Spring Break
Column: Eastern ties move on in NCAA Tournament
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: Sports
Did Cleveland State ruin your brackets?
Well, they did for me.
But for Cleveland State's George Tandy, he was instrumental in the team's win against fourth-seeded Wake Forest on Friday. Although the Vikings lost to the 12th-seeded Arizona Wildcats on Sunday, Tandy, an Eastern transfer, reached the NCAA Tournament.
Tandy was the 2004-2005 OVC Freshman of the Year and was important to the Vikings for the past two seasons.
Tandy, had six points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block against the Demon Deacons. Tandy struggled the Wildcats. He only had two points and two rebounds on Sunday.
"It's going to be difficult, because it's a better team, but I don't think it will be different than any other game we've played,'' Tandy told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer before the start of the tournament.
He was averaging 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds before the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm sorry to a lot of people that we broke their brackets," Cleveland State forward George Tandy told the Indianapolis Sports Examiner. "But we had a lot of confidence. We were prepared."
But yes, that is one of Eastern's connections to the NCAA Tournament. And while Tandy and the Vikings are done, it is time to move on.
Eastern's other connections have reached the Sweet 16.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter advanced the Boilermakers with a win against Washington on Saturday. Painter was an Eastern assistant coach from 1995 to 1998. Painter also earned his masters degree at Eastern.
Former Eastern player Jack Owens serves on the Purdue coaching staff. He is an assistant coach the first season.
Owens averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 assists per game as a senior at Eastern, earning honorable mention All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. As a senior, he served as team captain and was named team MVP and Outstanding Defensive Player.
Morehead State, the OVC representative in the tourney, played the No. 1 overall seed pretty tough.
The Cardinals held a slight lead against Morehead State at halftime, but then like a No. 1 seed, pulled away.
While neither Eastern basketball teams did not reach the tourney this season, it is fun to check out the Eastern connections and root for them or whatever helps your bracket.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
Well, they did for me.
But for Cleveland State's George Tandy, he was instrumental in the team's win against fourth-seeded Wake Forest on Friday. Although the Vikings lost to the 12th-seeded Arizona Wildcats on Sunday, Tandy, an Eastern transfer, reached the NCAA Tournament.
Tandy was the 2004-2005 OVC Freshman of the Year and was important to the Vikings for the past two seasons.
Tandy, had six points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block against the Demon Deacons. Tandy struggled the Wildcats. He only had two points and two rebounds on Sunday.
"It's going to be difficult, because it's a better team, but I don't think it will be different than any other game we've played,'' Tandy told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer before the start of the tournament.
He was averaging 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds before the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm sorry to a lot of people that we broke their brackets," Cleveland State forward George Tandy told the Indianapolis Sports Examiner. "But we had a lot of confidence. We were prepared."
But yes, that is one of Eastern's connections to the NCAA Tournament. And while Tandy and the Vikings are done, it is time to move on.
Eastern's other connections have reached the Sweet 16.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter advanced the Boilermakers with a win against Washington on Saturday. Painter was an Eastern assistant coach from 1995 to 1998. Painter also earned his masters degree at Eastern.
Former Eastern player Jack Owens serves on the Purdue coaching staff. He is an assistant coach the first season.
Owens averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 assists per game as a senior at Eastern, earning honorable mention All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. As a senior, he served as team captain and was named team MVP and Outstanding Defensive Player.
Morehead State, the OVC representative in the tourney, played the No. 1 overall seed pretty tough.
The Cardinals held a slight lead against Morehead State at halftime, but then like a No. 1 seed, pulled away.
While neither Eastern basketball teams did not reach the tourney this season, it is fun to check out the Eastern connections and root for them or whatever helps your bracket.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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