FORT MYERS, Fla.- We continue our countdown of the Top 10 FSW Athletics Moments of the 2020-2021 year today with our #5 moment; Seven Former Bucs Play in March Madness.
When March Madness rolls around each Spring, a number of junior college programs around the country find themselves excited when maybe one or two of their former players are suited up for one of the NCAA teams in the Big Dance. This year, the Florida SouthWestern State Men's Basketball program blew that out of the water with an almost never before heard of, seven former players showcasing their talents on the biggest stage in college basketball.
Three former Bucs sat on pins and needles on Selection Sunday as Shanquan Hemphill, Tremell Murphy, and DJ Wilkins at Drake left their tournament lives in the hands of the selection committee. They were rewarded for an outstanding season with an 11 seed and squared off with Wichita State in the opening round where they knocked off the Shockers in a 53-52 slugfest. The three former Bucs combined for 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs in the win. In the second round they took on USC and couldn't overcome an off shooting night as they fell 72-56, but Murphy, Hemphill, and Wilkins again produced for the Bulldogs, going for 16 points and 9 rebounds in their last game together.
A 2018-2019 Buc, Destin Barnes suited up for the University of California Santa Barbara as the 12th seeded Gauchos took on 5th seeded Creighton. Barnes had two points and two rebounds in the Gauchos upset bid, but they came up just short as the Blue Jays knocked them off by one in the first round.
Barnes' 2018-2019 teammate Maddox Daniels and the Colorado Buffaloes were a 5 seed for the tournament and hammered Big East Champs Georgetown 96-73 in the first round. Daniels came off the bench and played 13 minutes in the Buffs' win. CU's tournament came to an end at the hands of Florida State two nights later, but Daniels again put forth his best effort, scoring five points and dishing out four assists in 18 minutes of work in his final collegiate contest.
The other two Bucs in the tournament were backcourt mates on FSW's 2019-2020 National Tournament squad and matched up against one another in the first round as Keon Ellis and his Alabama Crimson Tide took on Berrick JeanLouis and his Iona Gales in Indianapolis. Matched up against each other frequently during the battle, it was Ellis and Alabama that came out on top 68-55 with Ellis pulling down five rebounds and dishing out three assists and JeanLouis scoring six points and swatting away four Crimson Tide shots. Alabama eventually reached the Sweet 16 after a dominating win over Maryland in which Ellis again played a big role. Their National Title hopes came to an end in the third round when upstart UCLA knocked them off in overtime despite a near double-double for Ellis in which he went for 10 points on 4-5 shooting and ripped down 9 rebounds in the defeat.
Check back in tomorrow as we continue our countdown with the #4 moment of the 2020-2021 FSW Athletics Year provided by our Bucs Volleyball Team.
#10- Roberts Breaks Steals Record
#9- Williams' Monster Double-Double
#8- Bucs Volleyball Clinches First Conference Title
#7- Knowles Becomes Bucs Baseball's First 1st Team All-American
#6- Bucs Softball Completes Furious Comeback at Nationals
#5- Seven Former Bucs Play in March Madness
#4- 7/20/21
#3- 7/21/21
#2- 7/22/21
#1- 7/23/21