By Andy WalterPITTSBURGH — Getting to play in the NCAA Tournament was Martin Ingelsby’s dream, too.
But in the late 1990s, Notre Dame had gone years without getting to the Big Dance.
Finally, finally, in Ingelsby’s senior season, in March, 2001, the Irish made it. It was a big deal for the team captain.
“I remember that game very vividly,” Ingelsby said about a first-round win over Xavier. “I didn’t play particularly well. I remember Coach (Mike) Brey taking me out because I had one or two careless turnovers late in the game.
“Just to be able to get into that game, to be in the NCAA Tournament — to be able to win a game — it’s a memory for me that will last a lifetime.”
So Ingelsby, now the Delaware men’s basketball coach, knows exactly how his players will feel today when they play the biggest games of their careers.
The 15th-seeded Blue Hens (22-12) will be major underdogs when they take on No. 2 seed Villanova (26-7) at 2:45 p.m. (CBS-TV) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena.
But that doesn’t mean Delaware’s players aren’t going to do everything they can to etch their name on the roll of great NCAA Cinderella teams.
Certainly, as the Hens arrived in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and held their shoot-around in the arena on Thursday, the fact that they are actually in the Big Dance became much more real.
“Just really getting here and just seeing all the March Madness signs and logos, that’s what did it for me,” said guard Jameer Nelson Jr. “That’s when it really hit me.”
“I’ve been here before,” said senior center Dylan Painter, the Villanova transfer. “But to see these guys experience it as well, it’s definitely cool to see their eyes light up. It’s kind of what me, Ryan (Allen) and Kevin (Anderson) talked about before we came back this year.
“It’s great to see it all come to fruition.”
Of course, the reality is also that Big East champion Villanova is ranked No. 6 in the country. And Delaware is 0-15 all-time vs. the Wildcats and 0-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, which it hasn’t made since 2014.
But the Hens have also played some competitive games against Villanova, including a 78-70 loss two years ago. As long as there’s a game to be played, Delaware has a chance.
Villanova coach Jay Wright, the Hens’ former rival from his days at Hofstra, said his team respects Delaware, which owns a three-game winning streak after capturing the Colonial Athletic Association tournament title.
“Probably by rule they’re a 15 seed,” said Wright. “Talent-wise they are not a 15 seed.
“We watched film of our game against Delaware a couple years ago where we played really well. And it was a two-point game with like three minute to go.”
“We’ve just seen them run through their conference tournament, and it wasn’t easy for them,” said Villanova’s Jermaine Samuels. “They beat some of the top teams in their conference, and they’re battle tested. They’re a great team.
"They have a lot of experience, and they have a lot of veteran guys who are ready to play and know how to play.”
The margin of Delaware’s previous five NCAA tourney losses has ranged from just six (Louisville, 1993) to 39 (Purdue, 1998). They’ve also had a 10-point loss and a 38-point one.
So what happens in Pittsburgh today may have to simply be judged by the margin.
Of course, the Hens’ goal is to go for it and actually pull off the huge upset.
As the fifth seed in the CAA tourney, Delaware was an underdog in each of its last three games.
“I think what I learned is that we look good in them blue jerseys,” Allen joked about being the lower seed. “I think we’ve kind of taken on the underdog role and embraced it. I mean, we’re going to keep using that to fuel our batteries and go from there.”
“We feel like whenever we go on the road and play on the road, we have a different vibe in the locker room,” said Nelson. “When we come out of the hotel it’s more of like a game mentality, a togetherness. I don’t know how, but on the road it just happens, and it’s amazing.”
Ingelsby said he just hopes his players get to enjoy their one, shining moment. He knows they’ve worked hard to get here.
And he knows how memorable it can be.
“I’m so thankful for those guys coming back and believing in me and our program,” said Ingelsby. “I wanted nothing more for them than to be able to experience this moment and to take advantage of this moment.
“I’m so excited for our guys to be able to experience this, to be a part of this. I know there will be a lot of nerves like there was for me back in 2001. But once the game gets started, those guys will be ready to go.”
Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.
