Warm welcome ‘second to none’

After a devastating loss to the University of Tennessee Friday, March 14, in the SEC Tournament, that other UT, the University of Texas, wasn’t sure what the future held as the team sat down in front of the cameras for men’s basketball Selection Sunday.

When CBS announced they would play Xavier at the First Four in Dayton, perhaps no one was more excited than Texas head coach Rodney Terry.

“We’re super excited about being here, being in this tournament. You never take it for granted, the opportunity of being here,” he said at a press conference at UD Arena on Tuesday.

But before getting into the details of his goals for the game and for his team, Terry took the time to recognize the University of Dayton and expressed his thanks for the welcome his team has received in the Gem City.

“I’d like to thank the Dayton staff that does a great job here and has done it for over 20 years, plus years here, in the NCAA Tournament,” he said. “The welcome that you guys gave us the other day and what you’ve been able to do in terms of the environment that you have here in March, it’s second to none.”

Terry said he spoke to his team about what to expect in Dayton and how great Flyer fans truly are.

“I was a young coach at UNC Wilmington, and we got a chance to play an NIT game here, and man, what great basketball fans here. Great venue, just a great setting.”

Terry said he was excited for his team to experience one of the “best venues in all of college basketball here in Dayton.”

Before concluding his remarks, Terry appealed to Flyer fans coming to watch the Texas vs. Xavier game, trying to get them to cheer against one of Dayton’s biggest historic rivals.

“I know … there’s a big rivalry between Dayton and Xavier, and we’d like to think that hopefully Dayton, you come over to our side and give us a little bit of home-court cooking — a little bit — as opposed to being on the road,” he laughed.

The Flyers are on it, coach.

Tonight, No. 11 seeds Xavier Musketeers and Texas Longhorns meet at UD Arena at 9:10 p.m. ET in the final First Four game. It will be the 141st NCAA Tournament game hosted by UD Arena, the most of any arena.

Photos by Nicole L. Craw.