There is a lot of basketball to play, and I won’t have time to blog any more as I’ll be getting my report together for the 6 p.m. news. It’s all good right now, the Eagles are out hustling the Irish and they look like the team that wants it more. The crowd is behind the Eagles, and there are loud chants of “defense” when Notre Dame has the ball.

3:19 PM

In the first half the Eagles were down by as many as 7, but with about 4 minutes left in the half, their hustle on the defense end began to pay off and the lid on their own bucket seemed to come off and the points started to drop in.

Notre Dame called a time out with 2:43 left in the half after Terrell Martin tied the game with a lay up off an Irish turnover.

Just before the half, the crowd here exploded as Winthrop bombed a couple of 3’s, from Taj McCullough and Michael Jenkins and just went to the locker room with a 4 point lead…. I have never wanted to stand and cheer so badly at a game, but I’m a professional so I didn’t.

There is no shortage of Irish fans in attendance, but the rest of the crowd seems to be pulling for the little guy. Up next, the second half. I would love to blog some more but I have to go eat the free media food.

2:51 PM

I just arrived at my seat courtside, and my heart is pounding, my palms are sweaty and my hands are shaking.

I don’t usually get this worked up about a game, but I am not usually allowed in the team locker room before the game. I guess there are benefits to being the only TV station willing to make the commitment to cover the team on such a long distance trip!

Listening to coach Marshall’s final pre-game speech sent chills up my spine. I felt like I was watching the movie ‘Hoosiers’ as he told his team he believed they were a team of destiny. Whether or not it turns out to be true, we will have to wait and see.

We’re about half way through the first half and the Eagles are hanging with the Irish. I’ll check in at half time and perhaps I will have settled down a bit.

1:50 PM

Winthrop and Notre Dame tip off in about 40 minutes and what a morning it’s been already.

Fans are filing in the arena, and so far many of the Oregon fans have been chanting GO WINTHROP during shoot around.

I had a nice visit with Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall when I arrived. He was wandering around the arena before the teams came out for their first warm up time. He is as relaxed and loose as I have ever seen him before a tournament game.

I’ll be posting blogs during the game so check back soon and I’ll share the emotions of this crowd as the game unfolds.

Ira