculty Club on the sixth floor of MacAllister Hall.
When the players walked in, they received a standing ovation that resonated throughout the room. Drexel Athletic Director Eric Zilmer and Senior Vice President Anthony Caneris had beaming contagious smiles that spread to every Drexel affiliate in presence. There were several Drexel posters, highlighting their achievements throughout the season, including wins at Syracuse, Creighton and Villanova.
Initially, Dominick Mejia's and Chaz Crawford's eyes were glistening, as they waited in anticipation for the announcement of the colleges headed to the Big Dance. But one by one, hopes and dreams for an NCAA appearance slowly faded.
Old Dominion. Illinois. Arkansas.
Drexel had one last chance to make the tournament after Louisville was named as the No. 6 seed. VCU earned a No. 11 seed, while ODU earned a No. 12 seed. The Dragons were hoping to get the last No. 11 seed in the south bracket and play in Lexington, Ky.
But a split second after Stanford was named as the last team in the tournament, photographers took hundreds of pictures of Flint and his team, as they were the ones looking from the outside in. All hope was lost as the resume of their magical season was not good enough to get them an at-large bid. This year, the Dragons would not get a chance to rewrite history and have "Drexel" tattooed on any glass slippers.
The Drexel basketball players left their hearts on the basketball court every game, and now they left their teardrops in a room full of silence and desolation. It was supposed to be a time for merriment, but instead it ended in severe disappointment.
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Drexel Alum
posted 3/13/07 @ 3:13 PM EST
Who knew the shaft extended all the way out to the NCAA Selection Committee.
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