Landing in Dallas great for Eagles - TW (3-13-2006)

[ORUTerry]

Landing in Dallas great for Eagles

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

3/13/2006

Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton doesn't know how many NCAA Tournament games he has seen over the years.

"It is the most thrilling thing I've ever seen," said Sutton. "It has been such a long time since our school has been in it. I'm so happy for our fans. They've waited a long time."

The Golden Eagles are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years. ORU, a No. 16 seed, will face top-seeded Memphis on Friday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Golden Eagles probably deserved a better seed but they couldn't have asked for a better site. Dallas is close. ORU's fans will be able to make a short drive to watch the Eagles.

"We have so many players from north Texas and Oklahoma that being in Dallas is great for our players and great for our fans," said Sutton. "We've been trying to get a game in Dallas for a couple of years. We've talked with every team in the metroplex and couldn't get anyone to play us.

"Thanks to the NCAA Tournament we get to play in Dallas."

On the court at the Mabee Center is the slogan "Expect a Miracle." It'll take a miracle for ORU to survive past Friday.

"If a No. 16 beats a No. 1 seed they'll be talking about this game for a long time," said

Sutton.

Yes, it is an opportunity to do plenty. Even if the Eagles had moved up a slot in the seeds, they probably would have drawn Texas. Either way, it is a tall order.

It is not impossible. It is doubtful Memphis will take this game very seriously. If ORU plays to its full potential, it could make things uncomfortable for Memphis.

"We're expecting to win," said Sutton.

It'll be the first NCAA Tournament game for Sutton as a coach.

It is one of many for him as a spectator. Sutton, son of Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton, has been along for the ride during his father's lengthy and successful career.

The elder Sutton has taken 26 teams to the NCAA Tournament in 35 seasons as a college coach.

Sutton has taken four different teams to the NCAAs (Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and OSU). His teams have played 65 NCAA Tournament games (39-26).

The younger Sutton, eager to credit his father for any successes he enjoys, has seen most of those games.

"I've been a part of so many NCAA Tournaments and so has Conley (Phipps, assistant coach) that we have a pretty good idea of what we want to do," said Sutton. "I think we know how we want to handle it and how to prepare.

"I think we're experienced enough as a team and have played enough tough teams that we will be ready to play."

Most expect a short stay in Dallas for the Golden Eagles.

Oral Roberts will be a huge underdog to the Tigers, but Sutton intends to make sure the Eagles enjoy their stay.

ORU has talented players, good enough to push some of the nation's best teams, if they can relax and enjoy the moment.

The tournament is a signal that Oral Roberts, once a national power in the 1970s, has come all the way back to the big stage that is March Madness.

Oral Roberts had a vision for his school that basketball could be an important part of his ministry. He theorized that successful basketball teams would get his school and ministry into homes.

So Roberts hired coach Ken Trickey with a simple plan. Win basketball games. Get noticed. Get the Golden Eagles on television, on the radio and in newspapers.

Trickey brought a wildly entertaining brand of basketball to the south Tulsa campus. And, to make sure his teams were properly housed, Roberts built the Mabee Center, a stunning state-of-the-art arena that is still among the most luxurious in college basketball 30 years later.

ORU joined what is now Division I basketball in 1971 and within three years reached unparalleled heights for a collegiate team from Tulsa.

Only three points separated the Eagles from advancing to the Final Four. ORU went 21-5, knocked off Syracuse and Louisville to advance to the Elite Eight on its home floor against Kansas.

Oral Roberts led by nine in the final minutes but the Jayhawks rallied to tie the game in regulation and win in overtime, 93-90.

The 1984 team reached the NCAA Tournament, the last time ORU reached the Big Dance, but was beaten in the first round by Memphis State in Memphis.

Now, 20 years later, comes a new brand of Golden Eagles.

Caleb Green and Ken Tutt are good enough to play just about anywhere. Larry Owens has enough talent to be a major factor at most schools.

Proving their worth, and setting up ORU for a repeat NCAA performance next season, seem to be at the top of the list.

It has been a long time since the Golden Eagles got to dance in March.

They hope it was worth the wait.