ETSU Almost Makes History… Again

In 1989, East Tennessee State University, as a #16 seed in the NCAA tournament, had a 15 point lead in the 2nd half, over a #1 seed Oklahoma. As we all know though #16 seeds were 0-98 going into today’s game. Oklahoma won the game in the final 2 minutes.

Twenty years later, college basketball’s tournament has the same setup and there are the same power house teams. And, apparently, there are the same underdogs, with Cinderella eyes.

ETSU, playing Pittsburgh today, made the nation hold their breath and root for the little known Bucaneers for an afternoon. In the game until the very end and playing toe-to-toe with Pitt, the 2nd most favored team to win at 4:1 (UNC is 2:1), the Bucs looked like a team that should have been seeded a little higher.

For those of you longing for the day that a #16 beats a #1, there is still one chance left for 2009: tonight @ 7:10 PM ET – #1 Louisville vs #16 Morehead St.