March 17, 2008

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ARLINGTON, Texas - - UT Arlington men's basketball players held a short practice Monday afternoon at Texas Hall while television cameras from three local stations filmed from the baseline. Two local newspapers sent reporters to interview the NCAA Tournament-bound Mavericks, and University President James Spaniolo stopped by to congratulate the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament champions.

Spaniolo even challenged Maverick forward Anthony Vereen to a quick free-throw shoot ing contest.

Vereen, the 2008 SLC Tournament Most Valuable Player, narrowly won.

It wasn't a normal practice, but these Mavericks have done something no other team in UTA men's basketball team accomplished - earn a trip to the NCAA Touranament. And UTA's second-year coach Scott Cross is allowing his team to soak in the moment - for now.

UTA, the No. 16 seed, faces top-seeded Memphis on Friday in the South Region at the AllTel Center In Little Rock, Ark. UTA and the Tigers will tip off 30 minutes after the 6:30 p.m. game between Oregon and Mississippi State.

Fans who want to wish the Mavericks well in their first-ever NCAA berth are invited to the University Club at E.E. Davis Hall between 5:30 and 7 p.m.

"It has been a really exciting and unbelievably busy day," said Cross, who has done more than 25 radio interviews, five newspaper interviews and has made four live television appearances. "I think our whole department is worn out, but this is what you want. This day has been a long time coming for UTA. I'm happy for our players and for the entire university community."

The demand for a piece of the UT Arlington men's basketball team started Sunday night when the team bus pulled in from Katy, Texas, where the Mavericks had just defeated Northwestern State in the SLC title game. Before heading back to Arlington, UTA stayed and learned it would face Memphis.

One-by-one, the Mavericks exited the bus to cheers from the crowd. Maverick senior center Jermaine Griffin was the last to step down onto the pavement - one of the Merrell Center nets was hanging from his neck while he held up the SLC Tournament Championship trophy.

After UTA won the game, players took turns cutting the nets along with some of UTA's most loyal fans. Mavericks forward Vereen said it was a moving experience, watching people get so excited about UTA basketball and what the Mavericks faithful have waited for since UTA began playing Division I basketball 49 years ago.

"When I saw our fans get up there and cut the net, I got tears in my eyes because I could see how happy they were," Vereen said. "It was so great that we could do this for them as well as doing it for us. All the hard work pays off when you're able to bring somebody that much joy."

UTA has scheduled a practice from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Players and coaches will be available for interviews an hour before practice and an hour after. When asked if the Mavericks would close the practice to the media because of the distractions, Cross said, "No, we'll get two really good practices in when we get to Arkansas. Right now, I can see how much these guys are enjoying this, so I'm just going to let them enjoy it."