When Cal State Bakersfield drove into town Wednesday, Roadrunners coach Rod Barnes saw the Cox Convention Center across the street and was glad his team wouldn’t be playing there this time around.
In 1998, Barnes was an assistant coach at Ole Miss a few months from taking over as the Rebels’ head coach when Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew hit a last-second 3-pointer to lift the 13th-seeded Crusaders to a 70-69 upset of fourth-seeded Ole Miss.
“When we drove into town the first day, I said, ‘Here we go man,’” Barnes said. “I can’t believe the last time I was here in that building.