Lipscomb coach: ‘Oddsmakers say we’ve got a fighting chance.’
Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander speaks with press during designated interview times in the New York Marriott Marquis on April 1, 2019. Wichita State plays Lipscom on Tuesday, April 2nd in Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Joseph Barringhaus/The Sunflower).
NEW YORK CITY — Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander isn’t foolish enough to say his team will win Tuesday’s semifinal with Wichita State.
“Oddsmakers say we’ve got a fighting chance,” Alexander said. “We’ll approach this game like every other one. The mentality from our team is that we’re going to win the game.”
“I don’t read too much into the storylines,” Alexander said.
Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander speaks with press during designated interview times in the New York Marriott Marquis on April 1, 2019. Wichita State plays Lipscom on Tuesday, April 2nd in Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Joseph Barringhaus/The Sunflower).
Wichita State is unconventional. Gregg Marshall and Co. are the first team in NIT history to advance to Madison Square Garden by way of knocking off No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds. Lipscomb, out of the Atlantic Sun Conference, also won three games on the road to get to the semifinals. The Bisons scored 94 points to topple North Carolina State in a one-point victory in the quarterfinals.
Advancing through the tournament is no easy task. Alexander has his eyes on Shocker senior Markis McDuffie — someone who can decide the outcome of a game. He’s averaged 19 points per game in the NIT and shot 47 percent from the field.
Wichita State senior Markis McDuffie is swarmed by members of the media in the New York Marriott Marquis on April 1, 2019. (Photo by Joseph Barringhaus/The Sunflower).
“It’s a tough matchup for sure,” Alexander said. “It’s pretty unconventional for a guy in that position to be a leading scorer, shot taker and shot maker.
“We’re concerned about it,” Alexander said.
McDuffie is an unconventional 21-year-old senior. He’s grateful to continue his season as long as he can, and he said he’s going to play his game — “offensively or defensively.”
The No. 6 seed Shockers will meet No. 5 seed Lipscomb Bisons at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday in Madison Square Garden.
Pictured are NIT semifinalist coaches from left to right. Gregg Marshall (Wichita State), Shaka Smart (University of Texas), Casey Alexander (Lipscomb), and Jamie Dixon (Texas Christian University). (Photo by Joseph Barringhaus/The Sunflower).
Marshall Sunner was the sports editor for The Sunflower. Sunner majored in communications with a journalism emphasis. He was born and raised in Hutchinson,...
Joseph Barringhaus was the sports photo editor for The Sunflower. Joseph majored in marketing with a minor in communications. He was born in Michigan but...
