Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — For most mid-major programs, just making the NCAA tournament is the hallmark of a successful season; anything beyond is just frosting on the cake.
For Weber State, that is not the case. The WSU Wildcats firmly believe they can become the first-ever 16-seed in the tournament to upset a top seed, in this case the Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 conference.
And as players and coaches engaged with fans at a sendoff ceremony before leaving for San Diego on Wednesday, Weber’s traveling party said the team is focused on playing its best Friday and not worrying about whatever Arizona might do.
“We’ve just been loose, being ourselves,” said Davion Berry, the Big Sky’s regular season and tournament MVP. “We’re going to do what we do, and we’re not scared. We’re just going to come out, be aggressive; just be ourselves. Be Weber State.”
Berry was singled out by Arizona coach Sean Miller in his Sunday press conference, where he noted Berry as being a significant part of the reason why Weber State is in the NCAA tournament.
Berry stated Miller’s comment demonstrate respect for the Weber program.
“That just shows that we have a good team,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who he named. ... We’re all one unit. And we have to go out there and fight together.”
Weber State is led by a strong senior class, with all-conference performers Kyle Tresnak and Jordan Richardson joining Berry and backup forward Byron Fulton. Still, a vital part of how well Weber will do against Arizona is how well their freshmen players, like guards Jeremy Senglin and Richaud Gittens, do in the game.
I'm excited. I'm just ready. (I'm ready) to just play with a motor at all times.
–Jeremy Senglin
Senglin said the hype just continues to build up in preparation for the game.
“I’m excited,” said Senglin, who won the Freshman of the Year award in the Big Sky. “I’m just ready. (I’m ready) to just play with a motor at all times.”
In preparation for the tournament, Weber coach Randy Rahe’s comments have stayed consistent: His team isn’t going to the tournament scared.
“Well, we’re playing pretty good,” said Rahe, who is 0-1 in the NCAA tournament at Weber State. “I think we’ve got a lot of confidence and momentum. All I do know is, we’re going to be ready to play. We’re not just going to show up and let somebody just beat us up.”
Senior guard Jordan Richardson, who earned All-Big Sky conference tournament team honors, said that Tuesday’s practice was typical of any Weber practice — tough and physical.
“Practice was good,” he said. “We just competed and focused on ourselves pretty much. We got our juices flowing a little bit, as we get ready for Friday.”
Richardson said it’s easy to see why Arizona is a number-one seed in the tournament.
“They’re very long and athletic,” he noted. “They’re a great team. That’s why they’re the No. 1 team in the country, for a reason.”
Overall, the Weber Wildcats are looking at this game as a chance to prove their skills against a highly qualified opponent, on a national stage.
“As a player, you’re always excited to play the best players in the country,” Richardson said. “We’ll all be ready. We’ll keep our emotions under control, and we’ll be ready.”
