The Saluki men's basketball team slam-dunked the Creighton Bluejays twice this season. So the University took an immense amount of hope with the Salukis to Monday night's MVC final showdown against the Bluejays in St. Louis, but that hope would die with an 84-76 loss.
Thus the Salukis lost the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will not find out until Sunday whether they will secure an at-large bid.
If they do or if they don't, the Salukis deserve our shouts of congratulations anyway. We have seen one of the best Saluki basketball teams yet play with passion and heart this season, getting thousands of butts back into the Arena's bleachers.
We were proud to see our team on ESPN2, and prouder still that they made it all the way to the MVC conference championship. The players deserve that at-large bid for rising from obscurity to become a formidable force for any collegiate team.
Even though they did not win, The Daily Egyptian respects the message that players took to the nation Monday night. This University is not some party school to be ignored; we are a fighting spirit destined for greatness.
We are with you guys all the way, hoping for that at-large bid. But even if it is not secured, know that your hard play and excellent performance have sparked a renewed sense of pride in Salukidom. We applaud your efforts and encourage fans to continue to support the Salukis with the same fervor that helped the team get all the way to the conference finals. Thanks for one heck of a great season.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
