Final Dakota Journal

Day 4
by Mike Niedzwiecki, Senior guard

It has finally came, the first game of the elite eight.  With the plane flight, all the banquets and dinners at the Good Rib's,  I almost forgot we even had a game to play.  It was obvious that the team had some jitters early on as we went to the locker room at halftime down six.  I was not nervous because I knew how we were going to come out for the second half. 

John and Big Mike were their usual selves, with John making big shot after big shot while Mike cleaned up the paint defensively and rebounding.  We had ourselves a short celebration in the locker room but we knew our business was not done.  Since we had the winner of the next game we stuck around to watch the game between Tarleton State and Cal Poly. 

Tarleton State was just too big for Cali to handle and came out on top.  It did seem as if they had three Theo Ratliff’s on their team but we know that they are beatable.   Once again we hit up the Good Rib for another excellent meal with the parents and President Machtley, who was in the middle of an inspiring speech before he was interrupted by AJ Mahar crashing in the room like a man unknowingly walking into a crowded women’s bathroom. 

We then headed back to hotel where Nate, John and I had some deep conversation about life.  I would like to think that I gave those two young grasshoppers some good words of wisdom.  Ok Mikey needs sleepy. 

Day 5

Final Four Time!!!!!!!!  Not in my wildest dreams did I think that we would be still playing now with the early season slump that we had.  We woke up, had another great fresh breakfast at the Holiday Inn and headed back to the arena for a quick walk through.  You could tell the coaches were up all night scouting and strategizing for the game because they came out with a great game plan.

 I knew if we listened and followed their strategy we would have a chance at the National Championship game.  As we walked into the arena before the game, there was a cameraman videotaping our entrance.  I tried my best not to look at the camera, but I couldn’t help myself and just stared at the lens like a deer in headlights.  Unlucky.  We started off the way we ended against Mount Olive.

 I don’t know what happened to those three Theo Ratliff’s because Big Mike made them look more like three Josh Longstaff's.  John Williams, who I consider to be the best player in Division 2, had another stellar game, while Cullen added a sweet rebound.  It was nice to beat a team whose male cheerleaders were mocking us before the game, with chants referring to what mental midgets we were  Whatever floats your boat.  Afterwards, we watched game two, seeing who our opponent would be in the championship. 

It ended up being Virginia Union, who beat Lynn 76-61.  Union is a different type of team, much unlike anything we see in the Northeast 10, but we know they are beatable. 

(editor's note ... Bryant would fall to Virginia Union in the final, 63-58 marking the best finish ever by a team from the Northeast-10 Conference ... Broadcast live on CBS, the game was watched by more than 3.1 million people on Saturday.  The result has generated great publicity throughout the country, not just for Bryant University, but  for the entire Northeast-10 Conference and Northeast basketball in general.)