EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Nova Southeastern head coach Jim Crutchfield is no stranger to the big stage, but on Wednesday will be leading his fourth-seeded Sharks team into the program's first-ever Elite Eight matchup against No. 5 seed Saint Anselm at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
Rewind back two years, when Nova Southeastern struggled its way to a six-win campaign, and this may seem like a postseason run that happened by default. However, the Sharks have proven themselves every step of the way in 2018-19, although plenty of doubters still likely loom with programs such as undefeated Northwest Missouri State in the mix. Of Nova Southeastern's program-record 29 wins this season, four have come against ranked opponents, while its latest three victories in the NCAA South Region Tournament each came by an average margin of 12.7 points per game, including an 89-74 triumph in the final versus rival Lynn.
"Overall, it has surprised me there has been this much of a transformation," Crutchfield responded when asked about the program's quick turnaround at Tuesday's press conference. "We've won a lot of close games this year. I think we've caught a lot of breaks, but I also think once our guys started winning, they started believing. There's a different mentality on our team right now, and I know our guys feel pretty good about themselves."
Point guard David Dennis is the only player on the team with any previous Elite Eight experience, having helped guide West Liberty all the way to the Final Four as a freshman back in 2016. Now a senior, his leadership and play on both ends of the floor have been vital to the Sharks' success, with no performance any bigger than his 28-point outing against Lynn to bring Nova Southeastern to within three wins of a national title. For a team with endless perimeter options, forward Mark Matthews provides the Sharks with an added presence on the inside. In his first year with Nova Southeastern, the redshirt junior has produced an All-American season, averaging team-highs with 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. He has racked up 15 double-doubles, and has feasted on second-chance opportunities, posting nearly 4.5 offensive boards per game.
Nova Southeastern has faced Saint Anselm just once since joining the NCAA in 2002, but doesn't need much exposure to realize it'll have its work cut out in Wednesday's clash. Led by two-time NE10 Player of the Year Tim Guers, the Hawks toppled the 2017 East Region champions from Saint Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) in convincing fashion, handing the Spartans a 74-49 loss, to claim the 2019 regional championship. Entering the Elite Eight, Saint Anselm ranks fifth nationally in defensive rebounds per game (29.90) and 15th in scoring margin (11.7). Within the NE10, the Hawks led the league in: assist-to-turnover ratio (1.31), field goal percentage defense (41.0), free throws made (460), rebound margin (4.0), scoring margin (11.7), scoring offense (83.1), total rebounds (1,165), and total rebounds per game (38.83).
Wednesday's winner will advance to Thursday's semifinal round against the winner of Northwest Missouri State/Mercyhurst
Both Nova Southeastern and Saint Anselm are the only two programs in the nation to be represented by both the men's and women's programs at the Elite Eight.
For complete coverage of Wednesday's action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.
