For the first time in school history, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks are going to the Big Dance. Jacksonville State captured the Ohio Valley Conference tournament Saturday, defeating Tenn.-Martin 66-55, becoming their first squad to qualify for the 2017 NCAA tournament.
Not bad for a team that was 8-13 last year.
First year coach Ray Harper fashioned a 20-14 mark to get the Midwest #15 seed and a Friday meeting with #2 seed Louisville. Harper is the winningest coach you have never heard of.
The 55-year old native Kentuckian has been a head coach for 18 years has won 471 games and four national championships (two NCAA II and two NAIA).