UAPB on ESPN Tuesday, Duke on deck

Here's an interview I did today with the Athletic Director for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (love that mascot logo above).

Skip Perkins was grinning from ear to ear (I could actually hear the grin through the phone lines) as he discussed his team's remarkable season.

They lost their first 11 straight games in a road trip the New York Times saw fit to write up in December. The team earned around $700K playing pre-season games against much stronger competitors across the country.

The Golden Lions didn't play their first home game until January, then went 14-4 in SWAC conference play, ending the season at 17-15. They earned a spot in the NCAA tournament by winning the SWAC post-season tournament Saturday.

The Lions face Winthrop in the tournament's "play-in" game tomorrow night. They'll be the only NCAA game on national TV (ESPN) Tuesday. The winner faces top-seed Duke in the tournament's first round Friday night in Jacksonville, Florida.

UAPB is the only Arkansas team in the tournament this year, and I could tell by talking with Perkins that the school, its alumni and the beleaguered city of Pine Bluff are really excited about the chance to represent our state on a national stage. Virtually every Arkansas round ball fan will be tuned in tomorrow night (I'll be watching around LOST) for this exciting game.

Go UAPB!!!