Murray State University Athletics
For The 'Breds, It's Business As (Un)Usual Entering NCAA Regional
5/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds are ready to begin play in their next game tomorrow at 7 p.m., but the situation is far from business as usual, as the 'Breds take on No. 14 Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Baseball Regional at Hattiesburg, Miss.
"It's kind of eerie," said MSU head coach Mike Thieke. "It seems that this team is as focused for this tournament as they were for the other one."
That "other" tournament is the Ohio Valley Conference Championship, which Murray State won, taking the last four games en route to the title and the automatic bid which has MSU in the NCAA Championship.
"These guys are outstanding players, and have played against the better individual players in the country," Thieke said. "We realize that if we play well, we have a chance to advance in this tournament."
For Thieke, reaching the NCAA Championship is a landmark for the coach, closing out his 10th and final season as a head coach, all at Murray State.
"There is a sense of pride for me and for the team," he said. "For every Division I team, this is their goal, to go beyond their conference and get to this tournament. There are a lot of coaches who have coached a lot longer than I have, and they have never reached this point. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment."
The Hattiesburg Regional begins tomorrow (Friday) at 3 p.m. when host Southern Mississippi takes on Southern.
