Bison Illustrated April 2014 | Page 26

MEN’S BASKETBALL UNDERDOGS SELECTION SHOW “Out of the Summit League, the number 12 seed, the Bison of North Dakota State.” -Bryant Gumbel on the 2014 NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show Photos courtesy of Heidi Jaeger 24 B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014 Five days after their celebration in Sioux Falls, S.D., the Bison returned to the BSA along with hundreds of fans for the Selection Show watch party. Laid back in comfortable couches, players and coaches waited intently for the Bison name to appear on a line. San Diego? Spokane? Orlando? Speculation filled the arena about where the Bison would land and where fans would be booking their flights. The first two regions were announced and still no word on where the automatic seed would land the Bison. The 1st, 16th, 8th and 9th seeds were selected in the West region, then the 5-12 match-up appeared. First, Oklahoma was announced then the Bison logo appeared, sending the team and its fans in a frenzy. The Bison were headed to Spokane, Wash., in a second round match-up against the Sooners of Oklahoma.