What to know about the biggest Cinderella in NCAA history
By now, everyone knows about the biggest upset in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history — the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s shocking 74-54 blowout win over top-seeded Virginia in the first round of the East Regional.
Not only is it the first time a No. 16 seed has beaten a No. 1 seed, but Virginia went into the tournament as the best team in the entire nation.
Now, everyone wants to know — who is UMBC?
University of Maryland Baltimore County, who are you? https://t.co/XGp9MacmGb
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) March 17, 2018
The Retrievers play in the America East Conference against the likes of the Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire, Hartford and Albany, as well as UMass Lowell, among others.
UMBC finished the 2017-18 season 25-10 and 15-4 within their conference. They knocked off top-seeded Vermont in the America East championship game on a buzzer beater by Jairus Lyles to advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.
That 2008 appearance was the only other time they’ve been to the NCAA tournament. They lost to Georgetown 66-47 in the first round that year.
While you might not have heard of the team, you may be familiar with the last name of their coach, Ryan Odom. He is the son of Dave Odom, who coached none other than Tim Duncan when the former Spurs superstar played at Wake Forest. In his first two years at the helm of UMBC’s program, Odom has enjoyed consecutive 20-win seasons.
UMBC’s best player is Lyles, a senior guard who averages 20.4 points per game. His father is Lester Lyles, who was drafted by the Jets out of Virginia in 1985, and played six seasons in the NFL as a defensive back.
That guy Jairus Lyles hugged at the end: UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski #UMBC #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ScFIawIETF
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele) March 17, 2018
Another name to know is K.J. Maura, a junior guard who averages 11.3 points per game. Maura was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the America East Conference. He averages two steals per game.
At 5’8″ and 140 pounds, Maura might be among the smallest players in the tournament, but he’s also a tenacious defender.
Aside from Lyles and Maura, junior forward Joe Sherburne averaged 10.9 points per game and played high school ball at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire with Donovan Mitchell, who is currently making a strong case for Rookie of the Year on the Utah Jazz.
UMBC also has a very active Twitter account, as seen during Friday’s game. That’s thanks in large part to the guy who runs it, Zach Seidel, and his entertaining posts.
We're up 17 with 3:29 to go thanks to a Lamar three, BUT the media dining is out of cookies and this is the worst day ever
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) March 17, 2018
It's v v loud in here, either cuz they just restocked the hot dogs or because we are up 45-29 with 11:39 to go
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) March 17, 2018
As for the school itself, UMBC — part of the University of Maryland system — is largely a commuter school, with about 14,000 students.
It’s often derided locally, according to The Washington Post, as something less than some of its peers. Many people joke that UMBC stands for U Made a Bad Choice.
“I saw so many tweets that say, ‘What is UMBC?’” said UMBC grad Zach Walsh. “We’re for real.”
Now, UMBC might also stand for U Might Be Cinderella.
America will be watching Sunday when the Retrivers face off against No. 9 seed Kansas State with a chance to do what was once unthinkable — advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
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