PARTY SCHOOL: Florida Gulf Coast players (from left) Brett Comer, Chase Fieler and Eddie Murray have fun during practice yesterday at Cowboys Stadium. (AP (2))
PARTY SCHOOL: Florida Gulf Coast players (from left) Brett Comer, Chase Fieler and Eddie Murray have fun during practice yesterday at Cowboys Stadium. (AP (2))
ARLINGTON, Texas — For Florida Gulf Coast, the NCAA Tournament isn’t about fear: It’s about fun. Andy Enfield — the Division III gym rat who turned into an Upper West Side millionaire who became the country’s most talked-about coach — says his overlooked and underrated Eagles will take on anybody, anywhere, anytime.
They’ll get their wish tonight with third-seeded Florida in the South Region semifinals at Cowboys Stadium. The Sunshine State’s flagship university against the tiny school younger than anybody on its team, with an athletic budget Enfield says is $100 million smaller than the Gators’, with the roster of players nobody wanted but now everybody is talking about.
“We feel like we shocked the world. Nobody picked us to beat Georgetown, or San Diego State for sure. We’re going to prepare for Florida the same way. We’re going to try to win again,’’ sophomore point guard Brett Comer said. “We didn’t come just to play one game or two games. We’re coming to compete and go as far as we can.’’
A No. 15 seed had never reached the Sweet 16 before, but Enfield and Florida Gulf Coast (26-10) exude such confidence and exuberance, it’s clear they’re not only undaunted by the moment, they’re savoring it.
“These guys have the personality and confidence to handle this. They’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime. It doesn’t matter who it is, it just happens to be the Florida Gators,’’ said Enfield, formerly of 73rd and Broadway. “I told them you don’t get to the Sweet 16 because you’re lucky — you deserve to be here.’’
They take their cue from Enfield. And really, would a guy who helped build a company worth $100 million, who successfully wooed his Victoria’s Secret supermodel wife over Taco Bell and then left the safety net of a lucrative job for an assistant coaching gig at Florida State be scared of challenges?
They’re 13-point underdogs tonight, and Enfield says the Gators (28-7) deserve to be favorites. But the Eagles have clearly become America’s favorite.
“It definitely feels different than when we were playing Georgetown and nobody was rooting for us. Now we know the nation is behind us, because everybody loves a Cinderella,’’ senior Eddie Murray said. “We’ve gone up against Duke, Miami and the big schools. I don’t think there’s anybody that scares us.’’
Comer was Enfield’s first recruit, Bernard Thompson his next and Eric McKnight his third. An expert at player development — he was a shooting coach for Mike Dunleavy’s Bucks and Rick Pitino’s Celtics before forming his own company, All Net Basketball — Enfield has molded these Eagles.
Comer’s 136 turnovers led the country last year, but he has had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in 24 of the last 27 games this season. Thompson is fourth in the country in steals, and their defense fueled Dunk City against Georgetown and San Diego State.
Will the Gators be next? They could be if they overlook the Eagles, something Orlando natives Comer and Sherwood Brown believe could happen.
“They’re the well known school, the well ”‘known players and team,’’ said Comer. “I feel like honestly deep down they might not be taking us as seriously, just like other teams.’’
People know FGCU now. Taco Bell sent Enfield a message on Twitter, writing, “lets celebrate after your first big dance.” If the Eagles have their way, that might have to wait awhile.