Morehead Eagles prepared to represent Kentucky basketball as lone team from state in March Madness
MOREHEAD, Ky. (BVM) — Since 1965, a team from the state of Kentucky has participated in the NCAA men’s basketball national tournament. That’s just what happens when the state has the team with the most tournament appearances and wins (the University of Kentucky) and another in the top 10 in both categories (the University of Louisville). Sprinkle in a few high-level mid-major programs like Western Kentucky University and Murray State and even when those bluebloods have an off year, the Commonwealth is still well-represented. However, this season is different. There are no Cardinals, no Wildcats, no Hilltoppers, not even any Racers, Colonels or Norse for that matter, but the streak will continue on with its lone representative this year: the Morehead State Eagles.
“Obviously I’m from Kentucky. I know what basketball means in the state here and I know what March Madness means,” Eagles head coach Preston Spradlin said. “Two years removed from the last time there was a tournament for us to be the only Kentucky team to represent our great state is pretty special. I’d imagine we picked up a lot of fans in the last 12 or 24 hours, … It means a lot to me personally being from Kentucky and knowing the people of the state and their affection for basketball.”
As the Commonwealth’s only hope for March Madness glory this year, the Eagles will not have an easy road ahead. The Eagles drew the No. 14 seed in the Midwest portion of the bracket, setting up a tough matchup against No. 3 West Virginia. As one of the top teams in the Big 12 and a program with a significant amount of tournament experience, Spradlin knows the task will be a difficult one.
“[They’re] a typical Bob Huggins West Virginia team,” Spradlin said. “They’re going to be very physical, very tough, very rugged. Great defense. Great rebounding team. Good size and this year a very good offensive team to go with it. … It’s going to be a great matchup because in our league, we kind of have the same identity. We pride ourselves on being a very physical, tough defensive-minded team that dominates the glass and dominates the paint so it will be a battle of two really comparable teams in terms of style of play.”
A particularly difficult matchup will also be the marquee individual struggle throughout the game when Eagles forward Johni Broome, the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, goes up against All-Big 12 first team member Derek Culver, who is widely considered one of the best forwards in the nation. The junior Culver has been strong this season, averaging 14.6 points, second on the Mountaineers, while grabbing a team-high 9.8 rebounds. Broome, meanwhile, was a sensation during his first season with the Eagles, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding.
“We probably play through Johni a little bit more than West Virginia plays through Culver, but he’s a fantastic talent,” Spradlin said. “That’ll be a big time matchup. Johni is a big focal point for what we do offensively and they are going to know that. They are going to challenge Derek Culver to make sure he’s ready for the challenge. It’s going to be a great matchup. I know Johni is really excited about it already and we’ll make sure we get him ready for it.”
West Virginia’s unit has long been known for its defensive prowess and while the team may not resemble the “Press Virginia” nicknamed teams of the past, the unit still boasts some strong defensive play specifically on the interior where Culver and fellow forward Gabe Osabuohien, a Big 12 all-defensive team member, can roam freely in the paint. With those two in the middle guarding Broome, Spradlin knows that it will be on his smaller players to step up in the game.
“It’s going to put a lot on our guards just with West Virginia’s overall pressure,” Spradlin said. “It’s going to be on our guards to be able to handle their pressure, to be able to get the catches we need to run the offense we’re used to and we’re comfortable with.”
Though questions about the offense and getting solid play out of Broome have been numerous, Spradlin still believes it’s the defense that will pull the team through. With the Eagles leading the OVC in a number of defensive categories, the team is used to transitioning strong defense to easy offense and Spradlin hopes to replicate that similar success when the team takes the court against West Virginia.
“For us it starts on the defensive end,” Spradlin said. “Offensively we want to play off our defense. If we can get steals and get rebounds and push the ball and play in transition we certainly want to do that.”
Although Spradlin will be leading a team into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his career, he won’t go in blind. Spradlin got an assist in his preparation for the tournament from Kentucky head coach John Calipari, who Spradlin worked under for five seasons as a graduate assistant and assistant director of operations for the Wildcats from 2009-14. The legendary coach’s advice to his former understudy was simple.
“The big thing he talks about is just have fun and I remember that time being with him,” Spradlin said. “I think if you’re making sure your team is having fun this time of year there’s enough added pressure. … I think if we as a staff and as a program can keep it light, keep it fun, remind the guys why we’re here, what got us here and keep them focused on that, those are the things Cal’s always been fantastic at with his team to help them make runs in the tournament.”
Spradlin will use that advice in an attempt to be the ringleader for the state of Kentucky’s hopes to have another champion in the Commonwealth. Though he knows the first matchup will be a tough one with the Mountaineers, the young coach will make sure his guys are ready for their chance to make a run in March. With the team coming in as one of the hottest in the country with seven straight wins and winners of 19 of their last 20 contests, Spradlin feels that the Eagles will be ready to give it their all.
“I think any time you go into tournament time you want to be playing your best and I think our team is proving that,” Spradlin said. “We’re playing well and we’re going to continue to work to get ready for this game to make sure we take that momentum into Friday night.”
